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Biological Evolution in Contemporary Arabic: A Multimethod Study
Full text linkThe translation of modern science is often expected by scientists and lay readers alike to be transparent due to assumptions related to science as a universal and neutral endeavour. The current research challenges these assumptions in the context of biological evolution epistemically translated into contemporary Arabic. Applying a context-rich corpus framework that incorporates multiple methods, this study couples a bibliographic analysis with a corpus analysis in order to explore both broad trends and finer nuances characterising contemporary representations of biological evolution in translated and originally written Arabic texts. The bibliographic analysis applies macro-level, distant reading techniques to discern quantitative patterns in book-length publications on biological evolution that appeared between 2010 and 2022 in the Arabic book market. The corpus analysis, on the other hand, utilises micro-level data derived from an English-Arabic parallel corpus and a monolingual Arabic corpus of texts collected from science communication outlets spanning the period from 2016 to 2020. These levels of analysis are pursued by means of four studies. The first study is a survey of biological evolution in the Arabic book market. Emerging from the first study, the second tackles the phenomenon of translating and publishing American creationist texts disguised as scientific works by analysing the paratexts of relevant publications. The third study explores the monolingual corpus through a keyness analysis, to discern the themes discussed in the context of biological evolution in Arabic outlets of science communication. Finally, the fourth study investigates the conceptual scope of biological evolution in the corpora, guided by the historical trajectory of the concept’s development in English and Arabic. The results emerging from the four studies undermine assumptions related to the universality and transparency of scientific discourse, thereby illustrating the importance of accounting for historical, sociocultural, and epistemic factors in the study of scientific translation
Enhancing Athlete Monitoring: A Machine Learning Approach to Predicting Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Oxygen Uptake in Team Sports
Full text linkTechnological advances have increased data monitoring in sport, offering potential competitive advantages. Wearable technologies, in particular,
generate large volumes of data with untapped potential for athlete monitoring. However, practitioners face challenges in managing and interpreting these data. While commonly used descriptively, there is growing interest in leveraging historical data to inform decisions on training loads and performance. This thesis uses training load data from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) wearable sensors to develop predictive models for Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and Oxygen Uptake (VO2) in team sports. Feature engineering combined with deep learning was employed to enhance prediction accuracy. Results show that integrating domain knowledge with engineered features improves RPE prediction over traditional metrics. A pilot study also demonstrates that GNSS and IMU data can predict breath-by-breath VO2, with linear models performing comparably to deep learning approaches. The findings offer practical tools for coaches and sports scientists, supporting more effective load management and non-invasive, evidence-based performance monitoring in elite team sports
Detection of thin deformable membranes in pipe flow: Development of an inexpensive and robust embedded solution with Electrical Impedance Tomography
No full textPump clogging is caused by material accumulation around pump impellers. This can have a significant and negative impact on power consumption and reliability. Thin flexible membranes in the flow are often responsible for total and partial blockages in wastewater pumping applications. These membranes are usually found in sewage water but an efficient solution to help monitor them has not yet been reported. The research presented in this thesis aims to assess the feasibility of developing an inexpensive and effective embedded solution for the detection of these membranes. The potential application of the research results includes pump monitoring for better maintenance and smart real-time pump control for clogging prevention. The research has focused on Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). Recent available low-cost EIT systems have demonstrated high accuracy but find it challenging
to deliver fast reconstructions of the conductivities within the Region of Investigation (ROI) and are usually evaluated under static conditions and limited fluid volume. To be suitable for smart pumping applications, the solution needs to be sufficiently robust to work in a dynamic and noisy environment with a large fluid to solid fraction if it is to detect thin immersed membranes. Electrode mispositioning or pipe deformations errors, which are known to influence the quality of reconstructions in EIT, must be considered. In this research, multiple EIT hardware and software configurations are evaluated to determine optimal solutions for conditions found in an industrial pumping environment. A novel reconstruction method is proposed. It allows fast operation and requires low computational resources while being capable of dealing with noise and system errors. It differs from traditional approaches based on Finite Element Methods (FEM) and relies instead on a non-iterative estimation of significant changes in the measured potential within sub-divisions of the ROI.
