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Individual variability in clothing thermal behaviour: a multidisciplinary review of physiological and ethnographic literature
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Post-anthropocentric value alignment: beyond the human-set and human-centred
No full textAs autonomous systems (AS) are increasingly adopted for high-impact applications, concerns arise about these systems making morally concerning decisions and performing harmful behaviours. These concerns have charged research efforts in value alignment, or designing and training AS to act in a way which is consistent with a certain set of values. Current human-centred solutions include training AS to i) prioritise the wellbeing of humans or ii) adhere to descriptive human ethics. This thesis investigates the prioritisation of human wellbeing as a normative grounding for AI ethics and value alignment. This thesis shows that anthropocentric accounts of moral value fail to motivate the claim that humans matter more than nonhumans. This thesis also examines the limitations of training AS to adhere to descriptive human values. Experimental results demonstrate that even when humans share moral intuitions, we struggle to translate these intuitions into a machine-readable format. Moreover, AS trained on human values often fail to align with relevant normative principles. This thesis proposes an alternative non-human-centred approach to value alignment. Ecological ethics is introduced and defended as an alternative normative grounding for value alignment, broadening the kinds of things afforded moral consideration to include nonhumans, such as plants and animals, and entire ecosystems. This thesis also presents a novel technical contribution, `modelled ethics', where domain-specific quantitative models are utilized to capture normative ethics. Experimental results show that modelled ethics value alignment outperforms human-set reward functions in adhering to a both human-centred and ecological ethics. This research de-centres the human in value alignment, offering a more inclusive AI ethics paradigm and creating more ethically robust AS
Personalization and digital social markets: disrupting the capitalist economy
No full textTahir Nisar presents a cogent, compelling account of recent developments and disruptions within the digital economy, and particularly within the industrial and service sectors. Through an original, overarching framework rooted in the concept of personalization and its antecedents, Nisar identifies radically new forms of relationships, both economic and social, among firms and customers. These new relationships are driving major changes in commercial and industrial firms' policies and practices, and in turn, in the entire market economy. E-commerce trading, user-generated content, virtual communities, co-creation, influencer movements, FinTech, and sharing economies have strengthened the hands of consumers and have encouraged developments in cognitive technologies such as AI automation, which in turn create new ways of working and disruptions to traditional capital-labour relations. Ultimately, what emerges from this study is a picture of how digital technologies unleash forces of change that are creating new forms of social and economic sharing arrangements and new forms of social organization.For its empirical depth and and theoretical rigor, this book is essential reading for researchers and students interested in emerging, alternative forms of economics, business, and management, and particularly those interested in the digital economy and the state and future of capitalist markets
A multi-dimensional view of a unified model for TDEs
No full textTidal disruption events (TDEs) can generate non-spherical, relativistic and optically thick outflows. Simulations show that the radiation we observe is reprocessed by these outflows. According to a unified model suggested by these simulations, the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of TDEs depend strongly on viewing angle: low [high] optical-to-X-ray ratios (OXRs) correspond to face-on [edge-on] orientations. Post-processing with radiative transfer codes have simulated the emergent spectra, but have so far been carried out only in a quasi-1D framework, with three atomic species (H, He and O). Here, we present 2.5D Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations which model the emission from a non-spherical outflow, including a more comprehensive set of cosmically abundant species. While the basic trend of OXR increasing with inclination is preserved, the inherently multi-dimensional nature of photon transport through the non-spherical outflow significantly affects the emergent SEDs. Relaxing the quasi-1D approximation allows photons to preferentially escape in (polar) directions of lower optical depth, resulting in a greater variation of bolometric luminosity as a function of inclination. According to our simulations, inclination alone may not fully explain the large dynamic range of observed TDE OXRs. We also find that including metals, other than Oxygen, changes the emergent spectra significantly, resulting in stronger absorption and emission lines in the extreme ultraviolet, as well a greater variation in the OXR as a function of inclination. Whilst our results support previously proposed unified models for TDEs, they also highlight the critical importance of multi-dimensional ionization and radiative transfer
