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Internal Whistleblowing in the US after Digital Realty Trust v Somers: Any Lessons to be Learnt from Europe?
Get PDFThe US Supreme Court, in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. v Somers, held that employees, who only report securities law violations internally, are not whistleblowers and therefore do not qualify for whistleblower anti-retaliation protection under the Dodd-Frank Act. This decision is based on an accurate statutory interpretation and reflects a clear policy preference towards external whistleblowing in aid of the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) enforcement efforts. Despite the strong incentive to have fraudulent practices and violations reported to the SEC, employees that only make internal reports should not be left without protection. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, a different approach is observed with more emphasis on internal reporting as the first course of action for potential whistleblowers. European countries tend to prioritise resolving potential issues through internal reporting channels before involving external regulatory authorities. This emphasis on internal reporting is rooted in the belief that it promotes a culture of trust and accountability within companies. Digital Realty Trust v Somers clarified the scope of whistleblower protection under the Dodd-Frank Act, but also initiated a much-needed discussion about the different paths available to whistleblowers and the factors that should be taken into consideration before a decision is made to report externally or internally. Although in principle there is no right or wrong decision, there are some lessons to be learnt in the US and the examples of the UK, France and the EU should not be overlooked considering how interconnected and interdependent our society is
Examining trust in public service news providers: A comparison of the BBC and NHK
Get PDFData availability: Full replication data and code are available through the Harvard Dataverse, at https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/AUE81C.This study examines trust in public service broadcasters (PSBs), traditional news media, and social media news by comparing the BBC in England and NHK in Japan. Using 19 months of survey data, we analyze how demographics, political alignment, and general trust influence perceptions of PSBs. While the BBC enjoys high trust levels comparable to traditional news media, NHK does not hold the same distinction and consistently ranks lower than both traditional and social media news in Japan. Our findings reveal that trust in the BBC is highly polarized along political lines, with Conservative voters expressing significantly lower levels of trust. In contrast, NHK’s trust levels remain more stable across the political spectrum and are actually higher among Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)[1] supporters. These patterns reflect the different governance structures of the two broadcasters, with the BBC operating under a license fee model with editorial independence and NHK being directly overseen by the Japanese Diet. These results highlight the challenges which public service broadcasters face in maintaining trust in a rapidly evolving media landscape. While PSBs continue to play a vital role in providing reliable news, their credibility is shaped by national political contexts and institutional structures, with significant variation in how different audiences perceive them.This research was funded by the UKRI/ ESRC (grant number ES/W011913/1) and the JSPS (grant number JPJSJRP 20211704).
Funder Name: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Funder Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001691
Grant Number: JPJSJRP 20211704
Funder Name: Economic and Social Research Council
Funder Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000269
Grant Number: ES/W011913/
LSTM based SCC detection using ultrasonic testing based data
Get PDFRecent trends in the field of structural integrity highlight the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with related domains such as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), and the assessment of Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC). AI plays a pivotal role in developing intelligent solutions to complex challenges, particularly in the detection and characterization of SCC. While several techniques are available, this paper focuses on the Ultrasonic Testing (UT) based Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI), making it a robust Industry 4.0 solution. Deep learning, a subset of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, is already considered as a key technology in Industry 4.0 solutions. This paper discusses the detection of SCC in steel using UT based data and deep learning. The trained neural network model will be used for the detection of SCC in the steel
Prototyping and Evaluating TWIRL: A Temperature-Controlled DIY Airflow System for Enhancing Immersive Media
Get PDFThe text was partially generated with the help of ChatGPT [OpenAI, 2025].This study presents the design, prototyping, and user-centered evaluation of TWIRL (Thermal Wind Right and Left), a low-cost, temperature-controlled airflow system aimed at enhancing immersion in multisensory media experiences. TWIRL integrates hot and cold airflow generation, via Peltier-based cooling modules and modified hairdryer heating units, synchronized with audiovisual content using Sensory Effects Metadata (MPEG-V). A preliminary user study (N = 12) evaluated perceived realism, enjoyment, comfort, and engagement while experiencing thermally congruent video stimuli. The results indicated high participant acceptance, with thermal effects classified as realistic, pleasant, and nonintrusive, supported by strong internal consistency metrics. The participants expressed a willingness to use TWIRL in the future and recommend it, suggesting the potential of TWIRL to increase the presence and enjoyment of multisensory systems. The findings contribute to the understanding of thermal-wind integration in mulsemedia and offer design guidelines for future scalable, multisensory systems in the entertainment, education, and accessibility domains.This study was financed in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil) – Finance Code 7.570688/2020-00 and 88881.689984/2022-01, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ, Brazil) – Finance Code 307718/2020-4 and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Espírito Santo (FAPES, Brazil) – Finance Code 2021-GL60J
