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Evaluating the worth of race, ethnicity and education over the last 5 years
Get PDFRacism is a shapeshifter that adapts to silence minoritised ethnic voices, unless it is continually made visible. Race research therefore needs continuous development to challenge pervasive racisms within schools, higher education and government policy. This virtual special issue, curated by the BERA Race, Ethnicity and Education Special Interest Group, is an overview of recent scholarship that highlights trends and the evolution of epistemologies and ontologies pertaining to race in education.British Educational Research Associatio
Digital Technologies Enabling Resilience in Manufacturing Networks
Get PDFUnforeseen events have the potential to cause disruptions throughout the entire manufacturing value chain, ranging from interruptions in production processes on the shop floor level to shutdowns in the supply chain and logistics. These disruptions increase the necessity for the establishment of manufacturing networks that prioritize cooperation and circularity to strengthen resilience, predict and counteract such impacts. This paper provides an overview of the main digital technologies required to create a resilient and sustainable manufacturing network and the implementation of the Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) approach. For each digital technology, a synthetic characterization is provided, with respect to requirements, exemplary applications and involved standards. Challenges on the use of such technologies are presented and suggestions for future developments on the integration and deployment of digital technologies with the aim of achieving resilience in manufacturing networks is described
Combining Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AO+MI): Mechanisms, Applications, and Guidelines for Enhancing Motor Learning and Rehabilitation
No full textThis chapter opens with an introduction to the neurocognitive processes underpinning action observation (AO), imitation, and motor imagery (MI). The capacity of AO and MI to enhance motor learning and performance within a variety of movement contexts is discussed. Research exploring the effects of combining AO and MI (AO+MI) is summarised in the context of the main theoretical frameworks that support AO+MI. Evidence is then reviewed to assess whether AO+MI offers a more effective form of action simulation than either AO or MI alone. The potential benefits of AO+MI are then considered across motor learning, rehabilitation, and sport. The second half of this chapter offers a practical ‘how-to’ guide both for practitioners (e.g., coaches and physiotherapists) and self-application (e.g., athletes and patients), to deliver and use AO+MI, across a multitude of settings. This guide identifies key considerations such as viewing perspective, action type, skill level, and individual differences and provides recommendations for tailoring AO+MI practices to different contexts. The chapter concludes with directions and proposals for future research, aiming to encourage continued exploration and development for the future of AO+MI research
Multi-phase flow and heat transfer characteristics of composite heat storage materials during melting process: simulation and optimization
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No data was used for the research described in the article.The low thermal conductivity of phase change materials (PCMs) has limited their large-scale energy storage applications. This paper focuses on the rapid heat storage process of phase change energy storage. A composite heat storage structure is proposed, in which 50 % of solid-PCMs are filled at the bottom and water is at the top. During the melting process, heat is continuously exchanged through the mixture of water and liquid PCM to enhance heat transfer. A computational model (Case 1) is established using the computational fluid dynamics-volume of fluid (CFD-VOF) numerical method and compared with the Case 0 structure with 50 % water at the bottom. The reliability of the numerical model is verified through experiments, and the two-phase flow state of wax and PCM in the Case 1 structure is observed. Further, through numerical studies, the liquid phase evolution, temperature distribution, and internal flow velocity during the heat transfer process of different composite melting structures were analyzed, and the melting performance and energy storage performance were quantitatively evaluated. In addition, the melting characteristics of this novel energy storage structure at different wall temperatures are discussed in detail. The results show that compared with Case 0, the melting time of PCM in Case 1 is shortened by 51.75 %, while the average velocity of PCM and the average velocity of water are increased by 100.75 % and 67.33 % respectively, compared with Case 0. However, compared with Case 0, the total heat storage capacities of PCM and water in Case 1 are reduced by 3.17 % and 19.27 % respectively. Finally, the response surface method is used to optimize and predict the comprehensive heat storage rate and heat storage time, and the accuracy of the optimization results exceeds 98.995 %.This work was supported by the Key Scientific and Technological Innovation Team of Shaanxi Province (2023-CX-TD-29)
