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Effects of long-term exposure on composite manufactured marine propellor blades in pure distilled water and artificial seawater
Get PDFThe aim of this research was to establish the feasibility and investigate the mechanical challenges of the use of composite materials for a marine propellor. Focusing on the major challenge of hygroscopic swelling and the effect this has on material dimensions and properties. Flax-epoxy and carbon-epoxy samples were manufactured and tested in distilled water and artificial seawater to establish the effects of hygroscopic ageing over long-term exposure. Accelerated ageing at 60°C was used to minimise experimental duration whilst observing long-term effects. The research also identified proposed values for the co-efficient of hygroscopic expansion in three planes of 2x2 twill weave epoxy laminates from the described fibres. The issue of increased water absorption in natural fibres with high cellulose content is identified and the subsequent mechanical performance issues as a result of fibre-matrix debonding are explored. Notably, salinity present in artificial seawater had no significant effect on flexural modulus, flexural strength, and inter-laminar shear strength. However, salinity had a significant effect increasing the rate of dimensional changes. These changes were most noticeable in flax fibres where length changes in distilled water were only approximately 20% of those in ASW. However, this research extended beyond its initial scope to identify that immersion time had a significant effect on moisture uptake. Cyclic immersion resulted in degradation of the fibre-matrix interface at a faster rate, with flax samples reaching near saturation 178% faster on the second cycle. Overall, an increase in immersion period results in an increase in moisture content resulting in a subsequent decrease in mechanical properties to varying extents and an increase in dimensional changes. These all are fundamental challenges that must be resolved for the successful application of composite marine propellors. The paper puts forwards recommendations for further study particularly with regards to dimensional changes
Elevated CO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e Increases the Canopy Temperature of Mature Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak)
No full textThe canopy thermal response of natural forests to elevated CO2 (eCO2) is an understudied biophysical feedback in the global climate system. We investigated the effects of eCO2 (150 μmol mol−1 above ambient) on canopy temperature (Tcan) dynamics of mature (\u3e 175 years) Quercus robur (oak) at the Birmingham Institute for Forest Research Free Air CO2 Enrichment (BIFoR-FACE) facility in Staffordshire, England, during the growing seasons of 2021, 2022 and 2023. We employed long-term, high-frequency thermal infrared (TIR) imaging to measure Tcan. Our results show that daily maximum oak Tcan under eCO2 was, on average, approximately 1.3°C higher than under ambient (aCO2) conditions (21.5°C ± 4.4°C for aCO2 vs. 22.8°C ± 5.2°C for eCO2 oaks). Moreover, daily maximum Tcan–air temperature (Tair) differences were significantly higher under eCO2, resulting from more frequent extreme temperature excursions. These differences appear primarily to be driven by reduced stomatal conductance under eCO2, which limits transpirational cooling and alters the surface energy balance. This effect was evident in the different relationship between Tcan–Tair and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) for eCO2 compared to aCO2, showing a reduction in transpirational cooling under high VPD. Also, CO2-induced leaf structural and anatomical modifications, such as increased leaf mass per area, may have enhanced solar radiation absorption, thereby enabling greater canopy warming under high radiation conditions. Thus, eCO2 could likely cause a reduction in leaf transpiration in oaks, reducing its contribution to processes such as humidification of the lower atmosphere and precipitation in local and regional climates. Our findings highlight how high CO2 conditions may intensify thermal stress in temperate forests, influencing water and carbon cycles and potentially impacting forest resilience. Furthermore, Tcan will be essential for refining global Earth system models, which often use Tair as a proxy for Tcan, despite the latter\u27s direct influence on carbon and hydrological cycles
Micro(nano)plastics in the fish gastrointestinal tract: A mini review and relevance to One Health perspective
No full textMicro(nano)plastics (MNPs) research in the piscine gastrointestinal tract has been a significant area of study. Understanding the environmental presence of microplastics, their potential for both localised and systemic effects, and their role as a gateway for MNPs and associated chemicals to enter the tissues and the food web, including the human food chain, is crucial. The fish gut, as a critical intersection between environmental, biotic, and human health, aligns with the One Health concept. We review the likely uptake mechanisms and toxicological damage caused by ingesting MNPs and their associated chemicals in fish, contextualised within the realms of digestive physiology and biological plausibility
A retrospective records review comparing the care of patients who either avoided or were admitted to an ICU following a ward-based deterioration event
No full textObjectives: To identify escalation success factors documented in care records of patients who triggered an Early Warning Score ≥ 7 in the ward, avoided an Intensive Care Unit admission and survived and compare these with ward patients who triggered an Early Warning Score ≥ 7, went to intensive care and died during their admission. Methods: A multi-site, retrospective records review was conducted on 340 survivors and 50 non-survivors who were either admitted to, or who avoided intensive care. Results: Non-survivors of deterioration tended to be older, earlier into their hospital admission, and had a greater number of co-morbidities at the time of their trigger event. Overall, superior care was observed in non-survivors when triangulating quality of care scores and escalation care quality metrics (escalation compliance, hourly observations, and medical re-evaluation). Survivors avoided an Intensive Care Unit admission through responding to ward management or being referred to a specialist team. However, 9.7 % (33/340) of survivors were still triggering at the time of discharge, and 54 % of these had either Covid-19 or a long-term cardiorespiratory condition. Conclusions: This study found differences in how clinical staff responded to patient deterioration between survivors and non-survivors. Although non-survivors received higher-rated care and met more escalation quality indicators, their poorer outcomes were likely influenced by more severe underlying conditions. Despite both patient groups having comparable scores, staff appeared to make nuanced judgments factoring in clinical concerns not captured by the score alone (success factor). Implications for Clinical Practice: Despite generating the same warning score values, there is wide variation in true patient acuity that only clinical staff can discriminate, and escalation protocols alone may not be advanced enough to address this subtlety
Images of Plaster: Art for Southwest England
No full textThis 13‑minute immersive film explores the visual and material culture of seventeenth‑century plasterwork in Southwest England, drawing on high‑resolution LiDAR scans captured at Lanhydrock House, Prideaux Place, Stafford Barton, and Boutport Street in Barnstaple. The film reveals the complexity of the ceilings’ design, the influence of continental print culture on their iconographic programmes, and the potential involvement of the Abbott workshop
Translation of oral health research priorities into research topics in an equity-based priority setting exercise
Get PDFBACKGROUND: In the context of research priority-setting, participants express their research priorities and ideas in various forms, ranging from narratives to explicit topics or questions. However, the transition from these expressions to well-structured research topics or questions is not always straightforward. Challenges intensify when research priorities pertain to interventions or diagnostic accuracy, requiring the conversion of narratives into the Participant, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO) format.
