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Performance Analysis of RIS-Assisted Wireless Communications With Energy Harvesting
Full text linkIn this paper, we investigate a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted wireless communication system with energy harvesting. In the single information user (IU) scenario, we consider the power control of base station (BS) and the random deployment of energy users (EUs). To this end, we first characterize the statistical features of the channel gains over BS-RIS-IU and BS-RIS-EU cascaded links. Then, we derive a closed-form expression of the information outage probability (IOP) of the IU and show an upper bound of the energy outage probability (EOP) of EUs by invoking the Jensen's inequality. Furthermore, we consider two more general extensions, namely, the existence of imperfect phase alignment and multiple IUs. Finally, the correctness of the analysis results is verified by Monte-Carlo simulation
Impression management tactics in Covid-19 related disclosures: a study on the annual reports of Bangladeshi listed insurance companies
Full text linkPurpose – The purpose of this article is to explore the impression management practices in Covid-19 related discourses in the annual reports of the insurance companies in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/ approach – To fulfil this objective, the authors have conducted a discourse analysis of the Covid-19 related corporate narratives in the latest annual reports of listed insurance companies. The findings are then interpreted through the lens of impression management theory, following the impression management strategies identified by Caliskan et al. (2021). Findings – It is found that companies tried to manage the impression of the stakeholders through the strategic use of language. There is evidence that the companies used assertive and performance-oriented tactics to impress their stakeholders. In few cases, defensive strategies were applied. Practical implications – This study will facilitate improving our understanding of corporate communication during the Covid-19 crisis. Policymakers will be able to understand the current status of Covid-19 related disclosures and consider the necessity to provide guidance that may lead to better accountability during the crisis. Originality/value – This study will contribute to the limited literature on Covid-19 related disclosure from the context of developing economies. This research is methodologically novel as it applies discourse analysis and interprets the findings through the lens of impression management
Implicit and Explicit Language Attitudes: Mapping Linguistic Prejudice and Attitude Change in England
Full text linkThis timely volume constitutes the first book-length account of implicit as well as explicit language attitudes. It details the findings of a large-scale study, incorporating cutting-edge implicit and self-report instruments adapted from social psychology, investigating the evaluations of over 300 English nationals of the status and social attractiveness of Northern English and Southern English speech in England. The book is unique in its examination of implicit-explicit attitude divergence, across a range of social factors, to identify the direction of language attitude change in progress and the particular social groups leading attitude change. The volume provides a comprehensive understanding of language-based prejudice in England and the study paves the way for researchers to employ newly developed implicit and explicit measures to investigate language attitudes and language attitude change in a range of contexts. This book is invaluable for researchers in sociolinguistics and applied linguists interested in theoretical and methodological aspects of linguistic prejudice and language variation and change. It is also essential reading for social psychologists with an interest in attitudes, attitude change and prejudice
Lack of ‘common sense’ in the climate change debate: Media behaviour and climate change awareness in the UK
Full text linkBased on an online survey conducted among a representative sample in the United Kingdom (n = 1013), this article investigates the role of traditional and new media in predicting climate change awareness. It suggests that individuals make choices under an ideological convincement that is organised within specific cultural and political-economic boundaries. It shows that the Gramscian concept of cultural hegemony is still valuable to make sense of an incessant process of formation and fragmentation of equilibria between social groups. Interpreting hegemony as a not totalitarian communicative process also suggests that the media represent a ground for counterhegemonies to flourish and trigger political transformation. This study constructs two indexes of both scepticism and advocacy of climate change by showing some traits of these two perspectives in the United Kingdom. It also shows that the division between sceptics and advocates’ convincement is not ‘black and white’, but a transitional space exists between hegemonic and counter-hegemonic forces
Factors affecting turnaround time of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing for inpatient infection prevention and control decision making: Analysis of data from the COG-UK HOCI study
Full text linkBackground
Barriers to rapid return of sequencing results can affect the utility of sequence data for infection prevention and control decisions.
Aim
To undertake a mixed-methods analysis to identify challenges sites faced in achieving a rapid turnaround time (TAT) in the COG-UK Hospital-Onset COVID-19 Infection (COG-UK HOCI) study.
