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Do social frontiers matter for depression?
Get PDFSocial frontiers – abrupt borders between communities – may heighten territorial and defensive behaviour, reduce opportunities for positive contact between groups, and exacerbate the sense of outgroup threat, resulting in a negative impact on mental health for residents living in neighbourhoods bounded by social frontiers. Previous research on the links between residential segregation and mental health has largely ignored the effect of social frontiers. To study the association between social frontiers and mental health we link Place Based Longitudinal Data Resource data on the numbers of depression diagnoses and antidepressant drugs prescribed by GPs with estimates of ethnic and religious social
frontiers produced from the 2011 and 2021 Census for all Lower Super Output Areas in England. These estimates are produced from spatial binomial / Poisson models that allow for spatial autocorrelation via a simultaneous autoregressive (SAR) type structure. We find strong and consistent evidence of an association between the prevalence of mental health problems at the neighbourhood level (Lower Super Output Areas) in England and the intensity of social frontiers for particular ethnic (Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, White British) and religious (Hindu, Jewish, Muslim) groups. For example, in 2021 depression rates were
between 1% and 67% higher for every 10% point increase in the intensity of social frontiers between Pakistani and non-Pakistani residents. Living in an area segregated by social frontiers is potentially detrimental to mental health. These results demonstrate the importance of understanding the role of community boundaries when considering the links between segregation and wellbeing
Does (professional) leadership matter for staff satisfaction? Evidence from a panel study of hospital boards
Get PDFGrounded in human capital theory, this study explores whether the presence of professional leaders, such as doctors on hospital governing boards, positively influences the organizational workforce. Drawing on eight years of data from the English NHS, the analysis finds no direct association between professional leadership and staff satisfaction. However, we identify a significant moderating effect attributable to two factors: the managerial experience of professional leaders and the degree of connectedness between board members. These findings highlight the importance of an emerging category of professional leader – the hybrid specialist – who can integrate depth of expertise with breadth of experience
Thermal performance of energy retaining walls in hot-dominant climates: experimental evaluation in unsaturated Brazilian soil
Get PDFGround source heat pump (GSHP) systems are widely adopted across many countries as efficient solutions for space heating and cooling, harnessing shallow geothermal energy—a renewable and low-carbon resource. In Brazil, where a substantial share of electricity consumption is linked to buildings, particularly due to air conditioning in the predominantly warm tropical climate, the integration of earth-retaining structures as ground heat exchangers—known as energy walls—presents a promising and cost-effective alternative to improve GSHP performance. A significant portion of Brazil’s landmass consists of unsaturated soils, where seasonal transitions between dry and rainy periods result in fluctuating groundwater levels and degrees of saturation. These changes affect essential ground thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity, and must be considered in the design of geothermal systems. This study presents preliminary findings from the first field investigation on energy retaining walls in Brazil, conducted at a representative tropical unsaturated soil site at the University of São Paulo in São Carlos. Two thermal performance tests (TPTs) were conducted during the rainy summer season—a period of increased cooling demand —on concrete wall panels embedded in unsaturated lateritic clayey sand. The objective of the tests was to assess the thermal performance of the lower section of an energy wall in contact with unsaturated soil on both sides, and to examine how different operating conditions (intermittent versus continuous operation) influence its performance in building cooling applications. Temperature sensors installed within the wall and surrounding soil recorded thermal variations throughout the heating and recovery phases. In addition, both numerical and analytical models were validated against the experimental results, exhibiting good agreement and demonstrating their suitability for long-term predictions. The presented results offer valuable insights for the future design and implementation of energy retaining walls in tropical unsaturated soil environments
Mechanistic Insights Into Cellulose Dissolution in Solvents for Advanced Industrial Applications: A Systematic and Bibliometric Review