The results indicate that the solution can detect thin immersed objects of at least 30 cm long at a sampling rate of 50 fps in pipe flow with an area averaged velocity of 4.5 m/s
Bidirectional 100G/150G Amplified Transmission With a QD-SOA for Future Passive Optical Networks
Full text linkThis work investigates optically amplified bidirectional transmission with a quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier for next-generation 100G passive optical networks. We experimentally demonstrate 100/150 Gbit/s uplink/downlink bidirectional PAM-4 transmissions employing a quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier in the remote node of an optical
access network. After 20 km optically amplified transmission,
we attain the uplink/downlink power budgets of 32.3 dB/29 dB
at the HD-LDPC bit error ratio decision threshold of 10−2 with
an overhead of 15.5%, satisfying the power budget requirements
of a legacy passive optical network with net (gross) achievable uplink/downlink data rates of 84.4/126.7 (100/150) Gbit/s,
respectively
Humidity-Resistant Ultralow Friction in Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings Enabled by Graphitic Nanodiamonds
Full text linkHydrogenated diamond-like carbon (H-DLC) coatings are extensively employed in high-performance tribological applications, yet their frictional behavior in humid environments remains a critical limitation. A scalable and industrially viable strategy based on graphitic nanodiamonds (Gr-NDs) is here proposed, enabling humidity-resistant ultralow friction (coefficient of friction <0.1) without requiring controlled atmospheres or complex surface treatments. This approach is distinct from many recent methods involving the deposition of nanoparticles and 2D materials, which often fail under humid conditions. Gr-NDs leverage their
intrinsic core–shell nanostructure to promote the in operando formation of a peculiar graphitic transfer layer (TL), directly enhancing interfacial lubrication. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy confirm that these nanostructures are effectively retained within the TL, ensuring superior wear resistance and friction reduction. Furthermore, spectroscopic analysis reveals that moderate tribochemical oxidation stabilizes the TL, extending its durability under realistic operating conditions. This work establishes Gr-NDs as a disruptive functional additive for H-DLC coatings, offering a robust, scalable, and environmentally friendly solution for next-generation tribological systems in demanding mechanical applications
Strengthening Collaboration via Interlinked Skew Assessment and Rectification (ISAR) in Swarm Robotics
Full text linkEnsuring time synchronization among robotic agents in a IoT based swarm robotic system is crucial for smooth operations. This synchronization enables distributed data logging, coordination of
algorithms, and synchronized event-driven interactions, which would be impossible without a shared time reference. Maintaining this synchronization is key to keeping data generated by robotic agents
consistent and accurate. While various synchronization methods exist, they often require multiple timestamp exchanges or radio messages to address clock skew. This article introduces the Interlinked Skew Assessment and Rectification (ISAR) method. It also presents the Swarm Agent Singular (SAS) Timestamp which provides a cross layered approach to handle clock skew and phase inconsistencies. A SAS timestamp can calculate both clock skew offset and phase offset at the receiving node. The paper delves into ISAR’s mathematical intricacies which includes skew calculations and statistical analysis. MATLAB simulations and experiments with Texas Instruments TMS320C6713 DSP Starter Kits showcase ISAR’s effectiveness which demonstrates practical applicability. The results affirm that using one SAS timestamp instead of multiple timestamp exchanges is a viable approach for synchronizing robotic agents. This will eventually conserves computational resources within swarm networ
Exploring the perspectives of adolescent Ladies Gaelic Football players towards injury prevention: a qualitative study
Full text linkObjectives: In Ladies Gaelic football (LGF) there are 5.90 injury claims per 1000 adolescents per year. Injuries to adolescent players can negatively affect well-being, cause drop-out, and lead to the development of chronic conditions later in life. Evidence suggests injury prevention (IP)
programmes designed for Gaelic games can reduce injury incidence, however, these programmes are not yet widely adopted. The aims of this study were to (1) determine the barriers and facilitators to IP strategy success in adolescent LGF and (2) identify adolescent LGF players’
preferences for IP strategies and educational interventions. Materials and methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 current adolescent LGF players (aged 14–17). The interviews were transcribed and reflexive thematic analysis was completed. This analysis involved gradually developing sub-themes, themes, and categories around the main concepts discussed in the interviews. Four players compete at both club and county level, and eight players compete at club level only.
