30793 research outputs found
Sort by
Taking pride from cultures of shame: The influence of cultural values on internalised attitudes towards same-sex attraction in gay men across cultures
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonTheoretically, internalised homonegativity (IH-) has been studied by mainstream and
lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) psychology as an ill-defined
individual difference investigated over several paradigms. Historically, psychology’s
heterosexist bias has focussed on IH- as a pathologising construct for gay men,
without considering how homopositive attitudes could be internalised. Moreover,
cross-cultural research investigating gay men’s IH- is scant, and these few studies
have not controlled for cultural values. Therefore, this thesis aims to address
psychology’s heterosexism by introducing internalised homopositivity (IH+) alongside
IH-, within a psycho-socio-cognitive theory of internalised attitudes towards samesex
attraction (IASSA). Over three studies with multinational samples, crosssectional
designs utilising hierarchical linear regressions (HLR) investigated the
relationships between cultural values systems, parental acceptance-rejection,
attachment styles and IASSA. 2,276 men sexually attracted to men were volunteer
sampled via social media from Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the
United States. Each study’s participants completed questionnaire batteries. Study 1
found that conservatism was positively associated with IH- while egalitarianism was
negatively associated. Study 2 revealed maternal acceptance was positively
associated with IH-, while maternal rejection and paternal acceptance/rejection were
not. Study 3 initially found English-speaking cross-cultural validity via exploratory
factor analysis for IH+. Subsequent HLR analyses then evidenced high paternal
religiosity moderated a negative association between avoidant attachment and IH+;
avoidant attachment to mothers was negatively associated with IH+; and cultural
masculinity was negatively associated with IH- for both parents across
anxious/avoidant attachments. These unexpected results warrant further
investigation, particularly the positive association between maternal acceptance and
IH- and the negative association between cultural masculinity and IH-. Additionally,
the IASSAQ supports future research with a greater unified and less pathologising
psycho-social-cognitive IASSA model. Moreover, cross-cultural psychology can be
reconciled with LGBTQ psychology. When applied, the IASSA model could help
psychological practitioners support ashamed gay men to discover pride
Interfacial segregation of Fe and Si on TiB2 surface and refinement of Fe-bearing intermetallic compounds and primary Si Part II Refinement of primary Fe-intermetallic compounds and primary Si through manipulating nucleation potency of TiB2 particles
No full textData availability:
No data was used for the research described in the article.In Part I of this study, the interfacial segregation of Fe and Si at the Al/TiB2 interface in an Al-3.7Ti-1.5B-1.0Fe-1.0Si master alloy was reported, with the structure and chemistry of the interfacial layers investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). In Part II, the TiB2 particles, in which Fe and Si segregation had been established, were introduced into Al-Fe-Si and Al-Si alloys, respectively. The objective was to enhance heterogeneous nucleation of primary Fe-containing intermetallic compounds (Fe-IMCs) and primary Si particles in these alloys. Experimental results demonstrate that the primary β-Al4.5FeSi IMCs and primary Si particles were significantly refined by the inoculation of TiB2 particles exhibiting Fe and Si segregation on their surfaces. This refinement is attributed to the high nucleation potency of the segregated TiB2, which provides both compositional and structural templating. Well-defined orientation relationships at the Fe-IMC/(Fe, Si)TiB2 and Si/(Fe, Si)TiB2 interfaces were observed, offering solid evidence that both primary phases nucleate heterogeneously on the surface of segregated TiB2 particles. These findings further validate the proposed mechanism, that both structural and compositional templating are necessary to enhance the nucleation of primary phases.This work was financial supported by the EPSRC (UK) for under grant number EP/N007638/1 (Future Liquid Metal Engineering Hub). This work is also supported by Brunel University London BRIEF award (11937131)
Predictor-based observer and resilient controller design for aperiodic sampled-data systems with disturbance and output delay
No full textData availability statement:
