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Investigating a citrus fruit supply chain network considering CO2 emissions using Meta-heuristic algorithms
Get PDFAccording to the increasing carbon dioxide released through vehicles and the shortage of water resources, decision-makers decided to combine the environmental and economic effects in the Agri-Food Supply Chain Network (AFSCN) in developing countries. This paper focuses on the citrus fruit supply chain network. The novelty of this study is the proposal of a mathematical model for a three-echelon AFSCN considering simultaneously CO2 emissions, coefficient water, and time window. Additionally, a bi-objective mixed-integer non-linear programming is formulated for production–distribution-inventory-allocation problem. The model seeks to minimise the total cost and CO+ emission simultaneously. To solve the multi-objective model in this paper, the Augmented Epsilon-constraint method is utilised for small- and medium-sized problems. The Augmented Epsilon-constraint method is not able to solve large-scale problems due to its high computational time. This method is a well-known approach to dealing with multi-objective problems. It allows for producing a set of Pareto solutions for multi-objective problems. Multi-Objective Ant Colony Optimisation, fast Pareto genetic algorithm, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II, and multi-objective simulated annealing are used to solve the model. Then, a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm called Hybrid multi-objective Ant Colony Optimisation with multi-objective Simulated Annealing (HACO-SA) is developed to solve the model. In the HACO-SA algorithm, an initial temperature and temperature reduction rate is utilised to ensure a faster convergence rate and to optimise the ability of exploitation and exploration as input data of the SA algorithm. The computational results show the superiority of the Augmented Epsilon-constraint method in small-sized problems, while HACO-SA indicates that is better than the suggested original algorithms in the medium- and large-sized problems
"Music therapy is the very definition of white privilege": Music therapists' perspectives on race and class in UK music therapy
Get PDFThe resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in the summer of 2020 following the death of George Floyd highlighted, once again, the racial and socioeconomic inequities permeating western countries, and galvanised music therapists in the UK and elsewhere to reflect on the importance of race and social class in their profession and therapeutic practice. These discussions have a longer history in the US; in the UK they are in their infancy. Building on the 2020 British Association for Music Therapy Diversity Report (Langford et al., 2020), this study aimed to contribute to the burgeoning discussion in UK music therapy by inviting trainee and qualified music therapists to reflect on how-often intersecting-racial and socioeconomic inequities impact on music therapy training and practice and what changes are needed for music therapy to become more relevant to and representative of minoritised communities. Data were generated using an online qualitative survey (N=28) and five follow-up telephone interviews, allowing for both breadth and depth in an area where there is a paucity of research, and a higher level of "felt anonymity" for a potentially sensitive and threatening topic. Reflexive thematic analysis informed by critical race theory was used to develop three themes from the data: 1) Posh white ladies: the typical music therapist; 2) White normativity and fragility in music therapy; and 3) Music therapy: undervalued and too costly. In the conclusion, we synthesise the participants' accounts into recommendations for diversifying the music therapy profession in the UK
The burden of injuries in Nepal: Findings from the NIHR Global Health Research Group
No full textBackground: Injuries cause significant harm and may lead to disability yet are largely preventable. Understanding the epidemiology and determinants of injury in any given context is an essential step towards effective prevention. In Nepal, surveys suggest that injuries on the road, at home and at work are a problem, but in the absence of injury surveillance, robust death registration or police records, the true burden is unclear. For those who are injured, access to prehospital care is variable. Objectives: (i) To understand the epidemiology of injuries (ii) To identify potentially modifiable risk factors to inform the development of prevention interventions (iii) To build capacity and capability for injury prevention research.Design: Observational, secondary data analysis and qualitative methods were used. We worked with communities, practitioners and stakeholders to identify potential participants, develop study protocols and disseminate findings.Setting: Nepal.Participants: Patients, communities and road users, health system practitioners and managers, professionals (e.g. police, engineers, journalists) and local and national decision makers.Main outcome measures: epidemiological evidence of the burden of injuries, evidence to inform future intervention development. Data sources: participants, health services, police and information in the public domain.Review methods: Reviews were conducted systematically with