Assessing microbially influenced corrosion of titanium as novel canister material for geological disposal facilities
Get PDFData availability:
Data will be made available on request.Supplementary data are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016943322502495X?via%3Dihub#s0100 .In response to the growing global inventory of nuclear waste and the urgent need for secure long-term disposal solutions, geological disposal facilities (GDFs), also known as deep geological repositories, are being pursued worldwide. Several national programmes, including those in the UK, Japan, and Canada, are evaluating corrosion-resistant alloys for waste canisters. Among these, novel materials such as titanium alloys have emerged as promising candidates due to their protective TiO2 films. However, the threat of microbial corrosion under repository-relevant conditions remains highly unexplored. To address this, titanium discs (grade 2, ASTM B348) were incubated in bentonite slurries with synthetic pore-water at 30 °C and 60 °C under strictly anoxic, dark conditions, mimicking deep underground GDF environments. Electron donors (acetate, lactate) and an electron acceptor (sulphate) were added to stimulate microbial activity and assess long-term canister performance. All titanium samples retained an intact TiO2 layer with no detectable pitting or localised damage. Microscopic (SEM) and spectroscopic (XPS) analyses showed slight thinning of titanium oxide films and microbial presence co-located with bentonite, but no evidence of corrosion products or metal loss. Micro-FTIR showed functional groups associated with microbial presence (proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides) in the bentonite, but not on titanium surfaces. The experimental design aimed to promote bacterial activity by simulating worst-case GDF biotic conditions.
These findings demonstrate titanium’s exceptional stability against microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) in stimulated GDF-like environments. This study supports the structural viability of titanium canisters for nuclear waste disposal and underscores the importance of considering microbial factors in long-term corrosion assessments.MLM acknowledges funds from grant PID2022\u2013138402NB-C21 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ERDF. In addition, this work was funded by EURAD 1 & 2 initiatives under H2020-EURATOM (grant agreements 847593 and 101166718) awarded to MLM. MMH acknowledges support from grant FPU20/00583 from the Spanish Ministry of Universities. ADM acknowledges funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) DTP scholarship (project reference: 2748843)
Eco-Driving with Deep Reinforcement Learning at Signalized Intersections Considering On-the-fly Queue Dissipation Estimation and Lane-Merging Disturbances
Get PDFEco-driving research has grown significantly over the past decade, increasingly incorporating real-world traffic and road conditions such as road gradients, lane changes, and queue effects. However, most existing studies that account for queue effects are limited to single-lane scenarios, without considering lane-merging disturbances, and can only estimate queue length or discharge time within restricted regions. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a novel deep reinforcement learning (DRL) based eco-driving algorithm that simultaneously considers on-the-fly queue dissipation time estimation and lane-merging disturbances. The approach integrates a practical and cost-effective navigation-app-based traffic data sharing framework with a data-driven dissipation time estimation model, enabling the reinforcement learning agent to continuously receive accurate modified reference speeds that reflect both queueing and merging vehicle effects. Five comprehensive case studies, benchmarked against conventional and state-of-the-art eco-driving methods, were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method consistently achieves the best energy performance across all scenarios, reducing energy consumption by an average of 37.5% compared with the Intelligent Driver Model (IDM) baseline.Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Bureau Science and Technology;
Natural Science Foundation (Grant Number: 24JCQNJC00280)
Investigating the impact of surfactant-salt feed solution on PTFE membrane performance under varying feed and permeate temperatures in membrane distillation
