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Passive thigh heating improves isokinetic but not isotonic muscle function
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The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available online at: https://figshare.com/s/b1493067f473fa66a718 (https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.28303022).Purpose:
Optimal skeletal muscle function occurs when tissue temperature is elevated above resting. This study examined muscle torque production and maximal velocity responses to passive thigh heating on two occasions to determine the efficacy and reliability of the intervention.
Methods:
Twenty active, young participants (10 female) completed two identical visits whereby one thigh was wrapped in a water perfused garment circulating 50 °C water for 90 min; with the contralateral limb remaining unheated. Four maximal isokinetic repetitions were conducted at three speeds (slow, 60°/s; moderate, 180°/s; fast, 300°/s) followed by an isotonic set (25% MVIC) to assess muscle function on both limbs at baseline and every 30 min for 90 min. Muscle temperature (vastus lateralis) was assessed every 30 min.
Results:
Heating increased muscle temperature from baseline (32.2 ± 1.1 °C) to 30 min (36.8 ± 0.7 °C) with further 0.4 ± 1.3 °C increases in the following 30 min periods (p 0.9).
Discussion:
Passive heating of skeletal muscle improves peak torque production during moderate and fast isokinetic contractions and increases early force production in slow isokinetic contractions.There are no external funding sources associated with this project
Incorporating Multi hazard approach to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
Get PDFMeeting abstract presented at EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria. Session NH10.1, Multi-(hazard) risk assessments: Innovative approaches for disaster risk reduction, management, and climate change adaptation. Convener: Robert Sakic Trogrlic | Co-conveners: Marleen de Ruiter, Stefano Terzi, Silvia De Angeli, Anaïs Couasnon. Orals | Thu, 01 May, 10:45–12:30 (CEST), 14:00–18:00 (CEST) Room 1.31/32
Posters on site | Attendance Fri, 02 May, 10:45–12:30 (CEST).The compounding effects of multiple hazards are increasingly recognised as critical for understanding risk and informing decision-making. However, hazards are often treated as discrete and independent entities. This conventional approach frequently overlooks the intricate interactions between hazards and their combined impacts on specific locations. Such limitations can lead to inaccurate risk estimates, undermining the effectiveness of preparedness and response strategies. As the shortcomings of single-hazard approaches become more apparent, there is growing recognition of the need for a comprehensive framework that integrates stakeholder perspectives and scientific insights. This integration can enhance multi-hazard risk management strategies, improving resilience and better aligning with the complexities of a changing climate and evolving hazard landscapes. Therefore, this paper examines multi-hazard information to local-level decision-making in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), with a focus on Essex as part of the MEDiate ('Multi-hazard and risk-informed system for enhanced local and regional disaster risk management') project, funded by the Horizon Europe. Essex, a low-lying county with a 905 km coastline and a high population density concentrated in southern coastal regions, is significantly susceptible to extreme wind and rainfall events, storm surges, and flooding. Through this case study, we demonstrate the generation of tailored multi-hazard information through policy reviews, analyses of spatially compounding extreme wind and rainfall events, and stakeholder engagement workshops. The results revealed that UK national policies acknowledge multi-hazard risks, DRM and CCA approaches largely remain single-hazard focused. The result of spatially compound event analysis indicate increases in wind speed and rainfall intensity by 2050, with coastal and southwestern Essex identified as high-exposure regions with a 100-year event, the mean daily maximum wind speed, recorded at 10.7 ms-1 during the baseline period, is anticipated to rise to 11 ms-1 by 2050. The stakeholder workshop highlighted the need for multi-hazard information to be compatible with existing systems, tailored to specific purposes, accessible, and integrative. This study developed a methodology to support multi-hazard risk-informed decision-making by generating practical and applicable insights for planning and managing risks, ultimately enhancing climate change adaptation
Predicting indoor environmental conditions using correlation models for behaviour change suggestions
Get PDFBackground: Behaviour changes by end-users have been seen as an effective action to tackle the global climate crisis and improve indoor and outdoor environmental quality, while energy and carbon savings and promoting health and well-being are notably observed. However, indoor environmental quality predictive modelling for participatory research has not been developed yet due to the lack of a user-friendly method. Purpose: We present a framework to predict indoor air temperature, air change for ventilation efficacy and indoor illuminance for daylight by correlating indoor and outdoor climates. Research Design: The method integrates indoor-outdoor climate correlation models, bioclimatic design, and occupant-centric control decision-making processes. The predictive modelling was developed from a series of pre-defined boundary conditions, and the case studies were demonstrated using an occupied multi-family apartment building in Switzerland. Result: The presented method uses real-time and forecasted outdoor weather to predict indoor environmental conditions and provides results for different building operation actions. Conclusions: Recommendations for practical applications are discussed according to Fogg’s behaviour model in developing the participatory research for the eco-feedback approach to applying the framework to behaviour interventions, considering increasing the ability, opportunities and motivation of end-users in predicting indoor environmental quality.This study has been funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement N° 958345 for the PRELUDE project (https://prelude-project.eu)