evidence synthesised narratively.Results: The Nepal Injury Research Centre was established, and a cadre of researchers trained. Three researchers and our data manager completed Masters degree courses and all researchers developed their skills by leading at least one project from protocol development through to publication. A review of publications reporting injuries indicated that existing epidemiological evidence mostly arose from case series at high risk of bias. A review of existing legislation showed policy gaps and incomplete implementation or enforcement. Surveillance studies and a household survey showed the high burden of injuries at home, work and on the roads and the neglected issue of suicide. Previously unreported inequalities by age, sex, ethnic group and income level were identified. Existing health, police and death registration data systems are at high risk of under-reporting and misclassification. Road traffic injury emerged as a major concern; road users fear being injured as pedestrians, passengers or drivers, the economic burden of road injuries has increased three-fold over eight years and potentially modifiable risk factors were identified. The provision of first response services is highly variable, and the public and practitioners are fearful of prosecution in the event of poor outcomes. We found it is feasible to train the traffic police in first response and for them to use their skills at traffic collisions. Research priorities for suicide prevention were identified.Limitations: Studies were limited by the quality of the data available through existing systems, with data often incomplete or poorly coded. Our studies were largely conducted in one district with topography typical of many areas of Nepal. However, our findings may not be generalisable to all districts. Conclusions: Our programme identified the inequitable and significant burden of injuries in Nepal. There is the potential to develop existing legislation and health and transport systems to reduce the incidence and consequences of injury.Future work: Research should focus on interventions to reduce injury risk on the roads and at home/work, to develop the first response system and standardise care, and to strengthen injury data systems
Developing a framework for the prevention of sibling sexual behaviour
No full textBackground: Sibling sexual behaviour (SSB) is an existing, but poorly defined, area of professional practice and an emerging research area. Much of the research conversations are focused on defining the issue and thinking about the treatment and management of people affected by it. However, in line with other forms of sexual abuse, focus should also be on how SSB can be prevented from happening, alongside the prevention of repeat behaviours. Objective: In this paper the emerging debates around SSB prevention, what exists, and how it should develop is discussed. Methods: The recently developed sibling sexual behaviour mapping tool (SSB-MT) is discussed along with the socio-ecological model and a merged model, the sibling sexual behaviour-socio-ecological mapping tool (SSB-SEMT). Results: The alignment of SSB to existing EpiCrim frameworks. Conclusions: The prevention of SSB fits within the broader Child Sexual Abuse frameworks and that the sibling sexual behaviour-socio-ecological mapping tool (SSB-SEMT) can be used to develop and introduce prevention interventions across the four prevention stages
Youth, Transitions and Social Justice: (Re)searching Spaces Of Social Action
No full textThis book considers young people’s conceptions and experiences of social justice through key transitions in their lives. It examines the factors shaping and constraining young people’s actions for a fairer society in a time when real world and virtual social spaces have become fragmented. Considering questions of race, gender and class the collection includes globally diverse research perspectives, including those from Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Brazil. The book offers inspiring insights on the approaches researchers, youth practitioners and young people are finding to challenge the injustices they face and be a positive force in promoting social justice
The Nrf2 inhibitor brusatol promotes human osteosarcoma (MG63) growth and blocks EB1089-induced differentiation
Get PDFCitation: Stephens, E.; Greenhough, A.; Mansell, J.P. The Nrf2 Inhibitor Brusatol Promotes Human Osteosarcoma (MG63) Growth and Blocks EB1089-Induced Differentiation. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 9675. https://doi. Abstract Survival rates for those with metastatic osteosarcoma (OS) have not improved over the last four decades. It is imperative that novel approaches to treating and curing OS be sought. We, therefore, turned our attention to Brusatol (Bru), a naturally occurring Nrf2 inhibitor reported to elicit anti-cancer effects in a multitude of tumour models. Importantly there is emerging evidence that Nrf2 is implicated in chemoradiotherapy resistance in OS and that inhibiting Nrf2 may represent a desirable route to treating OS. Surprisingly, using the human OS cell line, MG63, we actually found that Bru promoted cell growth. Compared to control, normoxic cultures, the application of Bru (50 nM) over 3 days led to an increase in cell number by approximately 1.7-fold. A similar outcome occurred for cells under hypoxic conditions, although the extent of cell growth was significantly less at around 1.3-fold. Furthermore, Bru prevented MG63 differentiation in response to co-treatment with the calcitriol analogue, EB1089, and the lipid growth factor, lysophosphatidic acid. The extent of inhibition was profound at approximately 2.8-fold. The application of the Nrf2 activator, dimethyl fumarate, did not rescue these phenotypes. Whilst Bru has shown promise in other cancer models, it would appear, from our findings, that this agent may not be suitable for the treatment of OS
