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Effect of micro TiO₂ on cement mortar
Get PDFTiO2 is a primary photocatalytic ingredient. If incorporated into building materials, it can keep surfaces clean and significantly reduce smog-forming air pollutants. Many researchers have focused on the ability of Nano TiO2 to reduce NOx emissions or other pollutants. However, developing countries are unable to widely utilize Nano materials due to cost and technology barriers, in spite of their great need to find means for protecting structures from pollution and improve air quality. Some studies proved that micro TiO2 (commercial grade) also has photocatalytic properties. However, the effect of this inclusion on key mechanical and durability properties needs to be verified before being recommended for wide use. In this research the effect of commercial grade TiO2 powder on fresh state flow, compressive strength, shrinkage, sulfate resistance and carbonation. The results indicated that TiO2 decreased the workability as mortars became more sticky and dry with increased TiO2 content. The compressive strength was also reduced in TiO2 containing samples compared to the control samples especially at early ages .However, TiO2 powder as an additive in mortar was useful in reducing carbonation due to the filler effect. No samples in the current investigation showed signs of cracking or expansive mass loss due to sulfate exposure. It is recommended that TiO2 powder should be used as an additive to the mortar plaster to help in controlling the air pollution problem. However, some mix adjustment may be needed to counteract the loss in flow and strength due to the inclusion of TiO2 powder
A specific blood signature reveals higher levels of S100A12: a potential bladder cancer diagnostic biomarker along with urinary Engrailed-2 protein detection
Get PDFUrothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder (UCB) or Bladder cancer remains a major health problem with high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in the western world. UCB is also associated with the highest cost per patient. In recent years numerous markers have been evaluated for suitability in UCB detection and surveillance. However, to date none of these markers can replace or even reduce the use of routine tools (cytology and cystoscopy). Our current study described the UCB's extensive expression profile and highlighted the variations with normal bladder tissue. Our data revealed that JUP, PTGDR, KLRF1, MT-TC and RNU6-135P are associated with prognosis in patients with UCB. The microarray expression data identified also S100A12, S100A8 and NAMPT as potential UCB biomarkers. Pathway analysis revealed that natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity is the most involved pathway. Our analysis showed that S100A12 protein may be useful as a biomarker for early UCB detection. Plasma S100A12 has been observed in patients with UCB with an overall sensitivity of 90.5% and a specificity of 75%. S100A12 is highly expressed preferably in high-grade and high-stage UCB. Furthermore, using a panel of more than hundred urine samples, a prototype lateral flow test for the transcription factor Engrailed-2 (EN2) also showed reasonable sensitivity (85%) and specificity (71%). Such findings provide confidence to further improve and refine the EN2 rapid test for use in clinical practice. In conclusion, S100A12 and EN2 have shown potential value as biomarker candidates for UCB patients. These results can speed up the discovery of biomarkers, improving diagnostic accuracy and may help the management of UCB
Schooling, education, and the reproduction of inequality: understanding black and minority ethnic attitudes to learning in two London schools
Get PDFThe argument here places the personal reflections of BAME students and educators at the forefront in this discussion of racial inequity in the British educational system. The contributors are all stakeholders, in a certain sense as they have an investment in schooling, either as student, teacher or educator, in a way that cannot be reduced to the four walls of the classroom. It features interviews and personal communications that shed light on what needs to be done to correct the gross disparities in educational outcomes for BAME students. The emphasis is therefore placed on the quality of their contributions and the importance of having a positive black presence in their teaching and learning environments. It features some candid reflections on the rights or wrongs of having a Black History Month (BHM) celebration, especially in the wake of the introduction in 2008 of Black History as the ‘Slave Trade’ in the National Curriculum, which many considered, and still believe was ill thought through at the time
Effective discrimination of flavours and tastes of Chinese traditional fish soups made from different regions of the silver carp using an electronic nose and electronic tongue
Get PDFSilver carp is a one of the most important freshwater fish species in China, and is popular when making soup in the Chinese dietary culture. In order to investigate the profile of fish soup tastes and flavours cooked using different regions of the same fish, the silver carp was cut into four different regions: head, back, abdomen, and tail. The differences in taste and flavour of the four kinds of homemade fish soup were investigated by an electronic nose and electronic tongue. The basic chemical components of the different fish regions and the SDS-PAGE profile of the fish soup samples were investigated. Two chemometrics methods (principal component analysis and discriminant factor analysis) were used to classify the odour and taste of the fish soup samples. The results showed that the electronic tongue and nose performed outstandingly in discriminating the four fish soups even though the samples were made from different regions of the same fish. The taste and flavour information of different regions of the silver carp fish could provide the theoretical basis for food intensive processing
Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing during Covid: Reflections from HE Professionals
No full textThe BERA Podcast
The Impact of Covid-19 on Mental Health, Wellbeing and Education
In this episode, two convenors from the BERA Mental Health, Wellbeing and Education Special Interest Group speak about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their special interest area.
