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A brief overview of the impact of avian influenza on animals
Get PDFAvian influenza (AI) virus, and the (HPAI)H5N1 subtype in particular, is a serious problem for many wild bird populations, where devastating losses have been reported. However, AI is not restricted to bird species. Infection has been reported in commercial mammals such as cattle and mink where there is close animal-to-animal contact, as well as close contact with humans. Some domestic an-imals, such as cats, have been reported to be AI virus positive too, again where there is a possibility that conditions will be conducive to animal-to-human transmission. Many animals in the wild have been found to be infected with AI virus, and many of these, perhaps not surprisingly, are marine mammals. Mink-to-mink viral transmission has been suggested to have taken place, but most animals which have been infected have had close contact with birds, often handling or eating carcasses. There are also reports of humans becoming infected, for example, from cattle. Here, using a variety of information sources, a brief overview of the impact of AI virus on animals is given, although this is neither intended to be a comprehensive nor quantitative review. It is hoped that such information will aid in the management of AI, especially (HPAI)H5N1, in the future
Ernst Wiechert's poet's faith and art philosophy
Get PDFHow can we recover from Christian-capitalist-rationalist metaphysics if it is understood as an expression of the suffering from fear? German novelist and concentration camp survivor Ernst Wiechert provides an answer. His philosophy of art proposes a healing recovery that alleviates suffering through a free heart and brave love, while eschewing “principles” and “systems”. He confesses his poet’s faith in “the whole” as dawning testimony from a fourth dimension that is a nameless dark God. Wiechert’s is a unique synthesis of ideas by Hölderlin, Nietzsche and Goethe, interpreting romantic Dionysian-pantheism in a post metaphysical way
Putting Social Justice and Equity at the Heart of Reading for Pleasure
No full textThis essential book discusses what reading for pleasure is and what it is not, introducing some fundamental ideas about how we learn to read and how this process can impact on a child’s identity as a reader in classrooms that promote equality, inclusion and diversity.. The profile and importance of Reading for Pleasure has grown significantly over the last few years and is now firmly embedded in both government policy and the Ofsted framework. Developing a Reading for Pleasure school that is truly inclusive of the whole school community however, can require a culture shift in relation to the teaching of reading, representation in the reading environment and the knowledge, representation and attitudes of the school community. This book seeks to use the current research, teacher case studies and the voices of children to address some of the issues that teachers and pre-service student teachers encounter when trying to develop an inclusive Reading for Pleasure culture within their schools. Each chapter is co-authored by teachers and researchers and includes case studies and children’s perspectives. It provides practical and evidence-based advice, lesson plans and creative ideas to both support and challenge all school leaders, staff and student teachers in their journey to create readers rather than children that can just read
The Anthro-Thumb: a biomimetic hybrid soft robotic carpometacarpal saddle joint for the thumb
Get PDFRobotic hand design is multifaceted, with the design of robotic thumbs often oversimplified to facilitate ease of manufacture, control, and reliability. Despite the extensive development of robotic hands, the need for a more dexterous and anthropomorphic thumb design remains significant, particularly for applications in prosthetics and rehabilitation robotics, where naturalistic movement and adaptability are essential. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the conception, evolution, and evaluation of a unique biomimetic soft thumb. The thumb plays a vital role in hand function, and its unique range of motion is enabled by the Carpometacarpal (CMC) saddle joint. By harnessing the biologically accurate mechanisms of the CMC joint, this research aims to enhance the functionality of tendon-driven robotic hands, offering improved dexterity and adaptability for tasks such as grasping and manipulation. The introduced Anthro-Thumb is a biomimetic soft robotic thumb that provides a comprehensive range of motion at the thumb's base while ensuring cost efficiency and reduced mechanical complexity. A comparative analysis with existing robotic thumb designs highlights the advancements of the Anthro-Thumb, particularly in terms of range of motion and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, we discuss the long-term durability and maintenance requirements of the soft robotic materials and components used. When subjected to the Kapandji physiotherapy test, the design secured a commendable score of 9 out of 10, with 10 representing the highest level of dexterity achievable by a human thumb. The findings affirm that employing biomimetic soft-structured robotic CMC saddle joints is a promising strategy to address the challenges associated with robotic thumb development in robotic hands
Arts-based interventions: Why it’s complex, and why that matters: Comment on “Can arts-based interventions improve health? A conceptual and methodological critique” by Skov and Nadal
Get PDFWhile Skov and Nadal make important contributions to the arts and health field, I highlight two related limitations in their critique. First, they adopt a reductive view of art, treating it as a monolithic category rather than recognizing its heterogeneity, context and function. Second, their focus on experimental designs reflects a narrow view of methodological rigour, often at odds with the context-sensitive nature of ABIs. They overlook systems and complexity-informed approaches, appearing to assume that ABIs behave like pharmaceuticals, mechanisms being isolatable and linear. Together, these limitations risk misrepresenting how ABIs function in real-world health contexts
A comprehensive method for sensor fault detection and signal reconstruction in structural health monitoring systems for super-tall buildings