Evaluation of the environmental performance of an innovative solar thermal system applied to the industrial sector: a case study
Get PDFAn environmental assessment of an innovative solar thermal technology called ASTEP has been performed. ASTEP consists of three main elements: a novel rotary Fresnel Sundial, thermal energy storage (TES) and the controls. It supplies solar thermal energy to industrial processes of maximum 400 °C. This energy source has been implemented to two end-users, Mandrekas and Arcelor Mittal, located in the regions with low and high latitudes. The results revealed that manufacturing of the ASTEP system had the most significant environmental impact, followed by the operation, transportation and waste disposal. Within the manufacturing phase, TES components had the highest environmental impact. This was primarily due to the greater quantity of materials and energy required for TES manufacturing compared to the other components. When applied to the end-users, ASTEP system demonstrated notable reduction of CO2 emissions by 9.7 tonnes for MAND and 8.3 tonnes for AMTP. Furthermore, higher GHG emissions savings of 332 tonnes for MAND and 182 tonnes for AMTP could be achieved when the system’s capacity is increased to 950 MWh/year and 609 MWh/year, respectively. The research demonstrated that the incorporation of the ASTEP system into industrial processes would result in a significant reduction of their environmental impact.This project is funded from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Application of Solar Energy in Industrial processes (ASTEP), under grant agreement No 884411
A Wearable Device Employing Biomedical Sensors for Advanced Therapeutics: Enhancing Stroke Rehabilitation
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For privacy and confidentiality, the data collected through qualitative interviews and usability evaluation cannot be made publicly available.Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. The long-term effects of a stroke depend on the location and size of the affected brain area, resulting in diverse disabilities and experiences for survivors. More than 70% of people experiencing stroke suffer upper-limb dysfunction, which can significantly limit independence in daily life. The growing strain on national healthcare resources, coupled with the rising demand for personalised, home-based rehabilitation, along with increased familiarity with digital technologies, has set the stage for developing an advanced therapeutics system consisting of a wearable solution aimed at complementing current stroke rehabilitation to enhance recovery outcomes. Through a user-centred approach, supported by primary and secondary research, this study has developed an advanced prototype integrating electromyography smart sensors, functional electrical stimulation, and virtual reality technologies in a closed-loop system that is capable of supporting personalised recovery journeys. The outcome is a more engaging and accessible rehabilitation experience, designed and evaluated through the participation of stroke survivors. This paper presents the design of the therapeutic platform, feedback from stroke survivors, and considerations regarding the integration of the proposed technology across the stroke pathway, from early days in a hospital to later stage rehabilitation in the community.This research received no external funding
Self-Supervised Hyperbolic Spectro-Temporal Graph Convolution Network for Early 3D Behavior Prediction
Get PDF3D human behavior is a highly nonlinear spatiotemporal interaction process. Therefore, early behavior prediction is a challenging task, especially prediction with low observation rates in unsupervised mode. To this end, we propose a novel self-supervised early 3D behavior prediction frame-work that learns graph structures on hyperbolic manifold. Firstly, we employ the sequence construction of multi-dynamic key information to enlarge the key details of spatio-temporal behavior sequences, addressing the high redundancy between frames of spatio-temporal interaction. Secondly, for capturing dependencies among long-distance joints, we explore a unique graph Laplacian on hyperbolic manifold to perceive the subtle local difference within frames. Finally, we leverage the learned spatio-temporal features under different observation rates for progressive contrast, forming self-supervised signals. This facilitates the extraction of more discriminative global and local spatio-temporal information from early behavior sequences in unsupervised mode. Extensive experiments on three behavior datasets have demonstrated the superiority of our approach at low to medium observation rates
Hydrothermal carbonization of digested sludge from wastewater treatment plants: Processes, potential and key challenges