Get PDFCellulose dissolution is important for various industries, including textiles, bioplastics, foods and pharmaceuticals, yet achieving efficient dissolution remains challenging. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional solvents due to their low toxicity, biodegradability and sustainability. This review critically examines recent mechanistic interactions between cellulose and different solvents, focusing on the green solvent known as DES, aiming to enhance industrial applications. It begins by discussing the possible conversion of cellulose nanocrystals from their different sources and the limitations of conventional solvents in dissolving cellulose. It then explores the interactions between cellulose and DES components, explaining the mechanisms that facilitate cellulose dissolution. This study focuses on the trends of DES and their role in dissolving cellulose. Bibliometric methods were employed to analyze these trends, along with identifying current research gaps, challenges and their dissolution in DES, thereby contributing to the creation of cost-effective industrial processes. Additionally, it outlines opportunities for further research and innovation in this field
FluidNet-Lite: Lightweight convolutional neural network for pore-scale modeling of multiphase flow in heterogeneous porous media
No full textModeling breakthrough patterns in heterogeneous porous media during two-phase fluid flow presents unique challenges due to computational complexity and data scarcity. Current deep learning approaches, primarily generative adversarial network (GAN) based, focus on homogeneous media, limiting their practical application in real-world heterogeneous pore systems. In this work, we introduce FluidNet-Lite, a lightweight Convolutional Neural Network for pore-scale modeling in heterogeneous porous media. Departing from generative task frameworks, we reformulate breakthrough pattern prediction as an innovative pixel-wise classification task, significantly reducing model complexity. By integrating two essential physical parameters—viscosity ratio (M) and contact angle (θ), our approach improves predictive accuracy and embeds critical physics-based dependencies directly into the learning process. A Grain-Weighted Adaptive Loss (GWAL) function further enforces fluid flow principles, enhancing model consistency with physical laws. FluidNet-Lite achieves state-of-the-art performance with an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 0.92 and a Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) of 0.89. It is 94% lighter and 48% more computationally efficient than GAN-based alternatives, reducing VRAM usage by 40% and inference time by 30%. Demonstrating robust generalization across interpolation, extrapolation, and unseen test samples, FluidNet-Lite sets a new benchmark for lightweight, physics-informed modeling in heterogeneous porous media fluid dynamics, as evidenced by its superior performance and efficiency improvements over conventional approaches. We also publish a comprehensive dataset and codebase to support future research in lightweight architectures for deep learning-based surrogate modeling of pore-scale immiscible displacement patterns
Constrained voice and complicated loyalty: Understanding reasons to leave or stay working in the probation service
Get PDFThis article examines the complex reasons why staff choose to remain in or leave the Probation Service in England and Wales, using Hirschman’s Exit-Voice-Loyalty-Neglect (EVL-N) framework as an analytical lens. In the context of major systemic reforms, including the failed privatisation of services and subsequent reunification, the study explores the persistent staffing crisis and its impact on workforce morale, professional identity, and organisational commitment. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with probation staff across a regional case study, the findings highlight constrained voice, organisational dislocation, and heightened responsibilisation as key drivers of dissatisfaction. Many participants described intense workloads, emotional burnout, and limited professional autonomy, yet expressed strong loyalty, not to the organisation, but to a vocational ideal of probation work. This ‘complicated loyalty’ underscores a paradox: while it sustains workforce commitment, it may also mask systemic issues. The research also identifies muted or ineffective channels for staff voice, particularly post-reunification, exacerbated by the service’s integration into the civil service. The article concludes that the EVL-N model offers a valuable framework for understanding public sector workforce dynamics and urges reforms that centre staff voice and well-being to improve retention and service delivery
Study of Hemp Fiber Properties Modified via Long-Duration Low-Pressure Argon and Oxygen Plasma Treatments
Get PDFHemp is a lignocellulosic fiber used in fiber-reinforced composites, technical textiles, and clothing with surface properties that can be modified by plasma to improve processability. In contrast to previous studies reporting the effects of short-duration plasma treatment (<10 min), this paper investigates the effects of extended (30 min–4 h), low-pressure (∼0.4 mbar) argon and oxygen plasma treatments on dew retted hemp fibers at varying power levels (40 and 80 Hz). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed marked surface fiber etching after prolonged treatment, with argon plasma inducing fibrillation and heterogeneous motifs, while oxygen plasma yielded irregular morphologies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed a near 4-fold rise in surface roughness (70 to 270 nm) after 4 h of plasma treatment. All plasma-treated fibers exhibited complete wetting (water contact angle θ = 0°) versus θ = 62° for untreated controls, based on drop-shape analysis and tensiometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed no major chemical shifts, although sharper −OH and −C═O peaks suggested a subtle physicochemical change. X-ray diffraction indicated slightly enhanced crystallinity without crystallite size alteration. Fiber tensile strength remained unaffected across treatments. Fluorescence microscopy suggested a degree of lignin removal, evidenced by reduced surface fluorescence after 4 h of argon plasma treatment. Thus, long-duration argon and oxygen plasma treatments distinctly modify hemp fiber surfaces, without substantially altering internal chemistry or crystallinity. These findings highlight plasma treatment as an alternative to wet chemical methods for surficial hemp fiber modification, offering potential for precise surface engineering in textile applications