Crop recommendation with machine learning: leveraging environmental and economic factors for optimal crop selection
Get PDFData availability – The data that support the findings of this study are openly available from three sources. The data: Kaggle (https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/vihith12/crop-yield recommendationdataset) for environmental parameters and the India Directorate of Economics and Statistics (https://eands.dacnet.nic.in/Cost_of_Cultivation.htm) and Farmer’s Portal for economic parameters of cost and price (https://farmer.gov.in/mspstatements.aspx).Agriculture constitutes a primary source of food production, economic growth and employment in India, but the sector is confronted with low farm productivity and yields aggravated by increased pressure on natural resources and adverse climate change variability. Efforts involving green revolution, land irrigations, improved seeds and organic farming have yielded suboptimal outcomes. The adoption of computational tools like crop recommendation systems offers a new way to provide insights and help farmers tackle low productivity. However, most agricultural recommendation systems in India focus narrowly on environmental factors and regions, limiting accurate predictions of high-yield, profitable crops. This study uses environmental and economic factors with 19 crops across 15 states to develop and evaluate Random Forest and SVM models using 10-fold Cross Validation, Time-series Split, and Lag Variables. The 10-fold cross validation showed high accuracy (RF: 99.96%, SVM: 94.71%) but raised overfitting concerns. Introducing temporal order, better reflecting real-world conditions, reduced performance (RF: 78.55%, SVM: 71.18%) in the Time-series this http URL further increase the model accuracy while maintaining the temporal order, the Lag Variables approach was employed, which resulted in improved performance (RF: 83.62%, SVM: 74.38%) compared to the 10-fold cross validation approach. Overall, the models in the Time-series Split and Lag Variable Approaches offer practical insights by handling temporal dependencies and enhancing its adaptability to changing agricultural conditions over time. Consequently, the study shows the Random Forest model developed based on the Lag Variables as the most preferred algorithm for optimal crop recommendation in the Indian context...
Managed inclusion and the politics of erasure: Gender governance in higher education under neoliberal authoritarianism
Get PDFThis article draws on data collected during the British Council-funded research project “A Study to Further Gender Equality in India” (2021–2023), in which the author led the policy strand. The views and interpretations expressed here are solely those of the author.This article conceptualizes managed inclusion as a form of gender governance in higher education that absorbs feminist and anti-caste critique into frameworks of visibility, moral regulation, and procedural compliance. Drawing on interviews across ten Indian universities, it develops a typology of symbolic, technocratic, and transformative inclusion and argues that equity is mobilized less as a commitment to justice than as a strategy of reputational management and epistemic containment. Visibility is granted without authority, equity is proceduralized without redistribution, and dissent is domesticated through institutional decorum. The analysis is situated within what Giroux theorizes as neoliberal fascism, a conjuncture sustained by three interlocking fundamentalisms: market fundamentalism, religious moralism, and manufactured ignorance, which together enable authoritarian rule and suppress critical thought. The article suggests that India’s National Education Policy 2020 exemplifies a broader global shift in which inclusion is reconfigured as a technology of erasure rather than a vehicle for justice. Gender equity is recast through performance metrics and nationalist virtue, while subaltern knowledges are rendered illegible. It concludes by reclaiming inclusion as political praxis grounded in epistemic dissent, collective struggle, and the dismantling of caste-patriarchal power.This article draws on data collected during the British Council-funded research project ‘A Study to Further Gender Equality in India’ (2021–2023), in which the author led the policy strand
Essays on accounting quality
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonThis thesis comprises of four empirical essays on the decision-usefulness of reported accounting information in the United Kingdom (UK). In the first essay, we examine the efficacy of the EU Accounting Directive’s (AD) deregulatory agenda in the UK capital market. The main purpose of the AD was to simplify firms’ accounting requirements to reduce their administrative burdens, with a special emphasis on lowering the business costs of small firms. Using a sample of UK firms, we find that reported business costs are lower post AD adoption. Further analysis reveals that the benefits of this cost reduction are lower in small firms than non-small firms. A second goal of the AD was to ensure that the simplification and flexibility offered in its reporting provisions must not undermine accounting quality. In this regard, we find that the post AD adoption period coincides with a period of lower earnings persistence, lower conservatism, increased smoothing and lower value relevance for UK firms. There also appears to be a shift from accruals management towards real activities manipulation during this period. This decline in accounting quality is exhibited in both small and non-small firms. Overall, we find that the AD regulatory agenda has been partially attained in the UK. Our results should assist policy makers in assessing the efficacy of the AD provisions for UK firms.
