64623 research outputs found
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Biodiversity post‐2020: Closing the gap between global targets and national‐level implementation
No full textNational and local governments need to step up efforts to effectively implement the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity to halt and reverse worsening biodiversity trends. Drawing on recent advances in interdisciplinary biodiversity science, we propose a framework for improved implementation by national and subnational governments. First, the identification of actions and the promotion of ownership across stakeholders need to recognize the multiple values of biodiversity and account for remote responsibility. Second, cross‐sectorial implementation and mainstreaming should adopt scalable and multifunctional ecosystem restoration approaches and target positive futures for nature and people. Third, assessment of progress and adaptive management can be informed by novel biodiversity monitoring and modeling approaches handling the multidimensionality of biodiversity change
Aspirational intimacy in visiting friends and relatives
No full textTourism research on visiting friends and relatives remains normative and family-centric. The literature has yet to question the normative underpinnings of relationships and remains oriented around physical proximity. This paper therefore aims to understand the shifting qualities and intimacies of migrant personal relationships developed across diverse means for maintaining relationships. It draws from a multi-sited ethnography that includes interviews from migrants and friends and family living at a distance. Framed through theory on personal relationships and affect, we introduce the concept ‘aspirational intimacy’. This shows how important relationships become oriented around aspirations of normalcy and belonging that construct shared capacities to feel connected, while imagining alternative possibilities for relationships and life-course trajectories
Use of transcranial magnetic stimulation for studying the neural basis of numerical cognition: a systematic review
No full textComplex numerical cognition is a crucial ability in the human brain. Conventional neuroimaging techniques do not differentiate between epiphenomena and neuronal groups critical to numerical cognition. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) allows defining causal models of the relationships between specific activated or inhibited neural regions and functional changes in cognition. However, there is insufficient knowledge on the differential effects of various TMS protocols and stimulation parameters on numerical cognition. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence that different TMS protocols provide regarding the neural basis of numerical cognition in healthy adults. We included 21 experimental studies in which participants underwent any transcranial magnetic stimulation such as a single pulse TMS, repetitive TMS, and theta-burst stimulation. The primary outcome measures were any change in numerical cognition processes evidenced by numerical or magnitude tasks, measured with any independent variable like reaction times, accuracy, or congruency effects. TMS applied to regions of the parietal cortex and prefrontal cortex has neuromodulatory effects, which translate into measurable behavioral effects affecting cognitive functions related to arithmetic and numerical and magnitude processing. The use of TMS for the study of the neural bases of numerical cognition allows addressing issues such as localization, timing, lateralization and has allowed establishing site-function dissociations and double site-function dissociations. Moreover, this technique is in a moment of expansion due to the growing knowledge of its physiological effects and the enormous potential of combining TMS with other techniques such as electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, or near-infrared spectroscopy to reach a more precise brain mapping
ASL-SLAM: An asynchronous formulation of lines for SLAM with Event Sensors
Get PDFThe development of industrial automation is closely related to the evolution of mobile robot positioning and navigation mode. In this paper, we introduce ASL-SLAM, the first line-based SLAM system operating directly on robots using the event sensor only. This approach maximizes the advantages of the event information generated by a bio-inspired sensor. We estimate the local Surface of Active Events (SAE) to get the planes for each incoming event in the event stream. Then the edges and their motion are recovered by our line extraction algorithm. We show how the inclusion of event-based line tracking significantly improves performance compared to state-of-the-art frame-based SLAM systems. The approach is evaluated on publicly available datasets. The results show that our approach is particularly effective with poorly textured frames when the robot faces simple or low texture environments. We also experimented with challenging illumination situations to order to be suitable for various industrial environments, including low-light and high motion blur scenarios. We show that our approach with the event-based camera has natural advantages and provides up to 85% reduction in error when performing SLAM under these conditions compared to the traditional approach
Explaining the willingness of consumers to bring their own reusable coffee cups under the condition of monetary incentives
No full textAn increasing number of hospitality firms attempt to foster sustainable practices among their customers. Amongst these, incentives for customers to bring their own reusable products stand out. In this study, we analyse the explanatory factors of the willingness of consumers to bring a reusable container if a discount is offered and the minimum discount required in order for these consumers to be willing to do so. Several factors are proposed to explain an individual’s willingness to bring a reusable coffee cup (RCC) including their environmental concern and involvement, personal restrictions for using an RCC, and socio-demographic characteristics. An empirical application, conducted on 1,371 individuals using the Heckit model, allows us to conduct a joint modelisation and provide a novel methodological contribution to the study of the willingness, and barriers, of individuals towards the use of RCCs in the coffee shop industry. </p
Modelling the filltration efficiency of a woven fabric: The role of multiple lengthscales
