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Understanding cavity dynamics near deformable oil drop via numerical simulations☆
No full textCavitation is increasingly being used for producing liquid–liquid emulsions. Cavity collapse generates microscale high-speed jets, which play a crucial role in cavitation-driven emulsification. It is thus essential to investigate the interaction of cavity and droplet to improve the understanding of the cavitation-driven emulsification process. In this study, we have numerically investigated the interaction of a single cavity-droplet pair dispersed in a water medium mimicking the scenario occurring inside a hydrodynamic cavitation-based fluidic device. A direct numerical simulation utilizing the multi-fluid, volume of fluid (VOF) method has been used for simulating different scenarios of cavity droplet interactions. The effect of the droplet-cavity size ratio (β) and the stand-off parameter (γ) on cavity-droplet dynamics have been investigated. The influence of these parameters on cavity jet velocity (Umax) and energy dissipation rate (ε) was evaluated. Cavity jet velocity (Umax) increases at first, then decreases with the stand-off parameter whereas it increases and becomes almost constant for the size ratio. The maximum cavity jet velocity in the present work is obtained for the case β = 2.5(γ = 0.7) and β = 5(γ = 1.2). The energy dissipation rate for cavity-oil droplet interaction is of the order 108 m2 /s3 , irrespective of the stand-off parameter and size ratio for a given driving force. The results presented in this work improve the current fundamental understanding of cavity–drop interactions and provide a useful basis for developing cavitation-induced droplet breakage models for predicting droplet size distributions, enabling enhanced applications of cavitation for emulsification in the chemical industries.</p
Artificial Intelligence driven deepfake technology literacy: detection methods, and impact on credibility & trust of journalism
No full text Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven Deepfake technology is becoming increasingly prevalent today and poses a significant threat to journalists in terms of credibility and reliability of the media. Deepfakes, realistic images, videos, and audio generated with the use of Artificial Intelligence but are genuine fake, have become rampant. At first it was an entertainment tool and was noticed in the film industry, but after that deepfake started appearing in political circles: they use it to influence people and deceive them. This paper seeks to examine the awareness and understating of deep fakes in relation to media credibility, journalism principles and the sanctity of a news report. It explains how fake videos affect the society and looks into how one could tell whether the videos that they are using are real or fake. In addition, the study explores the possibilities of addressing the negative consequences of deepfakes, such as media literacy and the use of particular technologies. Finally, the paper outlines the strategies for journalism to embrace this new environment while endeavoring to stay truthful in the fake news world that is fast becoming a norm in the digital realm. Keywords: </p
Older people's views of participating in an intergenerational café with student nurses
No full textIntroduction: Global ageing is increasing. Most older people live independently but at times require nursing care as they age. This care is provided in a variety of settings including acute, primary, community and residential care services. In such instances, it is important that older people feel comfortable and listened to, and it is imperative that student nurses are educated to competently care for and nurse older people in collaborative partnerships. Intergenerational initiatives promote shared learning and help break down barriers among different age cohorts. An online intergenerational café was developed to provide a learning opportunity for older people and student nurses to meet as equals and connect socially in a protected place and time. This paper reports on older people's views of their participation in an online intergenerational café. Methods: Ethical approval was granted for this survey design research. Older people living in the community (n=49) participated in online intergenerational cafés with student nurses. Following the online café, participants were invited to voluntarily participate in the study through completion of an anonymous online survey. Consent was indicated through the return of the survey questionnaire. All agreed to complete the survey. Likert scale quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis (SPSS, version 21). Responses to the open-ended questions were thematically analysed. Findings: The cafés supported intergenerational learning, and participants felt comfortable participating. Participants discovered some but not all key points of interest about students. In many ways, they were quite similar to students. Participants felt students would be respectful, empathetic and advocate for them in a care situation. Many agreed that the cafés were well organised, but some would have liked more clarity on the discussion topics. Conclusions: This café initiative has merit as it helped reduce barriers and facilitated intergenerational learning. Implications for Practice: Participation in Intergenerational cafés can help reduce barriers by faciliating understanding and mutual respect . They can provide a forum for discussion on nursing care expectations.</p
Green synthesis of a new Schiff base linker and its use to prepare coordination polymers