In the second essay, we contribute to the literature on the externalities of firms’ financial reporting practices on their peer firms’ investments. If managers use their peer firms’ financial disclosures for investment decisions, it is plausible that their investments are related to peer accounting quality. Consistent with this argument, in a sample of FTSE All-Share Index firms, we find that the investment level and investment efficiency are both positively associated with peer accounting quality. We also argue that managers’ use of peer disclosures for investment decisions is related to their firm’s financial leverage, dividend payout and profit performance. Consistent with this argument, we find that the association between investment efficiency and peer accounting quality is more positive with increased financial leverage but less positive with increased dividend payout and increased profitability. Our results suggest that managers under greater pressure to invest efficiently are more likely to rely on peer disclosures. Additional analysis reveals that the association between investment efficiency and peer accounting quality is more positive in industries with a relatively small number of peer firms. Finally, we find that firms’ investment efficiency is positively associated with the industry accounting quality, and that the firm’s leverage, dividend payout and profitability moderate this relationship.
In the third essay, we contribute to the literature on the externalities of firms’ financial reporting practices for their peer firms’ dividend policies. Specifically, we examine how the level of conditional conservatism in peer firms’ financial disclosures are related to managerial decisions to pay dividends. Peer firms’ financial disclosures are a relevant source of information for managers and capital providers faced with incomplete information for decision-making. More conservative peer disclosures lower information asymmetry, improve reporting transparency, and provide financial information users with reliable accounting numbers for assessing peer performance, and consequently, firm performance, thereby improving decision-making. Hence, increased peer conservatism empowers investors to negotiate more efficient contracts with managers, restricting inefficient investments and increasing dividend payments. Consistent with our argument, in a sample of FTSE All-Share Index firms, we find that firms with higher peer conservatism pay more dividends. We also find that this positive association is more pronounced for firms with higher information asymmetry, free cash flow problems and shareholder monitoring. Additional analysis reveals that peer conservatism mitigates the underpayment of dividends, but not overpayment of dividends. Our results are robust to alternative variable measurements and model specifications.
In the fourth essay, we contribute to the externalities of firms’ financial disclosures for their peer firms’ capital structure. Specifically, we argue that if capital providers view peer firms’ financial disclosures as relevant sources of information to make financing decisions about their own firms, then it is plausible that peer accounting quality is related to the firm’s optimal capital structure. Using a sample of FTSE All-Share Index non-financial firms, we find that increased peer accounting quality is associated with higher deviations from the firm’s optimal capital structure, after controlling for the firm’s accounting quality. This suggests that increased peer accounting quality generates negative externalities for the firm’s capital structure. Further analysis reveals that peer accounting quality is positively associated with underleverage but exhibits no alignment with overleverage. In additional analysis, we examine the moderating role of management performance in this relationship, as capital providers have incentives to assess management performance before making their financing decisions. We find that in efficiently (inefficiently) managed firms, the association between peer accounting quality and deviations from the optimal capital structure is less (more) pronounced. Subsample analysis suggests that management performance positively moderates the link between peer accounting quality and overleverage but appears to be unrelated to underleverage
Poly(vinyl alcohol)‐Agar Double Network Hydrogels: Linking Formulation to Mechanical and Rheological Properties
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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Hydrogels are used widely in healthcare disciplines due to factors such as their high water content and safety profile. However, the materials are typically soft and may not be suitable for applications under stress, such as implantation into load‐bearing sites. It has been shown that tough hydrogels may be formed by combining brittle chemically‐cross‐linked polymers with a physically‐entangled system to give “double‐network” hydrogels. However, the process for chemically cross‐linking polymers typically requires reactive species, which are unsafe to use outside of specialised facilities. Furthermore, once the chemical network is formed, the material cannot be remolded. In this study, double‐network hydrogels have been formed from two physical networks, namely agar and PVA hydrogels. Agar forms a helical polymer network supported by non‐covalent interactions, whereas PVA can form a so‐called “cryogel” by freeze‐thaw cycling to induce crystallites, which cross‐link the network. It has been shown that this approach to producing double‐network hydrogels gives tough materials without harsh cross‐linking agents. Relationships between PVA molecular weight and gel mechanical properties are probed by approaches including needle‐injection, tensile testing, and shear rheometric methods. Formulation factors such as concentration, freeze time, and storage time are also explored
Engineering Innovations for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Recycling: A Systematic Review of Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions in Circular Economy Integration
