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Using technology to humanize support for students
No full textA consideration of the ways in which academics can humanize student's learning interactions with technology so as to make the experience more supportive and productive
How to stop being surprised by unprecedented weather
Get PDFWe see unprecedented weather causing widespread impacts across the world. In this perspective, we provide an overview of methods that help anticipate unprecedented weather hazards that can contribute to stop being surprised. We then discuss disaster management and climate adaptation practices, their gaps, and how the methods to anticipate unprecedented weather may help build resilience. We stimulate thinking about transformative adaptation as a foundation for long-term resilience to unprecedented weather, supported by incremental adaptation through upgrading existing infrastructure, and reactive adaptation through short-term early action and disaster response. Because in the end, we should take responsibility to build resilience rather than being surprised by unprecedented weather
Pulse and legume consumption is associated with a more optimal nutrient intake and a higher EAT-Lancet index in a representative UK population
Get PDFPurpose
Diets high in pulses and legumes have been associated with improved cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers but the relationship is less well studied in UK populations. To address this, associations between consumption of pulses (dried beans, peas and lentils) and legumes (pulses, fresh peas and green beans) with nutrient intake and status, a sustainable diet quality score (EAT-Lancet index), CVD risk markers and food expenditure was assessed in representative UK populations.
Methods
A secondary analysis of data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2019) and the Living Costs and Food Survey (2001–2022) was conducted. To assess the relationships, regression models controlling for covariates were used.
Results
Children and adults consumed mean ± SD 10.6 ± 27.0 g/day and 15.0 ± 21.0 g/day of pulses, and 16.7 ± 32.5 g/day and 27.3 ± 26.0 g/day of legumes, respectively. Diets rich in pulses and legumes were associated with higher intakes of energy, fibre, vitamin E, thiamine, folate, biotin, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese; lower intakes of saturated fats, total and free sugars and higher plasma selenium and total carotenoid concentrations (all P < 0.05). Consumption of a portion (80 g) of pulses and legumes was associated with a 3.7 point increase in EAT-Lancet index (P < 0.001). Average expenditure on pulses and legumes/person/week in 2022 was £1.68 and £2.90, equivalent to 0.33% and 0.56% of weekly income respectively.
Conclusions
Pulse and legume-rich diets are broadly associated with a more optimum nutrient intake, higher micronutrient status and a more sustainable diet. Strategies are needed to increase pulse and legume consumption in UK populations
Procuring promising provisions: the British patent system and the Navy Proviso, 1794-1831
Get PDFIn 1794, the British State intervened in the patent system by introducing the Navy proviso, a legal proviso targeted at select patents compelling the patentee to supply their invention to the State on terms set by state-appointed adjudicators. This study employs new patent and archival data to examine the proviso’s origins, administration, and which technologies it was targeted at. Our findings reveal the state targeted technologies to enhance logistical and operational capacities during wartime, addressing potential undersupply in private markets. Functioning similarly to patent buyouts and compulsory licensing, the proviso may have encouraged technical change and knowledge dissemination
The impact of government financial aid and digital tools on firm survival during the COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFThis study explores the effect of bailout capital and digital diversification by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on their propensity to survive during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a random sampling of 5469 SMEs from 16 European countries, collected by the World Bank Enterprise Survey in May 2020, January 2021, and May 2021, we conduct a two-stage estimation to examine factors that first affected the propensity of SMEs to access bailout capital, and second, factors that increased the propensity of SMEs to survive longer during and after crises. Two key findings emerge. Diversification of government financial aid and the adoption of various digital tools to leverage the effect of shock by SMEs increase their propensity to survive by sized firms. Moreover, government financial aid does not moderate the effect of digital tool adoption on the propensity to survive. Policy insights and implications are also discussed
The fifth phase of the Radiation Transfer Model Inter-Comparison exercise (RAMI-V): experiment description and results on actual canopy scenarios