Get PDFSupplementary material is available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263876225005635#sec0070 .Membrane distillation (MD) is a temperature-driven technology suitable for treating industrial wastewater, especially when utilizing low-grade heat sources like waste heat or renewable energy. Despite its potential, large-scale application of MD faces challenges due to high energy demands and operational instability caused by membrane fouling and wetting, particularly when surfactants are present. This study evaluated the thermal performance of a lab-pilot MD system using two commercial PTFE membranes. Initial experiments used saline feed solutions at varying feed and permeate temperatures. Subsequent tests introduced a non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100), with and without NaCl, to investigate membrane fouling and wetting behavior. Results showed that higher feed temperatures increased permeate flux across all conditions, but also accelerated fouling and wetting, thereby shortening operational time. Notably, in the absence of NaCl, membrane degradation occurred more slowly, resulting in more stable performance. The novelty of this study lies in revealing the combined effect of salinity and non-ionic surfactants on the fouling and wetting performance of commercially available PTFE membranes in membrane distillation. Using a comprehensive two-stage experimental approach, the work systematically correlates MD system performance with membrane degradation mechanisms under feed conditions representative of real industrial wastewater. This dual focus not only uncovers the interplay between surfactants and salts but also provides practically relevant insights into the reliability and applicability of PTFE membranes in industrial MD operations.The authors sincerely acknowledge the financial support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program for the iWAYS project (grant no 958274), as well as Departament de Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya (Codi ajut: 2021 SGR 01283)
Experiences of a global stressor during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of internal, partner and communal stress experiences across 20 nations
No full textAfter the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, individuals worldwide experienced considerable stress associated with the resulting threats and changes. However, only a few large-scale multination studies examined qualitatively the cultural variations of coping responses in people who were in romantic relationships and lived with their partners during the lockdown. To fill this gap, we conducted a qualitative analysis of individual perceptions of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community stressors. The analysis utilized cross-sectional data collected from 10,650 citizens of 20 countries during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–July 2020). Inductive thematic analysis revealed four main themes related to stressors and one theme related to coping resources: 1) concerns for individual health and well-being; 2) challenges to personal relationships; 3) loss of future time perspective and adaptation to changes; 4) reactions of society, government, and media; and 5) resilience against stress. The findings reflected remarkable homogeneity of stress experiences across various countries and a few but important cultural variations. The mental health implications of the findings are discussed.This research was supported by funding from American Psychological Association's Office of International Affairs (PI: Randall)
A low-cost Stewart platform-based multi-axis force/torque sensor using strain gauges
Get PDFMAIQS 2025: Innovating for Smart and Sustainable Industries and Societies.This paper introduces a new approach to build a multi-axis force/torque sensor using a low-cost pre-made strain gauge-based load cells available on the market. Multiple load cells are attached to a rigid Stewart platform, which is designed to decouple multi-axis force/torque values into force components, thereby estimating the multi-axis force/torque components using the decoupled force components. In this paper, the design methodology of the proposed multi-axis force/torque sensor including a theoretical approach are described on how to design the sensor platform geometry, and its actual prototype based on the theoretical method. This was fabricated using a rigid platform, load cells, and an electrical circuit for amplifiers. Finally, a set of experiments were carried out to verify the methodology using the prototype through a calibration process, and sensing performances were described in more detail.The research leading to these results has received funding from MSc project 2022-2023, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University London, U
Turning to Religion: NGO Accountability in a faith-based development organisation
Get PDFAcknowledgements: Earlier versions of the paper were presented at the Economics & Finance Department Advisory Board meeting, Brunel University London, 19th May 2022; British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Conference, Birmingham, April 2019; 9th Doctoral and Early Career Researchers Summer School in Management Accounting, Certosa di Pontignano – Siena, Italy, 15th – 18th July 2018. We are grateful for the valuable feedback received from three anonymous reviewers. Their suggestions helped shaped the paper. Finally, we would like to acknowledge our interviewees for their time and cooperation. Usual disclaimer applies.Data availability statement:
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether NGO accountability processes are influenced by religion. To achieve its aim, the paper draws on interview data from officers working in a faith-based NGO in Ghana. The officers describe their work as a commission to God and argue that they are be accountable to God. Religion is employed instrumentally to gain positive beneficiary testimonies that are drawn upon for accountability purposes. Because of their faith identity, NGO officers do not negatively experience hierarchical accountability processes but rather work towards holistic accountability. Our analyses show that the NGO officers utilise religion as a strategic resource that they draw upon to gain funding. Recently some funders have turned to religious and faith-based NGOs because they believe such organisations employ a more effective approach to aid work. The work of these faith-based organisations is important as it can contribute significantly to development
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