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Ctrl + Alt + Studio:Exploring educational capital and social dynamics in virtual studios
Get PDFThis paper investigates how moving the architectural design studio from its conventional physical setting to an online multi-user virtual environment (MUVE) affects students' social dynamics. Building on Pierre Bourdieu's concepts of educational capital, habitus and field alongside Jozef Bochenski's theories of authority, the authors employed a quasi-experimental approach with 15 architecture students who completed design tasks in a MUVE while experiencing different forms of tutor-imparted educational capital—specifically written critiques and letter grades. Data collection through linkography, observations and retrospective interviews facilitated analysis of how authority manifests among students in this remediated environment. The findings reveal that MUVEs transform the studio's ‘field’, requiring students to adapt their established habitus while fostering new forms of educational capital tied to technical competence. Letter grades undergo devaluation in virtual environments, while written critiques gain prominence as indicators of epistemic skill. Praised students gained authority among peers and led design conversations with critical verbalisations (CVs), while in grading scenarios, low-graded students were marginalised in high-majority variants but not in low-majority conditions. The gamified nature of MUVEs creates a less formal learning atmosphere that encourages experimentation and peer interaction. These subtle transformations cumulatively impact design practise, influencing students’ decision-making processes, technical language and judgement. By examining the social implications of remediating the design studio, this research contributes to architectural pedagogy by providing insights into how virtual environments reshape not only the practical aspects of design education but also its foundational social dynamics that shape students' architectural identity
Digital design optimization and off-site modularization for modern stone masonry construction
Get PDFThis research presents an optimization-driven computational design and fabrication method for off-site construction (OSC) of unreinforced masonry structures. Aimed at modernizing sustainable stone construction, this work first introduces a parametric design model that automates the geometry generation and structural analysis of such structures. A key innovation is the application of truss layout optimization to design a reusable support cassette for holding and transporting pre-assembled stone arches. Furthermore, through controlled laboratory replication of on-site assembly, the structural behavior during the critical lifting and placement phases was closely monitored, revealing the constructed arch’s inherent strength and stability. The optimized truss-like cassette system demonstrated satisfactory performance, with adjustable components effectively securing arch blocks for precise fit, aided by careful fabrication tolerances and laser-cut precision. The inter-block gaps are effectively minimized via either turnbuckles or ratchet straps. Simple assembly experiments underscore the significant potential of OSC to enhance the efficiency of unreinforced masonry construction. The challenges in the design and setup process have been reported and evaluated to provide insights for future work. This study solidifies the effective integration of computational design and digital manufacturing, significantly advancing modern OSC and streamlining sustainable building practices
Guiding drivers' attention to the right place at the right time during transitions from SAE level 2 driving system: Effects of warning directionality and audiovisual asynchrony
Get PDFDriver visual attention is crucial for the safe transition of control from higher levels of automation to manual driving. Without efficient visual sampling of their surroundings during the transition process, drivers have an increased risk of collisions, due to reduced situation awareness, imposed by automated driving. The use of directional auditory warnings has been proposed as an effective way for guiding drivers' attention to the right place at the right time, during transitions of control that require a lane change for obstacle avoidance. Here, directional auditory warnings either direct drivers' attention towards a free lane (i.e., towards-free-lane warnings) or towards a hazard (i.e., towards-hazard warnings). Whilst studies have demonstrated that the towards-hazard warnings facilitate faster hazard detection, relative to non-directional warnings, little is known about the effects of towards-free-lane auditory warnings on gaze behaviours. Studies have also shown that temporal separation of auditory warnings and visual information can improve the effectiveness of warnings, by attenuating the visual dominance effect. However, the impact of this temporal separation on drivers' gaze behaviour during transitions from automation remains unknown. Using a