Data will be made available on reasonable request.In this paper, the control problem based on state/disturbance observers is studied for a class of networked aperiodic sampled-data systems with unknown disturbances and output delays. A novel observer structure is devised to estimate states and disturbances by predicting the actual output of the system. Moreover, the disturbance constraint is broadened to encompass wider types such as unbounded finite derivatives. Based on the obtained estimation of disturbance and state, a resilient controller is proposed to compensate for the impact caused by controller parameter perturbations. In particular, a new class of Lyapunov-like functionals is constructed to extend the sampling interval associated with exponential convergence. By employing matrix analysis and integration techniques, sufficient criteria are established to guarantee the exponential convergence of the networked aperiodic sampled-data closed-loop dynamics. The obtained criteria reveal that the estimation error of the disturbance depends only on the errors of the predictor and state observation, benefiting from the novel structure of the devised observer. The parameter gains of the observer and controller are readily determined by solving a set of convex optimisation constraints. The effectiveness and superiority of the proposed observer-based control algorithm are confirmed through developed examples.This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 61903254, the Royal Society of the UK, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany
First passage time of stochastic differential systems: Probability estimation and probability guaranteed control
No full textData availability:
Data will be made available on request.This paper is concerned with the probability estimation and probability guaranteed control problems for the first passage time (FPT) of a class of nonlinear systems described by stochastic differential equations (SDEs) within a given boundary. Taking advantage of the comparison theorem of the SDE, a one-dimensional conservatism process is constructed as an upper bound on the process induced by the boundary condition, based on which the FPT probability can be calculated either analytically or numerically. Furthermore, by virtue of the stochastic analysis and the matrix inequality technique, sufficient conditions are established to ensure that such probabilities exceed certain prescribed thresholds in two different scenarios: in the stay-in scenario, the state trajectory is ensured to remain within a given region for a certain period, and in the entry scenario, the state trajectory is ensured to enter a given region within a certain period. Moreover, as an application, the output feedback controller is designed so that the FPT probability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed to exceed a specified index. Finally, numerical examples are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical results.This work is jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant (No. 62072111) and the STCSM (No. 23JC1400800)
Experimental study on pin-fin shapes for bubble growth and heat transfer in microchannel heat exchangers
Get PDFData availability:
Data will be made available on request.The microchannel heat exchangers (MCHXs) with pin-fin array using electronic fluoride liquid have become one of the promising solutions for dissipating excessive localised heat flux due to the continuous advancement in computing capabilities and the miniaturization of electronic devices. However, the detailed mechanisms by which pin-fin shape influences microscale flow patterns and thermal behaviour remain insufficiently understood, necessitating further in-depth investigation. This study experimentally evaluates the performance of the MCHXs with circular, diamond, and drop pin-fins. A high-speed camera is used to visualise the bubble growth process and investigate the flow regimes variation under different heat fluxes and flow rates. The results show that, at a heat flux of 90 kW/m2, the maximum equivalent bubble diameters for diamond, circular, and drop are 4.6 mm, 4.1 mm and 3.9 mm, respectively, leading to the lowest pressure drop for the MCHX with drop shapes
Extreme heat risk and the potential implications for the scheduling of football matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Get PDFData availability:
All data used in this study are freely available to download via the links provided in the “Materials and methods” section.Supplementary information is available online at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00484-025-02852-4#Sec17 .Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent and intense. This negatively impacts many aspects of society, including organised sport. As the world’s most watched sporting event, the FIFA World Cup commands particular attention around the threat of extreme heat. The 2022 tournament in Qatar was moved from summer to winter in response to this threat, and now attention turns to the 2026 tournament in North America with extreme heat risk across many of the 16 host locations. We examine this risk by modelling wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) – a widely used measure of heat stress – for the host locations using hourly meteorological data for the period 2003–2022. Our results show that 14 out of 16 host locations exceed WBGTs of 28 °C, with four (nine) exceeding this threshold more than half the time during afternoons across the mean (hottest year) of the 20 year record. This threshold is important as the level beyond which some football governing bodies recommend match delay or postponement. A climatically sound argument is therefore presented to reschedule kick-off times outside the hottest afternoon hours for the host locations with highest heat risk at which no indoor air conditioned environment exists – primarily Miami and Monterrey, but also Philadelphia, Kansas City, Boston and New York. This study highlights the need to carefully assess heat risk ahead of major sporting events to help inform any potential interventions needed in the scheduling of matches and competitions in a warming climate.This study received no external funding from any research council or funding body and is therefore institution-funded from the salaries paid to co-authors from their institutions