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The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/machines13050362/s1.Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) recycling poses significant engineering challenges and opportunities, particularly regarding material integrity, energy efficiency, and integration into circular manufacturing systems. This systematic review evaluates recent advancements in mechanical innovations, tooling strategies, and intelligent technologies reshaping PVC recycling. An emphasis is placed on machinery-driven solutions—including high-efficiency shredders, granulators, extrusion moulders, and advanced sorting systems employing hyperspectral imaging and robotics. This review further explores chemical recycling technologies, such as pyrolysis, gasification, and supercritical fluid extraction, for managing contamination and additive removal. The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, notably digital twins and artificial intelligence, is highlighted for its role in predictive maintenance, real-time quality assurance, and process optimisation. A combined PRISMA approach and ontological mapping are applied to classify technological pathways and lifecycle optimisation strategies. Critical engineering constraints—including thermal degradation, additive leaching, and feedstock heterogeneity—are examined alongside emerging innovations, like additive manufacturing and microwave-assisted depolymerisation, offering scalable, low-emission solutions. Regulatory instruments, such as REACH and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), are analysed for their influence on machinery compliance and design standards. Drawing from sustainable manufacturing frameworks, this study also promotes energy efficiency, eco-designs, and modular integration in recycling systems. This paper concludes by proposing a digitally optimized, machinery-integrated recycling model aligned with circular economy principles to support the development of future-ready PVC reprocessing infrastructures. This review serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, advancing sustainable polymer recycling.This research received no external funding
Mechanical and microstructural properties of glass powder-modified recycled brick-concrete aggregate concrete
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Data will be made available on request.In order to achieve a better recycling of construction waste and explore the mechanical properties of concrete after incorporating multiple types of construction waste, this paper uses discarded concrete as recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), waste clay bricks as recycled fine brick aggregate (RFBA), and waste glass powder (GP) as an auxiliary cementitious material. Taking fully into account the modification effect of GP on the mortar matrix, a new type of green recycled concrete, namely GP modified Recycled Brick-Concrete Aggregate Concrete (GBCC), is prepared. Through a four-factor, four-level orthogonal experimental design combined with microstructural analyses (XRD, SEM, EDS, MIP), the mechanical properties and synergistic mechanisms of GBCC were systematically investigated. Results demonstrate that under the optimal mix ratio (15 % RCA, 40 % RFBA, 10 % GP, and water-binder ratio of 0.48), the 28-day cube compressive strength of GBCC reaches 39.2 MPa (equivalent to 100 % of C30 concrete), while the axial compressive strength and splitting tensile strength are 29.8 MPa and 2.72 MPa, respectively, meeting the design requirements of C30 concrete. Notably, at 40 % RFBA replacement, GBCC achieves over 90 % of the compressive strength of conventional C30 concrete. Microscopic analysis indicated that C-(A)-S-H gels formed by GP and RFBA reduced the total porosity by approximately 18 % (MIP test) and increased the proportion of harmless pores (<20 nm) to 25∼28 %, effectively refining the pore structure. SEM-EDS observations revealed dense gel filling at the interfacial transition zone, with the Ca/Si ratio of the gel reduced to 0.29, significantly enhancing interfacial bonding. This study pioneers the efficient co-utilization of RCA, RFBA, and GP, and for the first time integrates SEM-EDS microstructural characterization with molecular chemical analysis to elucidate the formation mechanisms of gels.This research was supported by the International Science and Technology Cooperation Project of Henan Province (241111521200), the Advantageous Discipline Strength Enhancement Program of Zhongyuan University of Technology (GG202419), and the Open Fund of Henan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Low-Carbon Technology of Efficient Utilization of New Energy (JDDT2024–005). The authors gratefully acknowledge these supports
Facial Features Controlled Smart Vehicle for Disabled/Elderly People
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The datasets presented in this article are not readily available because the data are part of an ongoing study. Requests to access the datasets should be directed to the corresponding author.Mobility limitations due to congenital disabilities, accidents, or illnesses pose significant challenges to the daily lives of individuals with disabilities. This study presents a novel design for a multifunctional intelligent vehicle, integrating head recognition, eye-tracking, Bluetooth control, and ultrasonic obstacle avoidance to offer an innovative mobility solution. The smart vehicle supports three driving modes: (1) a nostril-based control system using MediaPipe to track displacement for movement commands, (2) an eye-tracking control system based on the Viola–Jones algorithm processed via an Arduino Nano board, and (3) a Bluetooth-assisted mode for caregiver intervention. Additionally, an ultrasonic sensor system ensures real-time obstacle detection and avoidance, enhancing user safety. Extensive experimental evaluations were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the system. The results indicate that the proposed vehicle achieves an 85% accuracy in nostril tracking, over 90% precision in eye direction detection, and efficient obstacle avoidance within a 1 m range. These findings demonstrate the robustness and reliability of the system in real-world applications. Compared to existing assistive mobility solutions, this vehicle offers non-invasive, cost-effective, and adaptable control mechanisms that cater to a diverse range of disabilities. By enhancing accessibility and promoting user independence, this research contributes to the development of inclusive mobility solutions for disabled and elderly individuals.National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U21A20447); the APC was funded by the Brunel University London Publications Fund
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