Methods
For the quantitative analysis, timepoints relating to different stages of the sequencing process were extracted from both the COG-UK HOCI dataset and surveys of study sites. Qualitative data relating to the barriers and facilitators to achieving rapid TAT were included from thematic analysis.
Findings
The overall TAT, from sample collection to receipt of sequence report by infection control teams, varied between sites (median 5.1 days, range 3.0 – 29.0 days). Most variation was seen between reporting of a positive COVID-19 PCR result to sequence report generation (median 4.0 days, range 2.3 – 27.0 days). On deeper analysis, most of this variability was accounted for by differences in the delay between the COVID-19 PCR result and arrival of the sample at the sequencing laboratory (median 20.8 hours, 16.0 – 88.7 hours). Qualitative analyses suggest closer proximity of sequencing labs to diagnostic labs, increased staff flexibility and regular transport times facilitated a shorter TAT.
Conclusion
Integration of pathogen sequencing into diagnostic laboratories may help improve sequencing TAT to allow sequence data to be of tangible value to infection control practice. Adding a quality control step upstream to increase capacity further down the workflow may also optimise TAT if lower quality samples are removed earlier on
Modelling post‐earthquake cascading hazards: Changing patterns of landslide runout following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, Nepal
Full text linkCoseismic landslides represent the first stage of a broader cascading sequence of geohazards associated with high-magnitude continental earthquakes, with the subsequent remobilisation of coseismic landslide debris posing a long-term post-seismic legacy in mountain regions. Here, we quantify the controls on the hazard posed by landslide remobilisation and debris runout, and compare the overlap between areas at risk of runout and the pattern of post-seismic landslides and debris flows that actually occurred. Focusing on the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal, we show that the extent of the area that could be affected by debris runout remained elevated above coseismic levels 4.5 years after the event. While 150 km2 (0.6% of the study area) was directly impacted by landslides in the earthquake, an additional 614 km2 (2.5%) was left at risk from debris runout, increasing to 777 km2 (3.2%) after the 2019 monsoon. We evaluate how this area evolved by comparing modelled predictions of runout from coseismic landslides to multi-temporal post-seismic landslide inventories, and find that 14% (85 km2) of the total modelled potential runout area experienced landslide activity within 4.5 years after the earthquake. This value increases to 32% when modelled runout probability is thresholded, equivalent to 10 km2 of realised runout from a remaining modelled area of 32 km2. Although the proportion of the modelled runout area from coseismic landslides that remains a hazard has decreased through time, the overall runout susceptibility for the study area remains high. This indicates that runout potential is changing both spatially and temporally as a result of changes to the landslide distribution after the earthquake. These findings are particularly important for understanding evolving patterns of cascading hazards following large earthquakes, which is crucial for guiding decision-making associated with post-seismic recovery and reconstruction
Paediatric frequent use of emergency medical services: a systematic review
Full text linkBackground Frequent use of emergency medical services (EMS) is recognised to be a global phenomenon, although paediatric frequent use is poorly understood. This systematic review aimed to understand how paediatric frequent use of EMS is currently defined, identify factors associated with paediatric frequent use of EMS and determine effectiveness of interventions for paediatric patients who frequently use EMS.
Methods Four electronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO) were searched to September 2022 for primary, peer-reviewed research studies published in English from January 2000. Studies were included that examined frequent use (>1 contact during study period) of EMS or other services with arrival via EMS. Paediatric patients were defined as <18 years of age or otherwise defined by study authors as paediatric/adolescent/children. Data were extracted using a structured proforma, and quality was assessed using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Quantitative Studies but did not influence inclusion decisions. Data were presented using narrative synthesis.
Results The search resulted in 4172 unique references, with 12 papers included in the review from 7 countries. Four were EMS studies, and eight Emergency Department with arrival via EMS. All studies used retrospective designs, with no interventional studies identified. Paediatric frequent EMS users were more likely to use services for medical reasons rather than trauma, including respiratory complaints, mental health and seizures, but data on gender and ethnicity were inconclusive and silent on socioeconomic status. There was no consistency in definitions of either a paediatric patient or of frequent use.