“Making Choices for Yourself”: A Qualitative Visual Methods Study on Adolescent Boys’ Autonomy in Physical Activity
Get PDFData availability statement:
Data supporting the findings are not available.Supplemental Material is available online at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/07435584251330810#supplementary-materials .Understanding the factors that promote and discourage physical activity among adolescent boys is critical for their long-term health and well-being. This qualitative study investigates the influence of autonomy on physical activity, emphasizing the importance of choice and volition while considering how masculinities shape motivations and behaviors. Utilizing innovative visual methods across two time periods, 13 boys in the UK aged 13 to 17 participated in photo-elicitation interviews. Initial interviews involved researcher-led photo-boards depicting motivational topics and physical activities. Participants were then asked to take photographs of what motivates them to be active, which were discussed in follow-up interviews 2 to 12 weeks later. This approach facilitated the co-construction of data and findings between participants and the researcher. Reflexive thematic analysis, framed by Self-Determination Theory and masculinity theories, revealed that perceived autonomy significantly influences adolescent boys’ motivation to participate in physical activity. This study highlights the pressure on boys to conform to hegemonic masculine sports environments. Boys in our study who felt restricted by these expectations either sought alternative forms of physical activity or withdrew altogether. In contrast, boys who experienced autonomy over their physical activity choices reported higher intrinsic motivation. We advocate tailoring programs to offer a range of physical activities that accommodate different preferences and gendered behavior. Addressing rigid masculine expectations and ensuring inclusivity in physical activity will help promote active lifestyles, boost self-esteem, and support positive body image for all adolescent boys.The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article
User-centred artificial intelligence for game design and development with GAGeTx: Graphical Asset Generation and Transformation
Get PDFThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonIn an increasingly digitalised world, visual media is utilised in a wide array of forms. This visual
content ismade up ofmany individual elements, referred to as graphical assets. A wide variety
of well established and nascentmethods, referred to as graphical asset generators (GAGs), can
be used to automate the production of graphical assets. Video games are a popular and growing
application of graphical assets, requiring copious amounts of 3D and 2D visual content. The aim
of this thesis is to examine how generativemethods can be applied to the creation of graphical
assets for games, and to discover how game designers and developers choose to utilise them.
This is achieved through the pursuit of 5 research objectives: first, collating and examining the
state-of-the-art of GAGs in the literature; second, developing a framework for using, implementing
and evaluating GAGs (GAGeTx); third, obtaining user needs and preferences through a user
experiment; fourth, developing a proof-of-concept prototype tool, serving to validate GAGeTx;
fifth, refining the framework through further user experimentation using the prototype tool.
Contributions of this thesis include: the GAGeTx framework; a systematic literature review
state-of-the-art GAG methods; empirical findings on user needs and requirements; a novel, game
engine-integrated framework and prototype tool for sword generation; and a method for dataset
creation, tailored to unsupervised deep learning for GAG tasks.
The GAGeTx framework offers a comprehensive categorisation and conceptualisation of GAG
methods, which allows researchers and practitioners to identify or create themost appropriate
GAGmethods given their needs and requirements, through a step-wise process built on empirical
findings. This is supported by the integration of GAG evaluationmetrics and the consideration
of user pipeline applications. The systematic literature review consolidates fragmented research
fromvarious domains into a unified taxonomy, identifying key aspects of GAGs. This facilitates
cross-over between domains and provides a valuable entry point for both new researchers and
practitioners in the field ofGAGresearch. Empirical findings fromuser studies provide guidelines
for integrating GAG tools into game design and production pipelines withminimal friction and
facilitating the adaptation ofGAGresearch into practical tools. In addition, they identify the appropriatemetrics
for evaluating the strength and utility ofGAGtools based on their technique, further
aiding in the benchmarking and improvement of GAGmethods. The prototype, named Swordgen,
allows users to generate varied sword assets for games via several generative techniques at
different levels of user initiative, providing and validating a configurable and extendable framework
for game-engine integrated GAG tools. The dataset creation method enables the creation of
bespoke content and style specific datasets for training unsupervised deep-learning-based GAGs.