SCOPE AND FINDINGS: This project aimed to understand the challenges of engaging a diverse, multilingual population in setting oral health research priorities. While not a comprehensive priority-setting effort, we modified James Lind Alliance\u27s (JLA) methods and used thematic analysis to establish a list of priority research topics and questions. This was accomplished by conducting interviews with 40 community participants and 14 dentists from various ethnic backgrounds in Malaysia. The interview language depended on participant preferences, including English, Malay, and Mandarin, with translations handled collaboratively by bilingual research assistants. The process involved thematic analysis, discussion with a research committee, and necessary modifications. Our interpretations revealed distinct categories of participant statements: explicit, complicated, implicit and incomplete. In this study, we identified a three-step approach to translate research ideas that are presented either as explicit statements or as complicated narratives.
CONCLUSIONS: Translating community research priorities poses inherent challenges. Our model, although not exhaustive, provides a valuable tool to assist research priority-setting groups in translating these priorities into meaningful research topics and questions, facilitating the equitable inclusion of diverse perspectives. Future research priority-setting endeavours should document their translation processes, thus aiding researchers in understanding and tackling the intricacies of this task
Examining pathways for a climate neutral Europe by 2050; A model comparison analysis including integrated assessment models and energy system models
Get PDFThe European Union\u27s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, outlined in the European Green Deal, is supported by numerous studies providing insights into pathways and emission reduction strategies in the energy sectors. However, model comparisons of such pathways are less common due to the complex nature of climate and energy modelling. Our study brings together integrated assessment models and energy system models under a common framework to develop EU policy scenarios: a Current Trends scenario reflecting existing policies and trends and a Climate Neutrality scenario aligned with the EU\u27s emission reduction target. Both scenarios project reduced final energy consumption by 2050, driven by increased electrification and decreased fossil fuel usage. Electricity consumption increases driven by electrification despite the improved efficiency of electrified technologies. Models align on a shift toward renewables but diverge in technology and fuel choices, reflecting various approaches to reach net-zero energy systems. Furthermore, trade-offs between energy demand and supply mitigation strategies, as well as between renewable energy, e-fuels, and CCS technologies are identified. Considering these model variations, our study highlights the importance of consistent model comparison to offer reliable recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders. We conclude that model diversity is a valuable asset when used sensibly
Time For Change: The Importance of Copyright for Manga and Anime
Get PDFCopyright law is key to the creative industries and plays a vital role in shaping the relationships between authors, commercial intermediaries, and audiences. However, the law significantly deviates from the social norms and expectations prevalent in the creative industries, leading to under-researched but key areas of misunderstanding and conflict.This article seeks to address this gap by providing a copyright law starting-point for those interested in the creative industries. First, this article provides a basic overview of copyright law and its features; in particular, how it applies to manga and anime. Second, the effect of copyright on the marketization and exploitation of copyright works is outlined. This includes the law\u27s effect on manga and anime distribution patterns, the role of digital rights management in shaping market structures, and the gap between fan expectations and what is legally permissible.This article argues that more interdisciplinary work connecting legal scholarship to the humanities is urgently required to address these gaps between the law, social norms and expectations to the benefit of a more effective copyright law, flourishing industries, and active fan engagement
Challenges and opportunities in reducing risk of diabetes-related cardiovascular disease: Making Every Contact Count
Get PDFDespite recent Government initiatives to reduce rates, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes isexpected to continue rising to almost 10% of the population by 2035. Complications of type 2diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), contribute to approximately 22 000 deathsannually in England, indicating a need for population health management through preventativehealthcare. The Making Every Contact Count (MECC) initiative recommends the building ofpreventative strategies into routine primary care appointments to reduce modifiable risk factorsassociated with both type 2 diabetes and CVD. This article explores the unique opportunitiesgeneral practice nurses have to promote primary and secondary prevention of CVD