driving simulator study with forty-eight participants, we investigated how directional auditory warnings and asynchronous presentation of auditory warnings and visual information affect drivers' gaze behaviour during transitions from a hands-on SAE L2 driving system. Results showed that, compared to non-directional warnings, directional auditory warnings reduced the probability of fixation to wing mirrors. Towards-hazard and towards-free-lane warnings effectively guided drivers' visual attention to the hazard location and the free lane, respectively, and also led to faster fixations on these areas. However, under towards-hazard warnings, drivers still adhered to their habit of checking the free lane wing mirror during lane changes with these warnings. Finally, longer stimulus onset asynchronies (SOA) were associated with faster fixations to the wing mirrors and quicker hazard detection, suggesting that longer SOAs attenuated visual dominance effect, leading to an increase in the effectiveness of directional auditory warnings in guiding drivers' visual attention. Findings from this study provide valuable insights for the design of in-vehicle warning systems in automated vehicles
Carbon leakage in emissions trading systems: a systematic review and meta-analysis of ex-ante and ex-post evidence
Get PDFEmissions Trading Systems (ETSs) are a widely adopted policy tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, emission reductions achieved within ETSs can be partially offset by increases in emissions elsewhere , a phenomenon known as carbon leakage. This paper systematically reviews the global literature on carbon leakage associated with ETSs through a combined quantitative meta-analysis and qualitative synthesis. Findings show that ex-ante modelling studies generally report positive carbon leakage rates, with estimates varying widely across schemes. Leakage rates are typically lower when more of the global emissions are covered, anti-leakage measures are included, and when using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Ex-post studies find leakage through channels such as interstate electricity trade in the U.S. and investment relocation in the EU ETS and China pilot ETSs. Findings on goods trade and carbon transfer within firms are mixed. These findings highlight the differences in results between ex-ante and ex-post studies, the heterogeneity of leakage outcomes across schemes, and the critical role of country-specific context in designing ETSs and associated anti-leakage measures.
Key policy insights
The systematic review finds that ex-ante studies estimate a lower leakage rate when emissions coverage is broader, anti-leakage measures are included, and computable general equilibrium models are used.
Ex-post studies evidence leakage through specific channels including investment leakage in the EU ETS and Chinese pilot ETSs, and coal-to-gas substitution in the U.S. regional ETSs.
Jurisdictions designing a mitigation policy should account for context-specific leakage risks when evaluating alternative policy instruments. Further ex-ante evidence on leakage is needed for emerging ETSs beyond the major schemes.
To comprehensively address carbon leakage, a broader, integrated policy mix incorporating both demand- and supply- side anti-leakage measures, enhanced international cooperation, and sector-specific supports is recommended
Development of the ‘COuld it Be RA’ (COBRA) tool to facilitate early identification of people at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in primary care
No full textObjectives We aimed to develop a new complex intervention, the ‘COuld it Be RA’ (COBRA) tool, to support the implementation of a clinical prediction model to identify people likely to be anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) positive and at risk of rheumatoid arthritis in primary care.
Methods The COBRA tool was developed using the UK Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health and Care Research complex intervention research framework. This study involved three sequential phases with primary care clinicians: a qualitative descriptive study, clinician consultation engagement workshops and a think-aloud interview study. Ethical approval was obtained for all three phases.
Results Sixteen primary care clinicians participated in semistructured interviews to identify barriers and facilitators. An initial list of nine candidate components for the intervention, including design considerations, was developed. During phase 2 workshops with eight participants, four components were prioritised as ‘Must have’ or ‘Should have’: the clinical decision support system (CDSS); guidance on using the CDSS/associated actions; evidence for the CDSS; patient education resources. A COBRA tool prototype incorporating these components was developed.
Twelve participants tested the prototype during think-aloud interviews. Key perceived benefits of the COBRA tool included supporting clinicians’ decision-making and reducing unnecessary anti-CCP testing. Over 40 changes were made to the COBRA tool.