Get PDFDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, many millions have worn masks made of woven fabric, to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Masks are essentially air filters worn on the face, that should filter out as many of the dangerous particles as possible. Here the dangerous particles are the droplets containing virus that are exhaled by an infected person. Woven fabric is unlike the material used in standard air filters. Woven fabric consists of fibres twisted together into yarns that are then woven into fabric. There are therefore two lengthscales: the diameters of: (i) the fibre and (ii) the yarn. Standard air filters have only (i). To understand how woven fabrics filter, we have used confocal microscopy to take three dimensional images of woven fabric. We then used the image to perform Lattice Boltzmann simulations of the air flow through fabric. With this flow field we calculated the filtration efficiency for particles a micrometre and larger in diameter. In agreement with experimental measurements by others, we find that for particles in this size range, filtration efficiency is low. For particles with a diameter of 1.5 micrometres our estimated efficiency is in the range 2.5 to 10%. The low efficiency is due to most of the air flow being channelled through relatively large (tens of micrometres across) inter-yarn pores. So we conclude that fabric is expected to filter poorly due to the hierarchical structure of woven fabrics
Network-ELAA Beamforming and Coverage Analysis for eMBB/URLLC in Spatially Non-Stationary Rician Channels
Get PDF—In vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) networks, a cluster of multi-antenna access points (APs) can collaboratively conduct transmitter beamforming to provide data services (e.g., eMBB or URLLC). The collaboration between APs effectively forms a networked linear antenna-array with extra-large aperture (i.e., network-ELAA), where the wireless channel exhibits spatial non-stationarity. Major contribution of this work lies in the analysis of beamforming gain and radio coverage for network-ELAA non-stationary Rician channels considering the AP clustering. Assuming that: 1) the total transmit-power is fixed and evenly distributed over APs, 2) the beam is formed only based on the line-of-sight (LoS) path, it is found that the beamforming gain is concave to the cluster size. The optimum size of the AP cluster varies with respect to the user's location, channel uncertainty as well as data services. A user located farther from the ELAA requires a larger cluster size. URLLC is more sensitive to the channel uncertainty when comparing to eMBB, thus requiring a larger cluster size to mitigate the channel fading effect and extend the coverage. Finally, it is shown that the network-ELAA can offer significant coverage extension (50% or more in most of cases) when comparing with the single-AP scenario
Growth Anomalies in CVD Silicon Carbide Monofilaments for Metal Matrix Composites
Get PDFThe industrial scale production of silicon carbide monofilaments by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) can be disrupted by growth anomalies that initiate filament fracture during its manufacture. The anomalies take the form of growth warts on the surface of the silicon carbide fibre. Complementary 3D imaging techniques, micro X-ray computed topography (XCT) and plasma focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (PFIB-SEM), in combination with other materials characterisation techniques (Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis) have been used to investigate the nature and cause of the anomalies. Metallic tungsten particulates with an unusual dendritic morphology attached to the tungsten core were found to be the origin of the anomalies. Further investigation of the CVD system led to the observation of process-induced W oxide particulate agglomerates accumulating at the cleaning stage inlet to the reactor. These particulates became attached to tungsten wire in the cleaning stage of the CVD reactor and were rapidly reduced to elemental tungsten prior to entering the silicon carbide deposition chamber. Silicon carbide growth on the tungsten particulates results in the development of a wart-like morphology on the fibre surface. An understanding of this mechanism enabled minor modifications to reactor conditions, which prevented W oxide particulate formation and greatly reduced the occurrence of such growth anomalies.[Display omitted
Hospital sink drain trap communities and the impact of water hardness on the biology of carbapenemase-producing members of the Enterobacteriaceae (CPE)
Get PDFHandwashing sinks and drains are increasingly identified as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including carbapenemase-producing members of the Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Yet their bacterial content is poorly documented, particularly in relation to exposure to potable water supplies of varying mineral content (hardness). Thus, the aim of this study was to characterise the microbiota of handwashing sink drain traps situated in clinical and non-clinical areas of a UK hospital located in a soft water supply area and with a known high prevalence of CPE colonisation.Culture- and non-culture DNA-based methods were used to determine levels of coliforms, heterotrophs, and CPE, and the diversity and composition of suspended (planktonic) and surface-associated (biofilm) communities, respectively. The propensity of CPE to form biofilms and undergo conjugative plasmid transfer was also assessed in potable water representing ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ water characteristics.Culture-based data found that levels of heterotrophs and coliforms were relatively consistent, but levels of CPE varied over 6 logs in the different sinks. 16S rRNA data revealed that all sinks were dominated by Proteobacteria, but otherwise those located in clinical and non-clinical areas did not vary markedly in diversity or composition. Some taxa-specific differences were detected though, with those in clinical areas containing significantly higher abundances of Burkholderiaceae and Melainabacteria, and those in non-clinical areas, containing higher abundances of Pseudomonadales, including Moraxellaceae. Exposure of microbial communities to ‘soft’ then ‘hard’ water supplies did not result in measurable changes in population composition and diversity. Multiple species of CPE were found, all harbouring the blaKPC-2 allele within Tn4401a in different IncFIB, IncX3 and IncN plasmids. Somewhat surprisingly, biofilm formation of common CPE species was greater in ‘soft' water, as were rates of conjugation for surface-associated cells.When taken together, our findings show that handwashing sinks contain diverse bacterial communities including CPE, and changes in potable water quality could impact the spread of resistance
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