Conclusion The broad range of reasons for frequent use suggests that a single intervention is unlikely to be effective at addressing the causes of frequent use. There is a need for further research to better identify the underlying reasons for frequent EMS use among paediatric patients and to develop interventions in this population
Deep learning artificial intelligence framework for sustainable desiccant air conditioning system: Optimization towards reduction in water footprints
Full text linkDesiccant evaporative cooling systems pave the path toward energy and environmental sustainability in buildings especially; however, the direct evaporative coolers in such configurations result in high water consumption. The application of modern computational intelligence tools, including artificial intelligence and meta-heuristic optimization algorithms, can improve the operational comprehension of desiccant cooling systems while addressing the minimization of total water footprints with the maximization of the cooling capacity. The contribution/objective of this research is to address the gaps in understanding through the application of deep learning, genetic algorithm, and multicriteria decision analysis applied to a desiccant cooling system working under real transient experimental conditions of a building located in Austria. Within the methodology, calibrated, experimental, and validated data monitoring system displaying the real desiccant-enhanced cooling system is adapted to generate a set of input-output data sets. The set of data includes ambient temperature, ambient humidity, regeneration temperature, supply airflow rate, and return airflow rate yielding the cooling capacity and total water footprints of the system. The results of deep learning algorithm using an artificial neural network have suggested that the architectures 5-6-6-1 and 5-12-12-1 are the best to accurately predict the cooling capacity and total water footprints with a coefficient of determination of 0.98856 and 0.99246, respectively. Secondly, the “white-box model” of the deep learning algorithm is used to develop a digital twin model which helps in the replication of the earlier experimental conditions. The optimization results have suggested that the optimized total water footprints are 45.17 kg/hr with a system of 3.32 tons of refrigeration. These optimal values are found in the best combination of design variables in which the ambient temperature is 28 oC, ambient relative humidity is 52.0 %, supply airflow rate is 2.13 kg/s, and regeneration flow rate is 2.35 kg/s, and the regeneration temperature is 70.0 oC. It is concluded that the application of data-driven models can extend the interpretation of desiccant cooling systems and can participate in its performance enhancement
Critical Factors Influencing Adoption of Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contracts in Construction Projects
Full text linkConstruction projects are premised upon contractual arrangements, and contracts constitute the basis of their success. A contract enables execution of work and transfer of payments, tracking of key performance indicators, and facilitation of collaboration among project stakeholders. Historically, construction projects have faced critical challenges due to poor alignment between clients’ expectations, contract terms, and contractor performance. The advent of advanced digital technologies under the concept of Industry 4.0 has the potential to benefit construction projects through application of blockchain-enabled smart contracts. However, the adoption of smart contracts in construction projects is in its early stages, and the factors that will influence its adoption remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and establish the critical factors influencing adoption of smart contracts in construction contractual arrangements. This study administered an international questionnaire survey among experienced construction practitioners with involvement in smart contract initiatives and activities. The results obtained from descriptive statistics and fuzzy set-based analysis show that trialability, relative advantage, competitive advantage, and compatibility of smart contracts are the important predictors of the adoption of such contracts. The findings suggest that practitioners share a view that technological characteristics of blockchain-enabled smart contracts are critical to their adoption, regarding the technology’s perceived practicality in improving effectiveness and efficiency of construction projects. This study contributes to technology diffusion research in construction and highlights drivers that require practitioners’ and industry leaders’ attention to ensure successful adoption of smart contracts for cost-effective delivery of construction projects
The 5G C-band auctions across Europe: An assessment
Full text linkPurpose (limit 100 words) To investigate how the licensing of the 3.6 GHz (C-band) has progressed throughout Europe. Design/methodology/approach (limit 100 words) Original databases have been created by the authors covering every aspect of the C-band auctions in Europe, and these have been subjected to analysis to draw out the key themes. Findings (limit 100 words) Although there have been delays in licensing the C-band, the process is now largely complete and the first launches have taken place. However, there has been considerable diversity in the rules underpinning the licences and considerable differences in the amounts raised measured in /MHz/pop. Research limitations/implications (limit 100 words) It is difficult to make comparisons across a substantial sample of disparate countries because of the need to compare on a like-for-like basis – an issue that is generally glossed over in the literature. This has been addressed in this paper but some issues inevitably remain unresolved. Practical implications (limit 100 words) The development of 5G is highly contingent on the use of the C-band not just in Europe but elsewhere in the world where less-developed countries can learn from the European experience. Originality/value (limit 100 words) While the subject matter has received attention elsewhere, this represents the most up-to-date version with the largest sample of European countries