Get PDFThis paper presents the latest results of the radiation transfer model intercomparison (RAMI) of the realistic vegetation scenarios. RAMI-V included the same one-dimensional (1D) and 3D scenes of RAMI-IV phase and 2 new realistic ones, defined through a semiparametric (Savanna) and an empirical (Wytham Woods) approaches. The measurements to simulate were the bidirectional reflectance factor, directional–hemispherical reflectance, and bidirectional–hemispherical reflectance. In addition, the radiant flux transmission and absorption through and below the canopy and digital hemispherical photography were also proposed. The spectral bands were defined to mimic not only the ones of Copernicus optical missions, e.g., for the Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Colour Imager (OLCI) and Sentinel-2 Multispectral Instrument (MSI), but also the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). New solar and viewing geometry configurations were adopted from realistic satellite overpasses for different seasons and geographical locations. The role of internal consistency checks was reinforced to provide more reliable feedback to the participants in the early stage of the experiment and reduce the role of outliers in the model-to-model comparison and the identification of a surrogate reference. Over 4 of the 8 scenarios proposed, a set of models agreed within 2% uncertainty thresholds for most of the virtual measurements defined in the experiment. Specifically, they were the birchstand both leaf-on (HET09) and leaf-off (HET15) versions, and the structured canopy models consisting of a citrus orchard (HET14) and a poplar forest (HET16). It is noteworthy that less was among the models designated to set a reference benchmark across all chosen instances. Besides, dart, raytran, and wps were contributing to the benchmark in most of the experiment proposed, especially referring to total BRF and DHR, and total absorption, while for the transmittance the results were more dispersed. Dart, less, raytran, and wps contributed by submitting 100%, 83.9%, 99.4%, and 86.2% of the experiment proposed, respectively. The proficiency testing of the models was performed by means of the z′ metric defined in ISO-13528. A custom reference, based on a selection of models that showed the best agreement, as well as a reference based on robust statistic were adopted. Above the aforementioned selected scenes, and assuming a compliance threshold of 3% (5%) for bidirectional reflectance (albedo) measurements, dart, less, and raytran were in agreement in all (more than 95%) cases. The approach based on the robust statistic described in ISO-13528 confirmed its relevance in interlaboratory comparison exercises where the benchmark is not defined a priori, allowing us to obtain proficiency results equivalent to those defined against the customized references
Exploring intercultural competence in children: the role of the Young Interpreter Scheme
Get PDFIntercultural competence is an essential skill in today's increasing multicultural society, including in educational settings, as it facilitates effective communication and fosters inclusivity. The Young Interpreter Scheme (YIS), developed by Hampshire Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS), supports English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners by training their peers to provide linguistic and cultural assistance. This study examined the impact of YIS participation on primary school children’s intercultural competence using a qualitative approach. Participants were 27 Young Interpreters (YIs) and 27 control students from four primary schools in England, aged 7–11 years. Data were collected at three time points: before YI training (baseline), immediately after training (post-training), and six months later (follow-up). The analysis compared the YI group with the control group, exploring changes over time in cultural awareness, emotional sensitivity, and supportive behaviours. Findings suggest that YI training broadens children’s understanding of cultural differences and similarities, enhances their ability to support peers through both verbal and non-verbal communication, and fosters greater engagement with multicultural interactions. The study highlights the potential of structured peer-support initiatives in developing intercultural competence, highlighting the potential for the YIS to serve as a model for other schools globally
“How to prevent the risk of business failure: financial characteristics of medium and large-sized distressed enterprises in Italy”
Get PDFThis study develops a predictive model to identify financial distress in large and medium-sized firms in Italy, focusing on seven key sectors classified under the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC): construction, manufacturing, transportation-communications-electric-gas-sanitary services, wholesale trade, retail trade, finance-insurance-real estate, and services. The
model builds on the widely used Z”-Score model for bankruptcy prediction but modifies it by
replacing the working capital to total assets ratio with the cash and cash equivalents to current
liabilities ratio. This modification offers a more accurate reflection of liquidity pressures,
particularly relevant for early-stage financial distress.
Using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and logistic regression, the study classifies firms
into distressed and non-distressed categories and estimates their likelihood of resorting to
Troubled Debt Restructuring (TDR). The dataset spans multiple sectors, allowing for a sector-specific analysis of financial distress indicators. The results highlight that liquidity, leverage, and
profitability ratios are critical in predicting early financial distress across industries, with
distressed firms exhibiting lower liquidity and higher leverage compared to their non-distressed
counterparts.
While the study focuses on Italy, the model could be applied in other EU countries, such as
Spain and France, which have similar TDR laws, extending its relevance across different national
contexts. The findings provide valuable tools for corporate management, creditors, and investors
in assessing financial risks.
However, the research is limited by the small sample size, which may restrict its
generalizability. Future studies could expand the application of this predictive model to a larger
sample and test its effectiveness across all EU member states, enhancing its accuracy and
practical applicability in a wider European context