Taxonomy of chronic illness research recruitment: a restricted scoping review
No full textBackground: chronic illness prevalence is increasing and research recruitment in these populations remains challenging. Individuals with chronic illness often have poorer quality of life, restricted access to hospitals where research occurs, and can be reluctant to participate. Researchers need multiple simultaneous strategies to achieve success. No taxonomy of recruitment factors in chronic illness research could be identified in the literature. This paper aims to describe a comprehensive taxonomy of recruitment for chronic illness research (inclusive of a nursing focus) to inform the design and reporting of recruitment strategies by creating a list of practical questions.Methods: a restricted scoping review was conducted on articles reporting on recruitment factors in chronic illness research. Main search restrictions were the number of years and databases searched with broad eligibility criteria. Included articles were critically assessed and data extracted. A code book was used to examine findings and results sections line by line, both deductively and inductively. The final codebook and the content of the codes informed the taxonomy construction and the practical questions.Results: core components of research recruitment were identified as people, place, and project. The component of People included factors of researchers, clinicians, recruiters, and participants roles. The component of Place included factors of national or local research oversight institutions, healthcare environments, and community spaces. Finally, the component of Project included factors of research design, participant research journey, and research promotion. The final taxonomy informed a practical list of questions to aid researchers in the design and reporting of research recruitment strategies.Conclusions: the chronic illness research recruitment taxonomy describes and characterises factors reported to impact on research recruitment. It provides a framework for designing and reporting on recruitment strategies. While the taxonomy requires further testing, it is the first to offer a broad characterisation of recruitment factors in chronic illness research
Electrodeposited Zn-Ni coatings for the replacement of cadmium
No full textThis thesis investigates the electrodeposition and characterization of zinc-nickel (Zn-Ni) coatings, focusing on the enhancement of adhesion and corrosion resistance by optimizing deposition parameters, anode materials, and post-deposition treatments. Zn-Ni coatings, containing 10–15 wt% Ni, offer superior corrosion resistance compared to pure zinc, making them an effective alternative to cadmium-based coatings. The effects of different anode materials (zinc, nickel, platinum, 1020 steel, and stainless steel) on coating properties were studied, including voltage behaviour, microstructure, Ni content, and corrosion resistance. Coatings from zinc and nickel anodes exhibited consistent thicknesses of 13–15 µm, with zinc anodes achieving a Ni content of 13.5 wt%, whereas coatings from steel-based anodes were significantly thicker, reaching up to 33 µm, but with lower Ni content (~7 wt%). The coatings from zinc and nickel anodes exhibited fewer defects and minimal porosity, while those from steel-based anodes displayed higher porosity and more irregular surface morphologies. In terms of corrosion resistance, zinc anodes coatings exhibited a lower corrosion rate of 0.44 mm/year compared to 1.54 mm/year for nickel anodes coatings.The study also investigated the influence of saccharin concentrations on coating properties. Saccharin concentrations up to 1 g/L significantly improved adhesion by producing dense, defect-free coatings. The surface roughness was reduced to 0.897 µm, compared to over 1.7 µm in coatings without saccharin. EDS analysis revealed that the oxygen content was reduced to 1.1 wt% in saccharin-enhanced coatings. High saccharin concentrations also led to a reduction in grain size, but excessive grain refinement resulted in lower hardness, following an inverse Hall-Petch relationship.Post-deposition heat treatment at 200°C further improved adhesion by promoting atomic diffusion and healing interfacial voids, enhancing the structural integrity of the coatings. The study also explored the use of Ni-Sn interlayers to improve adhesion. Coatings with Ni-Sn interlayers exhibited superior bonding compared to those with pure Ni interlayers, particularly after heat treatment. The Sn content in the interlayer decreased from 7.9 wt% to 5.8 wt% during heat treatment, which improved the interfacial cohesion by reducing oxidation-related brittleness. SEM analysis confirmed that the Ni-Sn interlayers provided a more cohesive interface, minimising voids and cracks even under thermal conditions
Vulnerability in action: the role of the disabled body in shaping geographies of protest