Evidence to the Public Bill Committee on English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Get PDFThe UK English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is intended to strengthen local governance in England. As drafted the Bill will fail to achieve this objective. This statement of evidence, submitted to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee, which is scrutinising the Bill, explains why the Bill needs improvement. It proposes two changes: 1) The addition of a clause enshrining constitutional protection for all elected local authorities in England, and 2) The deletion of Clause 57 which proposes the abolition of the committee system in English local government.This evidence is published on the UK Houses of Parliament website:https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmpublic/EnglishDevolutionCommunityEmpowerment/memo/EDCEB29.ht
First Language Acquisition in Finno-Ugric Languages
No full textThis book is the first comprehensive state-of-the-art overview of the first language acquisition of four Finno-Ugric languages: Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, and North Saami. Ten chapters review research on phonological, lexical, and grammatical development, bringing the research within the language family into one source, enabling easy access to topics touching upon acquisition of the key linguistic domains, cross-linguistic comparisons between the languages, and discussion of the ways in which Finno-Ugric languages contribute to theory in the field of first language acquisition. The volume will appeal to students and scholars of language acquisition, linguists, psychologists, clinicians, and educational professionals
Natural deep eutectic solvents for agro-industrial by-product valorization: Emerging strategies for the development of functional foods targeting diabetes
Get PDFNatural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) have emerged as green and sustainable alternative solvents for extracting valuable bioactive compounds from agro-industrial by-products. NaDESs are stable, soluble, and biodegradable with low melting points and a wide range of applications. These characteristics align closely with the principles of green chemistry, making NaDESs promising for use in the food industry. Recent studies demonstrate that NaDESs can effectively extract proteins, polysaccharides, polyphenols, carotenoids, alkaloids, and other bioactives from sources such as vegetable waste, cereal by-products, and fruit pomace, often performing better than traditional solvents such as methanol and ethanol. The bioactive components of these extracts may exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anticancer, or antimicrobial activity and can be used as functional ingredients, nutraceuticals, or preservatives. Furthermore, NaDES-derived extracts have been shown to have hypoglycemic effects by inhibiting enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and reducing oxidative stress. As a result, they may find use as functional food ingredients in diabetes management. This review presents the recent research on the extraction of bioactive compounds from agro-industrial by-products using NaDESs and an evaluation of their antidiabetic potential
Recent advancements in morphing applications: Architecture, artificial intelligence integration, challenges, and future trends-a comprehensive survey
Get PDFThis study provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in aerospace morphing technologies, focusing on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into morphing architectures. It emphasizes AI's pivotal role in optimizing these systems, particularly through machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and reinforcement learning (RL), to enhance real-time adaptability, performance, and efficiency. The review categorizes developments in smart materials, compliant mechanisms, and adaptive structures, offering a detailed analysis of their architectural foundations. It further examines AI-driven aerodynamic optimization and control systems, highlighting recent solutions to structural integrity, energy efficiency, and scalability challenges. Key contributions since 2020 are synthesized through a year-by-year analysis, offering a clear overview of the research landscape. The paper also addresses emerging challenges in aerospace morphing and proposes strategies to alleviate them. Recommendations for future advancements emphasize the integration of state-of-the-art technologies. By critically evaluating current capabilities and limitations, this review provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners, identifying AI's transformative potential in morphing systems and outlining the technical challenges that must be addressed for future morphing aerospace applications