Dr Michelle Jayman, (Unviersity of West London) presents "Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing during Covid: Reflections from HE Professionals."
Professor Jonathan Glazzard (Leeds Beckett University) presents "The Impact of Covid-19 on Young People: Multiple and Multidimensional transitions.
Prenatal diagnosis: Women’s interactions with practitioners when severe abnormalities are discovered at birth
Get PDFBackground: In an increasingly litigious medical environment, this study examined women’s experiences of their interactions with practitioners when severe abnormalities are discovered at birth.
Methods: Eight in-depth interviews with women were conducted in France. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
Results: Four superordinate themes were identified: the importance of attunement to women’s emotions and needs; the possibility of litigation but no direct accusation; reasons for not resorting to litigation; and reframing and positive transformations. Despite experiencing distress, women were reluctant to make a complaint against practitioners. Several factors may account for this, but practitioners’ ability to relate to women with humanity was particularly significant.
Conclusion: Women understood the limits of technology and of the care practitioners can provide, but greatly valued practitioners’ empathic and honest communications. Thus, adopting a transparent and open approach may foster trusting relationships with women/parents. In turn, this may lower the prospect of litigation being brought against practitioners when severe abnormalities are discovered at birth
Global lockdown: An effective safeguard in responding to the threat of COVID-19
Get PDFRationale, aims, and objectives: The recent outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has infected around 1,560,000 individuals till 10th April 2020, which has resulted in 95,000 deaths globally. While no vaccine or anti-viral drugs for COVID-19 are available, lockdown acts as a protective public health measures to reduce human interaction and lower transmission. The study aims to explore the impact of delayed planning or lack of planning for the lockdown and inadequate implementation of the lockdown, on the transmission rate of COVID-19.
Method: Epidemiological data on the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 cases as reported by public health authorities were accessed from six countries based on total number of infected cases, viz., (United States of America (USA) and Italy (more than 100,000 cases); United Kingdom (UK), and France (50,000 to 100,000 cases), and India and Russia (6,000 to 10,000 cases).The Bayesian inferential technique was used to observe the changes (three points) in pattern of number of cases on different duration of exposure (in days)in these selected countries one month after WHO declaration about COVID-19 as a global pandemic.
Results: On comparing the pattern of transmission rates observed in these six countries at posterior estimated change points, it is found that partial implementation of lockdown (in the USA), delayed planning in lockdown (Russia, UK and France), and inadequate implementation of the lockdown (in India and Italy) were responsible to the spread of infections.
Conclusions: In order to control the spreading of COVID-19, like other national and international laws, lockdown must be implemented and enforced. It is suggested that on-time or adequate implementation of lockdown is a step towards social distancing and to control the spread of this pandemic
Gastronomic cultural EVOOlution of the virgin olive oil consumption model at the restaurant
Get PDFGastronomic experience can be a factor of motivation to improve the quality of extra virgin olive oil served at the
restaurant. The "new" consumer is a very complex and demanding figure, who seeks in the consumption of food
products not only a means to satisfy food needs, but experiences, emotions, feelings, service, nature, culture, etc.