No full textProtest has been a long-held concern of geographers who have examined the socio-spatial practices of activists and social movements. Yet, within this corpus of work, limited attention has been paid to the role and experience of the body among those involved in protest. Drawing on a study focusing on the experiences of disabled activists organizing in response to austerity in the UK, the paper examines the use of the individual body in activism and explores how disabled people use their bodies for social change in a way that seeks to turn corporeal vulnerability into a site of defiant resistance. While vulnerability is often seen as anathema to direct-action protest, the study reveals that vulnerability can be a fundamental and inherent element of activism. The paper seeks to challenge the implicitly ableist and masculinist accounts of activism persisting in some geographic scholarship and calls for greater attention to be paid to more inclusive spaces for different embodiments.</p
The influence of surrounding structures on ground-borne vibration from railways
No full textRailway transportation is widely recognised as an environmentally friendly and sustainable mode of transport, with extensive global development over recent decades. However, train-induced ground vibration has become a subject of increasing concern. To address this, various prediction methods, including empirical, analytical/semi-analytical, and numerical approaches, have rapidly evolved. Despite these advancements, most methods presume a free-field transmission path, disregarding the influence of buildings located between the excitation source and receiver points. This simplification highlights the need for more detailed investigations into the impact of surrounding structures on ground-borne vibration.Ground vibration is fundamental to the vibration response of the target building. To improve computational efficiency and simplify the model, the ground vibration is investigated. The aim of this thesis is to explore and analyse the influence of surrounding structures located in the transmission path on ground vibration induced by railways. This investigation begins with a fundamental problem: the interaction between a single pile and the surrounding soil and its subsequent impact on ground response. To address this, a semi-analytical model has been developed to study the effects of a single pile on ground vibration. The finite element method is used to simulate a piled foundation structure. The surrounding soil is modelled by using the dynamic stiffness matrix method. The model's accuracy and reliability are examined across various conditions. Additionally, the ground velocity levels behind the pile and the corresponding insertion loss results are thoroughly investigated. The influence of the single pile on ground vibration is quantitatively analysed under varying conditions, including different soil wave velocities, frequencies, and layer parameters.A semi-analytical model of a pile group embedded in soil is constructed by considering the transfer receptances between distinct piles, based on the single pile-soil dynamic interaction model. The model accuracy range is investigated. Then different pile configurations are investigated. These include two piles aligned transverse to the line from source point to the receiver point, two piles arranged axially to this line, and four piles arranged in a square 2×2 configuration. The ground response and the ground vibration mitigation effects are investigated and summarised.Next, an analysis is conducted on the ground response behind a building structure with piled foundation. The ground velocity level response and the insertion loss results for a fixed unit load are presented. Furthermore, the excitation source is substituted with a railway train load operating within an embedded tunnel structure. The tunnel structure is simulated using the Pipe-in-Pipe method. The study summarises responses under varying train loads and distances between the railway and the building, providing a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the structure located in the transmission path.Finally, within the framework of a hybrid ground vibration prediction model, the impact of five different foundation types on ground response is explored. These are a raft foundation, strip foundations oriented both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of train movement, a pile foundation, and a box foundation. The excitation sources encompass both surface and underground railway force density levels. The line source transfer mobility for the different types of building foundation is computed using a set of incoherent point loads and combined with force densities to represent train excitation. The line source transfer mobility of the various foundation types is simulated using the finite element method. Leveraging high-performance computing and batch processing, the line source transfer mobility results are investigated. The findings reveal that deep foundations generally offer more significant ground vibration mitigation effects. However, when the train load is embedded below the surface, zones of amplified ground vibration may occur behind the building.Overall, the presence of structures in the transmission path significantly influences ground vibration. When point loads or train loads are applied on the ground surface, the ground response is typically mitigated. However, when the loads are embedded in the ground, the vibration may be amplified in certain zones. Therefore, it is crucial to account for structures within the transmission path when predicting ground vibration impacts. Consequently, this approach is expected to yield more accurate predictions
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