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No data was used for the research described in the article.The presentation reviews hydrothermal carbonization of digested sludge as a complementary technology for sludge management at wastewater treatment plants. The motivation for expanding the knowledge of hydrothermal carbonization is the challenges of wastewater treatment plants: the increasing volume of sludge, high moisture content, the presence of organic and inorganic contaminants, rising disposal costs, and legislative amendments. Hydrothermal carbonization makes it possible to convert wet sludge under conditions (160–250 °C,10–30 bar) into hydrophobic hydrochars, but also liquids and gases, eliminating the need for drying. The process also offers heat recovery and integration into existing wastewater treatment plant infrastructure. A key aspect of implementing hydrothermal carbonization is understanding the impact of individual process parameters and their interactions on chemical reaction pathways, and optimizing operating conditions for specific applications. The presentation discusses two pathways for hydrochar utilization: as soil additives or as fuels in thermal processes, assessing their environmental and legal potential. Process liquids were evaluated as a source of valuable resources that can be recovered or used in situ. Despite the compatibility of hydrothermal carbonization with Green Deal policies, challenges related to energy efficiency, legislative compliance, public acceptance, and high investment costs for integrated thermal technologies still need to be addressed. Overcoming these barriers will enable the implementation of hydrothermal carbonization as a sustainable technology in a circular economy.This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors
A Case Study on the Corrosion of an Aging Jack-Up Drilling Rig
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Data is contained within the article.Corrosion costs the Oil & Gas Industry billions of pounds annually, primarily due to environmental factors such as high salinity, temperature fluctuations, and humidity in marine environments. Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), especially jack-up rigs, are particularly susceptible to these dangers. This paper examines the impact of cold stacking on aging jack-up rigs and highlights how the absence of an adequate corrosion control system can accelerate structural deterioration. Our findings show that repair costs following cold stacking can far exceed the costs associated with maintaining rigs in a warm-stacked state. Preload tanks are critical areas prone to degradation due to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) and inadequate preservation practices. Furthermore, although high-strength steels are frequently utilized in the construction of jack-up rigs due to their durability, we illustrate that, in the absence of meticulously devised preventative measures, these steels are susceptible to considerable corrosion, resulting in substantial repair expenses and diminished operational lifespans. This study highlights the significance of proactive corrosion control measures in maintaining the long-term structural integrity and cost-effectiveness of offshore drilling units.This research received no external funding
Effects of leaderboard affordance and perceived role importance in team-based gamified training
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Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at: https://ndownloader.figstatic.com/files/55768763 (Appendix anonymous.docx).Gamification has been effectively applied in organizational and academic training to enhance motivation. Among various game elements, leaderboards are particularly popular in gamified training environments. Grounded in gamification research, self-determination theory, and job demands-resources theory, this research investigates the relationships among leaderboard affordance, perceived role importance in a team (PRIT), satisfaction of the three psychological needs (perceived autonomy, competence, and relatedness), and two types of stress (distress and eustress). Using a team-based ERP simulation game for gamified ERP training, we conducted two studies (Study 1: N = 203 and Study 2: N = 216) and employed structural equation modelling to test our hypotheses. Our findings indicate that leaderboard affordance positively influences PRIT. Additionally, the results show that leaderboard affordance and PRIT increase needs satisfaction and eustress, while the effects on distress were minimal. This study contributes to gamification IS research by highlighting the impact of leaderboard affordances and PRIT in fostering positive psychological outcomes and expanding our understanding of stress in gamified training contexts. Our findings are important for organizations seeking to maintain motivation and engagement through gamified training.We want to thank for the research sponsorship received by the Government of Andalusia and the Government of Spain and the European Regional Development Fund (European Union) (Research Projects PID2021-124725NB-I00, PID2021-124396NB-I00, and TED2021-130104B-I00), the Bart and Martye Simmons Endowment in the College of Business at Lamar University, and the ERPsim Lab at HEC Montreal
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