Conclusion Our research included the views of clinicians and PPI representatives and was underpinned by a complex intervention research framework. This was critical to understanding barriers and facilitators to implementing the clinical prediction model in primary care and developing the COBRA tool
Quantum iterative methods for solving differential equations with application to computational fluid dynamics
Get PDFQuantum methods are proposed for solving differential equations that are based on a gradual improvement of the solution via an iterative process, and are targeted at applications in fluid dynamics. First, the Jacobi iteration is implemented on a quantum register that utilizes a linear combination of unitaries (LCU) approach to store the trajectory information. Second, quantum methods are extended to Gauss-Seidel iterative methods. Additionally, a quantum-suitable resolvent decomposition is proposed based on the Woodbury identity. From a technical perspective, tools are developed and utilized for the block encoding of specific matrices as well as their multiplication. The approach is benchmarked on paradigmatic fluid dynamics problems. These results stress that instead of inverting large matrices, one can program quantum computers to perform multigrid-type computations and leverage corresponding advances in scientific computing
Motherhood on the move: new evidence of vulnerability for central American mothers migrating with children
Get PDFAlthough family units migrating together represent a considerable share of migrants in the Americas, there is limited research exploring how migrating with children shapes women’s migratory cycles. This study uses new survey data, collected in 2022 from deportees in reception centres in Honduras and El Salvador, to explore how displacement, including transit and return, differed for women migrating with children compared to those without. We analyse these differences across the migration cycle, particularly looking at reasons for migration, logistics of travel and accommodation, perceptions of safety, experiences of violence and abuse, impacts on health and emotional wellbeing, and eventual interception and deportation. The survey findings reveal that, along nearly all dimensions of the journey, the experiences of women migrating with children were markedly different than those migrating without. Importantly, the differences consistently point to the heightened vulnerability of mothers migrating with children, especially solo mothers with children. Quantitative data on these dimensions of the migratory journey are rare, and as such, this unique survey data adds evidence indicating that migrating with children creates an added intersection of vulnerability for many female migrants in Central America
Refining Qualitative Methods for ESL Academic Literacy Research: Reflections from a Pilot Study in Bangladesh
Get PDFThis paper critically reflects on a pilot study within a doctoral research project investigating English as a Second Language (ESL) undergraduate students’ construction of academic literacy practices at a Bangladeshi Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based university. The study assessed the feasibility of a qualitative, multi-case methodology involving reflective diaries, interviews, and document analysis with one student and one tutor. Drawing on the conceptual framing of academic literacies, insights into the student’s engagement with ESL writing tasks, tutor expectations, and institutional constraints were revealed. The pilot identified methodological challenges, such as data completeness and recruitment barriers, alongside benefits like triangulated perspectives and iterative tool refinement. These reflections inform the refinement of data collection strategies and research focus for the main study, offering valuable implications for other researchers
Mycorrhizal symbiosis drives tolerance to potato cyst nematodes
Get PDFHost plant tolerance to pathogens is increasingly relevant as resistance sources and control options become scarce. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are known to enhance plant stress tolerance, but it remains unclear whether they are essential for, or complement, innate tolerance. We observed that potato cultivars described as tolerant to G. pallida suffered yield loss under nematode pressure when grown in sterile soils, indicating a lack of tolerance. The introduction of Rhizophagus irregularis increased tuber biomass during nematode parasitism, with cultivars commercially-labelled as tolerant exhibiting a stronger response to AM fungi. The data suggest cultivar differences in mycorrhizal responsiveness with differential expression of a range of plant sugar transporter genes in “tolerant” cultivars inferring a role of sugar allocation in host tolerance. Overall, AM fungi are critical for conferring tolerance against G. pallida and revealing the underpinning genes may provide useful targets to explore in current commercially desirable yet intolerant cultivars
Insights at the Crossroads: Reflecting on the Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learnt from my Pilot Study
Get PDFThis article discusses the importance of a pilot study in undertaking qualitative research, in line with reflexive approach. The pilot work was conducted in preparation for a thesis examining the integration and impact of Write&Improve system on Malaysian ESL secondary school teachers’ writing assessment literacy and their pedagogical practices within a technology-enhanced writing instruction context. This reflection highlights the benefits of pilot studies by detailing the practical and methodological challenges faced during the pilot phase and the subsequent adjustments made for the main study. Doing the pilot study proved to be valuable in three ways. These include: (1) facilitating essential adjustments that resulted in a satisfactory procedure for the main study, (2) deepening the researcher’s understanding of practical and contextual challenges, thereby enhancing methodological rigour and maintaining ethical standards, and (3) fostering reflective practice that contributes to researcher’s professional growth as a postgraduate researcher
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