The quality requirements do not only concern the chemical-physical and organoleptic components of the
product, but also the hedonostic ones, ie those related to the health aspects, the quality of the territory of origin,
the typicality, the respect of the environment by the production processes used, respect for animal welfare, the
ethical content of the product, etc. He is demanding in terms of information on the features of the product and
requires greater guarantees on its characteristics and/or on the production processes used. All this seems to
highlight the presence of potential unsatisfied needs around which it is possible to build paths of development of
the offer able to satisfy them, especially at the restaurant, where cultural, emotional and multi-sensory satisfaction of food can be easily “discovered”. This is the right time to change the marketing of extra virgin olive oil
at the restaurant, because extra virgin olive oil is an element that embodies the different aspects of the expected
and perceptible quality of a food: taste, sensory, knowledge, sacredness, syncretism, health, history, naturalness
and authenticity. Tasting a high quality oil, discovering the complexity of the aromas released by the contact
with the warm dishes and the gustatory and kinesthetic perceptions that harmoniously interact by balancing the
sensory profile of the other ingredients, is comparable to the emotion of a blind man when recovers his sight.
From that moment, as the blind man will not be able to tolerate returning to the oblivion of darkness, the guests
that tasted a high quality extra virgin olive oil can not tolerate returning to the banality of a fat that anoints
without seasoning
A qualitative longitudinal study of the first UK Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA), an integrated peer-support programme for concurrent disorders
Get PDFDual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA) is a peer-led programme developed in the USA which aims to address mental and addictive disorders in an integrated manner. This study is part of a mixed methods evaluation of the first DDA in the UK, its purpose was to explore the impact and mechanism of change of the programme through the perspective of DDA attendees, facilitators, and the funding commissioners.
Six DDA members were interviewed three times over a period of 12 months, the facilitators were interviewed twice and the commissioner once. The qualitative longitudinal data were analysed using a trajectory thematic analysis.
DDA attendance was perceived to have had a positive impact on five main areas: (1) acceptance of self, of others and from others; (2) social functioning; (3) self-development; (4) recovery progression; (5) feeling of hope. The possibility of addressing both mental health and addiction at the same time was a key factor in the recovery process. The facilitators observed that DDA had contributed to integrate members into employment and education, while the commissioner stressed the importance of joint commissioning and sustainability.
The longitudinal approach provided a unique insight into the recovery process of DDA members. Being able to address the mental health as well as the substance use problems was considered to be a fundamental strength of DDA in comparison to the single purpose peer support fellowships
PERPETUAL ‘OUTCAST’? WOMEN’S ROLE IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF SANYATI DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE.
No full textThis paper explores the role of women in agricultural development and their setbacks in Sanyati
district. A simple random sampling method was applied to select five villages from Sanyati and 50
women (smallholder farmers). Then, the in-depth interviews were conducted to obtain information
from women on the socio-economic characteristics, land use activities, farm production and challenges
they face. A qualitative analysis was used to analyze the data collected. The findings of the research
also showed that women are included in mostly farming activities from land preparation to harvesting,
processing and marketing of produce. They are involved in growing various crops, rear animals and
keep poultry. The land tenure system and the concept of headship in Zimbabwe have always considered
men to be the head and land is allocated to the head of the family, presumed to be male. Hence, women’s
access to land is limited. The study noted that female-headed households found it challenging to own
land, their access and rights to land and credit facilities are always not easy and has fewer labour
resources. Since women contribute immensely to food production, processing and preservation of food,
spirited commitment and dedication should be devoted on addressing challenges because women are
the backbone and engine of agricultural development and food security in Sanyati district and
Zimbabwe as a whole.
Keyword: Agriculture; challenges; development; farmer’s role; production; women