No full textSolid-state synthesis is an approach to organic synthesis that is desirable because it can offer minimal or no solvent waste, high yields, and relatively low energy footprints. Herein, we report the solid-state synthesis of a novel Schiff base, 4-{(E)-[(4-methylpyridin-3- yl)imino]methyl}benzoic acid (4-PIBZ), synthesized through the reaction of an amine and an aldehyde. 4-PIBZ was prepared via solvent-drop (water) grinding (SDG) on a multigram scale with 97% yield and was characterized using FTIR, 1 H NMR, and SCXRD. The pyridyl and carboxylate moiety present in 4-PIBZ make it suitable for use as a linker ligand and indeed 4-PIBZ was found to coordinate with Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) cations, enabling it to serve as a linker ligand for the assembly of coordination polymers. 4-PIBZ thereby formed 1D (spiro chain) and 2D (square lattice, sql, topology) coordination polymers via solvent-induced (layering or slurry) methods. The resulting coordination polymers were characterized though X-ray diffraction (SCXRD, PXRD) and TGA, further demonstrating the utility of green synthesis methods for the preparation of some classes of new linker ligands that can in turn be used for the preparation of coordination polymers.</p
A Scoping review of bullying and harassment in nonprofit and voluntary organizations
No full textApproximately 15% of workers are exposed to bullying in their workplace. However, few studies appear to have been conducted in nonprofit and voluntary organizations. This scoping review explored prevalence and structural and contextual factors that influence bullying in nonprofit and voluntary organizations. From a capture of 671 papers, 54 were assessed for eligibility and 18 full-text articles were reviewed. Bullying is prevalent in nonprofit and voluntary organizations at the same or higher levels as other sectors, with sexual harassment appearing to be a serious problem in the context of fundraising. A synthesis of papers found a suite of factors presented in four themes; complex and unique power relations, the exploitation of virtuosity, the exercise of hegemonic power, and asymmetrical power and extreme dependency, which together act to stabilize the presence of bullying in nonprofit and voluntary organizations. Such dynamics need to be disrupted for intervention to occur. Further research is needed on how volunteers “sense-make” in the face of dissonance between organizational mission and behavior, intervention evaluation, and regulating philanthropic donation to reduce donor dependence</p
Exploring patient perspectives of barriers and facilitators to participating in hospital‑based pulmonary rehabilitation in patients diagnosed with non‑small‑cell lung cancer treated with curative intent
No full textBackground Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is increasingly offered to patients who have undergone lung resection for non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) as it can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. However, designing and implementing such a complex multidisciplinary programme has its challenges. Objective This study aims to explore perspectives of patients offered PR services post-lung resection for NSCLC to gain an understanding of the potential barriers and facilitators behind implementing and designing PR programmes. Methods The PR programmes were offered in an outpatient rehabilitation gym at University Hospital Limerick, Ireland. Patients attending routine follow-up appointments post-lung cancer resection during the period of the study were identified and based on inclusion criteria were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews (focus groups). Interviews with patients who participated in the PR programme (n=8) and those who declined (n=4) were transcribed and major themes identified using normalisation process theory (NPT analysis) before interpretation of the themes in context. Results Across 4 focus groups that were conducted, the important barriers identified were the presence of comorbidities, location, perceived lack of benefit, and a fear of causing harm. Relevant facilitators included the prospect of acquiring new knowledge, optional access to psychological support, peer interaction/social support, individualised, tailored programmes, and a holistic approach to recovery as well as goal setting and accomplishment. Conclusions Patient participation in PR has been shown to be influenced by both external and intrapersonal variables. The barriers and facilitators experienced by the patients in this study contribute to the existing knowledge of the patient experience of pulmonary rehabilitation and can help to inform clinical practice and future research</p
Network models of late life depression symptoms and cognitive impairments across time
No full textObjectives: Prevalence of late life depression symptoms is estimated to be up to 29%. For older adults, depression symptoms can constitute both a risk and outcome for cognitive impairment. Understanding how specific depression symptoms and cognitive impairment domains interact over time in older adults is key for prevention, early identification, and treatment.Method: Using cross-sectional psychometric network models, this study aimed to explore interactions between late-life depression symptoms and cognitive impairment domains across different time points using data from waves 7–9 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).Results: Across 3544 participants, ≥65years of age, with no diagnosed dementia-related disorders, the depression symptom everything was an effort showed high expected influence across all time points. Across two time points, object naming and verbal fluency also showed high expected influence. Self-reported memory demonstrated high bridge centrality connecting depression symptom and cognitive impairment domains. Network centralities differed significantly across time points.Conclusion: For older adults, fatigue appears a key depression symptom. Cognitive impairment domains become more influential over time, and perceived memory loss links cognitive impairment to depression symptoms. Practical implications are discussed in relation to targeting depression symptoms and cognitive impairment domains.</p