Through selecting specific data sources, including concept-art fromthe user’s current project, users
can control the design constraints of a GAG model, without compromising on dataset size
EXTENDED QUADRATIC TERM STRUCTURE MODELS FOR CREDIT RISK PRICING
No full textJEL classification: G12; G13.The stochastic discount factor of quadratic term structure models can be extended while retaining (quasi) closed form solutions for bonds and survival probabilities. Parameter restrictions guarantee non-negative and "well behaved" interest rates and default intensities. The extended quadratic models provide valuable new flexibility for credit risk pricing. Empirical evidence from the CDS spreads of ten diverse sovereigns shows that extended quadratic CDS pricing models outperform the classic quadratic model, since they are more general
Oral microbiome and nitric oxide biomarkers in older people with mild cognitive impairment and <i>APOE4</i> genotype
Get PDFData Availability:
Sequencing data have been deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information Sequence Read Archive Database and are available at BioProject PRJNA1106018. Code used for the analysis is available at https://github.com/jlhxx.Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype and nitric oxide (NO) deficiency are risk factors for age-associated cognitive decline. The oral microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining NO bioavailability during aging. The aim of this study was to assess interactions between the oral microbiome, NO biomarkers, and cognitive function in 60 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 60 healthy controls using weighted gene co-occurrence network analysis and to compare the oral microbiomes between APOE4 carriers and noncarriers in a subgroup of 35 MCI participants. Within the MCI group, a high relative abundance of Neisseria was associated with better indices of cognition relating to executive function (Switching Stroop, rs = 0.33, P = 0.03) and visual attention (Trail Making, rs = −0.30, P = 0.05), and in the healthy group, Neisseria correlated with working memory (Digit Span, rs = 0.26, P = 0.04). High abundances of Haemophilus (rs = 0.38, P = 0.01) and Haemophilus parainfluenzae (rs = 0.32, P = 0.03), that co-occurred with Neisseria correlated with better scores on executive function (Switching Stroop) in the MCI group. There were no differences in oral nitrate (P = 0.48) or nitrite concentrations (P = 0.84) between the MCI and healthy groups. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size identified Porphyromonas as a predictor for MCI and Prevotella intermedia as a predictor of APOE4-carrier status. The principal findings of this study were that a greater prevalence of oral P. intermedia is linked to elevated genetic risk for dementia (APOE4 genotype) in individuals with MCI prior to dementia diagnosis and that interventions that promote the oral Neisseria–Haemophilus and suppress Prevotella-dominated modules have potential for delaying cognitive decline.This paper represents independent research part-funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research as part of the Exeter Biomedical Research Centre (United Kingdom) (Grant Ref: NIHR203320). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR (United Kingdom) or the Department of Health and Social Care, United Kingdom. It was also supported by the National Institute of Health and Care Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South-West Peninsula, United Kingdom. J.E.L.'s PhD was supported by the University of Exeter Carlotta Palmer studentship. Genotyping was performed at deCODE Genetics. This work was funded in part through the Medical Research Council through the Proximity to Discovery: Industry Engagement Fund [External Collaboration, Innovation and Entrepreneurism: Translational Medicine in Exeter 2 (EXCITEME2), ref. MC_PC_17189] awarded to B.C. This project utilized equipment funded by the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund (WT097835MF), Wellcome Trust Multi User Equipment Award (WT101650MA), and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council LOLA award (BB/K003240/1)
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