Get PDFStructural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems are crucial for ensuring the integrity and safety of large-scale infrastructures. However, they are often compromised by sensor faults, which can result in false alarms or data gaps. In this study, a new comprehensive approach is developed that combines Deep Signal Anomaly Detection (DSAD), One-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Networks (1D-CNNs), and Support Vector Regression (SVR) to effectively detect, classify, and reconstruct faulty sensor data in SHM systems. Using acceleration responses from the Milad Tower in Iran as a case study, the approach begins with DSAD for anomaly detection, where the threshold is determined by an Isolation Forest. The subsequent classification of fault types is performed using 1D-CNNs, optimized through Observer-Teacher-Learner-Based Optimization (OTLBO) for enhanced accuracy. Feature extraction is achieved using Wavelet Transform (WT) and Multivariate Empirical Mode Decomposition (MEMD), which facilitate a robust representation of time and time-frequency features. Faulty signals are reconstructed using SVR, with feature selection and reduction managed through Multi-Objective Observer-Teacher-Learner-Based Optimization (MOOTLBO) to minimize reconstruction errors. The results demonstrate a high fault detection accuracy of 94.04 % and effective signal reconstruction with optimized feature input, highlighting the potential of this approach to improve the reliability of SHM systems in super-tall structures. This study effectively identifies faulty signals, classifies fault types, and reconstructs them, addressing issues related to missing and faulty signals
Prescribing metformin for patients with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia or type 2 diabetes
Get PDFMetformin hydrochloride is a prescription-only oral medicine that is frequently encountered in clinical practice. It is recommended in most diabetes mellitus guidelines as a first-line treatment option for some people with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia and most people with type 2 diabetes. Metformin is usually well-tolerated and safe if prescribed appropriately. However, despite its common use, there are several important factors that healthcare practitioners need to consider when intending to prescribe metformin and once it has been initiated. This article discusses the use of metformin in non-diabetic hyperglycaemia and type 2 diabetes, and explores how healthcare practitioners can ensure safe prescribing of this medicine. [Abstract copyright: © 2025 RCN Publishing Company Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be copied, transmitted or recorded in any way, in whole or part, without prior permission of the publishers.
The Oxford RobotCycle Project: A multimodal urban cycling dataset for assessing the safety of vulnerable road users
Get PDFThe Oxford RobotCycle Project is a novel initiative aiming to understand how road and traffic infrastructure influence road users’ behaviour, affecting cyclists’ journeys and safety. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology and methods used in Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), this project introduces a novel multimodal dataset, capturing dynamic cycling data in complex and diverse urban traffic environments. The dataset consists of range, visual, and inertial sensors, mounted on a backpack, and eye-gaze tracking glasses, coupled with an analysis of road infrastructure and interactions with other road users. Enhanced by annotated maps, reconstructed 3D pointclouds, and a detailed ontology capturing static and dynamic agents and their relations, the dataset provides a comprehensive framework for analysing and understanding traffic dynamics. Heatmaps derived from the cyclists’ vision reveal attention patterns and focal points during various traffic scenarios. We also analyse traffic interactions and risk, either perceived or actual, and correlate it with road infrastructure and traffic volumes. To complement the dataset we also provide a complete set of tools for risk and traffic analysis, visualisation, automatic calibration, and data annotation. The dataset can also be used to evaluate the robustness of odometry estimation methods, due to the highly dynamic cyclist movements. Combining multimodal data with traffic and risk analysis, the Oxford RobotCycle Project facilitates identifying safety-critical scenarios to derive actionable insights for safer, cyclist-friendly road design. This work contributes towards improving cycling safety, enhancing urban mobility, and supporting sustainable transportation initiatives
'Modern-day Tinkerer’ - A review of the Work of James Rogers
Get PDFJames Rogers’ work spans many dimensions and materials, drawing inspiration from ancient oracles and cosmical networks. His use of clay and wax, plates and inks, drawing robots, and extruders reflects these influences. According to James Rogers, everything is interconnected.James Rogers embodies the spirit of a modern-day tinkerer, seamlessly merging ancient divination practices with contemporary technology and artistic exploration. His early memory of a parental tinkerer remained in his imagination; when his father, who worked as an electrician, attached the word 'bomb' to some electrical components that he had collected from the back of his van, including wires, a battery, a little clock screen, it was not something that could explode or without needing to know whether they worked; it inspired the young James, who spies and gadgets greatly influenced. Today, having learnt the technology through trial and error, Rogers can transform assemblages into fully functioning electronic components and robotic machines, oracles to access emerging electrical and cosmical networks, and the use of etching as a divination process
Reframing mentoring in initial teacher education: A Bourdieusian analysis of pre-service teachers' experiences amidst policy reform in England
Get PDFPurposeThis study investigates mentoring practices within Initial Teacher Education in England during a period of significant policy reform. Informed by Bourdieu’s theory of capital and habitus, the research explores how pre-service teachers (PSTs) experience mentoring relationships and how these experiences shape their professional identity and development.Design/methodology/approachThrough focus group interviews, the study examines the distribution of economic, cultural, social and symbolic capital within school placements and the power dynamics inherent in mentor-mentee relationships. Findings reveal considerable variability in the quality and inclusivity of mentoring, with unequal access to support, feedback and professional opportunities impacting PSTs’ confidence, sense of belonging and agency.FindingsThe study highlights how one-size-fits-all mentoring frameworks risk reproducing inequalities, particularly for PSTs from marginalised backgrounds. It calls for mentor training that moves beyond procedural compliance to incorporate equity-focused, individualised support strategies.Originality/valueThe paper concludes by advocating for mentoring models that explicitly address social justice, professional inclusivity and the complex relational dynamics that shape teacher development in a highly regulated education system