An in-situ forming controlled release soft hydrogel-based C5a peptidase drug delivery system to treat psoriasis☆
No full textThe potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), is an enticing therapeutic target because of its accelerator role in several acute and chronic inflammatory processes. In this work, poloxamer 407 is developed as an in-situ gelling polymer for a long-acting formulation to deliver a serine protease, C5a peptidase (ScpA) from Streptococcus pyogenes. ScpA is well known for its activity against the complement factor C5a but has also recently been shown to cleave IFN-γ in vitro into inactive fragments. A compact and uniform gel microstructure was obtained by including dextran in the gel formulation. The sol–gel transition at physiologically temperatures occurred above 19 % w/w poloxamer 407 resulting in a release profile of active ScpA for up to 8 days, with no loss in specific enzymatic activity. No cytotoxicity from ScpA before or after release from the hydrogels to a human immortalized keratinocyte cell lines was detected. Using an in vitro psoriatic skin model with IFN- γ inducing the psoriatic state, the constant and prolonged release of ScpA from this simple thermo-responsive hydrogel, administered once, restored health as effectively as two doses of free enzyme over a 5 day period. These promising results confirm the feasibility of developing ScpA as a long-acting therapeutic using a poloxamer based in-situ forming parenteral gel for local delivery.</p
Differentiating right upper limb movements of esports players who play different game genres
No full textEsports is a fast-growing worldwide phenomenon encompassing hundreds of millions of competitive players. It is well-established that different game genres require distinct cognitive skills, but the biomechanical implications of playing different game genres have received little attention. This is the first study to quantify gamers’ kinematic behaviour across genres, demonstrating the importance of physical demands on performance and equipment in esports. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the right upper limb kinematic behaviour differs among players across game genres. 63 esports players played a First Person Shooter (FPS), Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), or Adventure game for 10 min. Three tri-axial accelerometers, positioned on each participant’s right upper limb (hand, forearm, arm), recorded kinematic data during gameplay. Hand acceleration magnitude, direction change, distance travelled (sum of all hand displacements over 10-min of gameplay), and displacement area (size and shape) were calculated in addition to hand, forearm, and arm acceleration ratios. There was a marked difference in movement patterns across players of different game genres. FPS players displayed greater hand acceleration magnitude (0.96 m. s−2 ±0.07 SEM), moved their hand through a greater distance (38.96 m±2.47 SEM), and over a larger displacement area (119.13 cm2 ±16.05 SEM) compared to MOBA and Adventure players. MOBA players exhibited greater hand acceleration magnitude (0.73 m.s−2 ±0.05 SEM), changed direction more (2335±172 SEM) and covered more distance (29.25 m±1.80 SEM) compared to Adventure players within a smaller overall area (70.49 cm2 ±9.91 SEM). These findings have the potential to impact the design of gaming equipment and the training volumes of gamers across different game genres, so as to mitigate injury risk and improve overall gaming performance.</p
Partisan influence on climate policy do parties’ climate policy preferences influence climate policy?
No full textClimate change and its consequences were never felt more than in recent years. Severe weather conditions are not only becoming more frequent but also more extreme. Political actors worldwide have recognised the dangers and problems related to climate change which has emerged as an issue on domestic policy agendas over the past 25 years. Climate change is a global, transboundary problem that requires national and international cooperation and agreements to tackle it. This might give political parties a decisive role in the fight against climate change if they can influence domestic and international policies and decide whether and how to combat climate change. This thesis asks: Do parties influence climate policy? And if so, under what conditions?The thesis explores the influence of government and opposition parties on climate policy and conditions that might moderate partisan influence, such as the government type (coalition and majority status), diverging preferences within the government and the opposition as well as the preferences of a second legislative chamber. In the first part it applies quantitative analysis methods on large-N panel data in the EU between 2003 and 2020. The quantitative analyses find evidence that government and opposition parties influence climate policy stringency, whereas such link cannot be found for climate policy density. They also reveal moderating effects of the government majority status on the partisan influence of government and opposition, whereas no other moderating effects – neither on government nor opposition partisan influence – could be detected. The subsequent case studies on two German majority governments (Schröder II and Merkel I) in the second part of the thesis provide an example for partisan influence and illustrate the moderating effect of preference homogeneity within the government as well as the preferences of a second legislative chamber. The findings of this thesis help to improve the understanding of the role of political parties in climate policymaking and emphasise the importance of political parties in influencing national climate policies.</p