Results: The main barriers to strategy success were negative stakeholder attitudes and issues with accessibility, knowledge, and unsuitable IP strategy characteristics. Players believed an appropriate IP strategy paired with promotional activities, support, strong leadership, improved education, and open communication would facilitate adoption. Players preferred an accessible, sport-specific IP programme containing flexibility, strength, and conditioning exercises. They felt this should be accompanied by guidance in several areas, particularly, load management, plus support from the governing body, clubs, and coaches. Players wanted IP education for players, coaches, and parents that focuses on injury prevention techniques, injury, and general health
advice. They believed education would best be delivered in-person by educated coaches, players, or health and fitness professionals and supported by online resources. Conclusions: Reducing injury incidence and burden in the community sport of LGF is important. If the success of future IP strategies is to be maximized, the barriers and facilitators highlighted by adolescent players need to be addressed. Additionally, IP programmes and educational interventions designed to fit the preferences of stakeholders must be released and backed by
governing bodies to support long-term adoption. Participating in organized sports such as Ladies Gaelic football is the leading cause of injury in adolescents, and the adoption rate of existing injury prevention programmes is low. To enhance injury prevention programme adoption, and ultimately reduce injury incidence in adolescent players, a new injury prevention strategy is required. This strategy should address negative
attitudes, limited accessibility, and lack of education and establish programmes and educational interventions, which are reinforced by support, promotional activities, and strong leadership
Barriers and enablers of research engagement among multidisciplinary cancer care professionals in Ireland: A mixed-methods study
Full text linkNurses and health and social care professionals (HSCPs) are integral to multidisciplinary cancer care and are well-positioned to engage in research that enhances patient outcomes. However, unlike medical professionals, non-medical clinicians often face substantial barriers to research engagement, including limited institutional support, time constraints, and lack of research training and mentorship. Aim: To explore the barriers and enablers to research activity among nurses and HSCPs working in clinical cancer care settings in Ireland
Cur chuige ionchuimsitheach i dteagasc na léitheoireachta Gaeilge sna hardranganna bunscoile i scoil tumoideachais. [An inclusive approach to reading in Irish in the higher classes in an immersion primary school].
Full text linkI suíomhanna tumoideachais in Éirinn bíonn daltaí tumtha i dteanga nach teanga an bhaile í ag a bhformhór. Sna hardranganna bunscoile cleachtar léitheoireacht na Gaeilge agus an Bhéarla. Ach is beag eolas atá againn ar an dóigh a léann páistí tumoideachais sa Ghaeilge nó sa dá theanga nó ar na scileanna agus straitéisí a bhíonn in úsáid acu agus iad ag léamh. Tá ganntanas treorach agus taighde ann ar an bhealach is éifeachtaí leis an délitearthacht a chur chun cinn, nó le freastal ar riachtanais dhifriúla na bpáistí thar dhá theanga. Le cleachtas ionchuimsitheach a chur chun cinn tá géarghá leis an eolas seo. Sa staidéar seo baintear úsáid as measúnaithe múnlaitheacha, ailt taighde agus ábhar léitheoireachta nua le múinteoirí a spreagadh le machnamh a dhéanamh ar an gcleachtas reatha. Fiosraítear grúpaí dírithe léitheoireachta mar fhéidearthacht le freastal ar riachtanais éagsúla agus le tacú le múinteoirí cur lena straitéisí ionchuimsitheacha le páistí 9-11bliana d’aois
Unheard voices: The critical role of nurses and midwives in climate resilience and disaster preparedness in Small Island Developing States
Full text linkIsland nations such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Tonga face rising threats from climate change, including hurricanes, flooding, and sea-level rise. Nurses and midwives are crucial frontline responders, leading
disaster preparedness, emergency care, and community recovery. This paper highlights their leadership, resilience, and innovation in addressing the health impacts of climate-related disasters. Drawing on realworld examples, it shows how these professionals bridge clinical care with public health strategies, ensuring vulnerable populations receive timely, culturally appropriate interventions. Through education, emergency planning, and clinical support, they foster resilience and recovery. The experiences from these islands emphasize the urgent need to strengthen nursing and midwifery leadership within climate adaptation efforts. Recognizing and investing in their role is vital to building sustainable, climate-resilient health systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The paper calls for increased policy support, funding, and
capacity-building to empower nurses and midwives as essential agents of change.
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY licens