Childhood, inter-species kinship and the oceanic Weird in Khadija Abdalla Bajaber’s The House of Rust
Get PDFThis article reads Khadija Abdalla Bajaber’s novel The House of Rust (2021) as an example of the oceanic weird that reimagines inter-species kinship via the child. Bringing the blue humanities and childhood studies into dialogue, it explores how the oceanic weird “submerges” gendered and racialised discourses of childhood forged in the Anthropocene in the temporal and spatial dynamics of the ocean. Childhood in flux enables new forms of ecological care and kinship to emerge. The article explores the potential of inter-species kinship to address the traumas of colonialism and climate crisis and to counter posthuman critiques that situate the child as an avatar of the human destruction of the planet. It argues that Bajaber’s novel facilitates a confrontation with the unfathomable nature of ecological crisis that is relevant beyond the Indian Ocean region, articulating the global importance of reconceptualising childhood and children’s agency in fighting for climate justice
Co-delivery of orthodontic treatment: Perceptions of supervising clinicians and orthodontic therapists
Get PDFObjectives:
To establish how orthodontics is currently co-delivered by orthodontic therapists (OTs) and supervising clinicians (SCs), and to explore both sets of clinicians’ perceptions of these working arrangements.
Design and setting:
Cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire.
Participants:
General Dental Council (GDC)-registered OTs and specialist or non-specialist dentists who supervise OTs and work in the UK.
Methods:
A link to the online questionnaire was emailed to all members of the British Orthodontic Society and Orthodontic National Group and was posted in two Facebook groups. Reminder emails and Facebook posts were sent.
Results:
A total of 161 responses were received from 89 SCs and 72 OTs. Most worked in primary care as their main clinical role. Most OTs in primary care provided a mix of NHS and private care. Appointments with OTs were most likely to be supervised every other visit, with more frequent supervision reported by SCs, and by clinicians in secondary care. Remote supervision of some kind was reported by 63% of OTs. Different barriers and enablers to effective working practices were suggested by OTs and SCs. OTs reported improved patient satisfaction as the main consequence of their utilisation in the orthodontic workforce while SCs described improved clinical efficiency.
Conclusions:
OTs reported improved patient satisfaction as the main consequence of their utilisation, whereas SCs described improved clinical efficiency. Some OTs felt that SCs should be more readily available and that OTs should have more autonomy. SCs would prefer more time to supervise and provide prescriptions
Explainable AI for Federated Learning-Based Intrusion Detection Systems in Connected Vehicles
Get PDFConnected and autonomous vehicles, along with the expanding Internet of Vehicles (IoV), are increasingly exposed to complex and evolving cyberattacks. Consequently, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) have become a vital component of modern vehicular cybersecurity. Federated Learning (FL) enables multiple vehicles to collaboratively train detection models while keeping their local data private, providing a decentralized alternative to traditional centralized learning. Despite these advantages, FL-based IDS frameworks remain vulnerable to attacks. To address this vulnerability, we propose an explainable federated intrusion detection framework that enhances both the security and interpretability of IDS in connected vehicles. The framework employs a Deep Neural Network (DNN) within a federated setting and integrates explainability through the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) method. This Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) component identifies the most influential network features contributing to detection decisions and assists in recognizing anomalies arising from malicious or corrupted clients. Experimental validation on the CICEVSE2024 and CICIoV2024 vehicular datasets demonstrates that the proposed system achieves high detection accuracy. Moreover, the XAI module improves transparency and enables analysts to verify and understand the model’s decision-making process. Compared with both centralized IDS models and conventional federated approaches without explainability, the proposed system delivers comparable performance, stronger resilience to attacks, and significantly enhanced interpretability. Overall, this work demonstrates that integrating FL with XAI provides a privacy-preserving and trustworthy approach for intrusion detection in connected vehicular networks
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