6664 research outputs found
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An indoor environmental quality study for higher education buildings with an integrated BIM-based platform.
Full text linkIndoor environmental quality (IEQ) of higher education (HE) buildings significantly impacts the built environment sector. This research aimed to optimize learning environments and enhance student comfort, especially post-COVID-19. The study adopts the principles of Post-occupancy Evaluation (POE) to collect and analyze various quantitative and qualitative data through environmental data monitoring, a user perceptions survey, and semi-structured interviews with professionals. Although the environmental conditions generally met existing standards, the findings indicated opportunities for further improvements to better support university communities’ comfort and health. A significant challenge identified by this research is the inability of the facility management to physically manage and operate the vast and complex spaces within HE buildings with contemporary IEQ standards. In response to these findings, this research developed a BIM-based prototype for the real-time monitoring and automated control of IEQ. The prototype integrates a BIM model with Arduino-linked sensors, motors, and traffic lights, with the latter visually indicating IEQ status, while motors automatically adjust environmental conditions based on sensor inputs. The outcomes of this study not only contribute to the ongoing discourse on sustainable building management, especially post-pandemic, but also demonstrate an advancement in the application of BIM technologies to improve IEQ and by extension, occupant wellbeing in HE buildings
State of play: Francis Alÿs’s Children’s Games
No full textOver the past three decades, artist Francis Alÿs and his collaborators have been filming play across the world. Assembled between 1999 and the present, Children Games is an unsystematic, open ‘archive’ of over 40 short videos of children playing, filmed in over fifteen different countries. This open series is available to view and download under a commons agreement on Alÿs’s website, but it has also been exhibited in galleries as a multi-screen installation, the most recent of which, titled Ricochets, was at the Barbican in London in Summer 2024. This essay focuses on the ‘form(s)’ of Alÿs’s archive, exploring the elected mode of capture – the moving image – and the modalities of its exhibition as both ‘free circulation’ online and cinematic installation in a gallery space. It does so by weaving a dialogue between moving-image art and gallery studies and cultural-historical and psychological conceptions of play, by Johan Huizinga, Roger Caillois and Donald Winnicott among others, as something akin to a state of being in an environment which is both crucially put to use and suspended
AI as a dialogic partner: rethinking feedback in higher education
No full textThere is a well-established body of research on effective feedback practices in higher education. Yet, student engagement with feedback remains varied. One possible explanation lies in limited feedback literacy, particularly the difficulty students face in managing the affective dimensions of receiving critique. Emotional responses can inhibit students from acting on lecturer feedback. This raises the question: can removing the relational aspect of feedback improve engagement? Generative AI (GenAI) tools are increasingly embedded in various educational contexts, supporting both students and teachers by offering real-time feedback and facilitating assessment processes. However, integrating GenAI into feedback practices in higher education requires a paradigm shift, one that positions GenAI not as a threat or all-knowing authority, but as a collaborative learning partner with the potential to foster dialogic engagement with students. With this in mind, we adopted a Bakhtinian approach to dialogue to qualitatively explore whether AI-generated feedback can reshape students’ engagement by reducing affective barriers and legitimising AI as a dialogic partner in learning. Drawing on Bakhtin’s concepts of authoritative and internally persuasive discourse, we investigate whether interaction with GenAI feedback encourages greater student agency and engagement with the feedback process among students from widening participation backgrounds at a London post-1992 university
Parental vaccine refusal, non-vaccinated children, and outbreaks of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs) in Europe: a systematic review of aetiology and risk
Full text linkBackground: Parental vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern, and Europe has witnessed significant outbreaks of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs) over the past two decades. Unvaccinated children are at increased risk of contracting VPDs, and the incidence of several VPDs has been on the rise. Vaccine hesitancy is a serious global health challenge. Nevertheless, the specific association between intentionally unvaccinated children and VPD outbreaks in Europe remains inadequately explored. This rapid systematic review aims to identify and examine studies focused on VPD outbreaks in Europe that involve intentionally non-vaccinated children and the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy.
Methods: A rapid systematic review was conducted with a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, and Academic Search Elite. The population, exposure and outcome (PEO) framework was used to formulate the research question, inclusion and exclusion criteria. Publications from 2010 to and including August 2023 were included.
Results: Of the 330 studies initially identified, a total of nine were included in the final review. The included studies indicated that unvaccinated children due to parental refusal are contributing to outbreaks of measles, diphtheria and tetanus in the European region.
Conclusion: This systematic review provides compelling evidence of an association between intentionally unvaccinated children—those unvaccinated due to parental refusal—and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The findings strongly suggest that this group contributes significantly to VPD outbreaks within the European region. To deepen our understanding, further research is needed to compare the role of intentionally unvaccinated children with that of other unvaccinated groups (e.g., those unvaccinated due to medical contraindications, immunosuppression, or limited access to healthcare) in the emergence and spread of VPDs
Father's experiences of negotiating co-parenting arrangements and family court.
Full text linkBackground: this study builds on existing research on fathers’ experiences of family breakdown, separation, and post-separation abuse, exploring the systemic challenges they face in negotiating co-parenting arrangements. Methods: using data from a survey of 141 fathers and interviews with 30 participants, we examined the dynamics of post-separation co-parenting, particularly focusing on how fathers perceive and navigate family court systems. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes. Results: the findings highlighted two primary themes: the difficulties that fathers face in establishing equitable co-parenting arrangements and their negative experiences with family courts, including perceptions of gender bias and systemic inefficiency. Conclusions: the results indicate a need for greater support mechanisms post-separation to facilitate healthier co-parenting relationships and minimise reliance on adversarial court processes. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of addressing gender stereotypes within family law and social services to ensure more just outcomes for fathers and their children
'They’re creepy creatures with human-like features’: children’s experiences of visual hallucinations in Charles Bonnet syndrome—a qualitative study
Full text linkObjective: Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) refers to
the presence of visual hallucinations occurring secondary
to visual impairment. The aim of this study was to
understand the phenomenology of CBS in children
and assess the emotional impact and support needs of
patients and their families.
Design: Semistructured qualitative interview study.
Setting: UK.
Participants: Children (7–15 years) with an inherited
retinal disease living with CBS and their parents.
Results 10 participants were recruited from six
families (dyadic interviews n=4; parent-only interviews
n=2). Thematic analysis identified five superordinate
themes relating to experiences of CBS: (1) diagnosis
journey, (2) hallucination phenomenology, (3) impact
of hallucinations, (4) understanding and managing
hallucinations and (5) experiences of support. The impact
of CBS was broad and heterogenous, causing significant
disruption to patients’ daily life. Limited awareness
led to parents expressing largely negative healthcare
experiences. Overall, the extent of knowledge and
understanding of CBS was an indicator of successful selfmanagement of the condition.
Conclusions: The journey towards understanding
and managing CBS for both parents and children is
challenging. Although coping strategies can lead to
improved adjustment, visual hallucinations compounded
the difficulty of living with a chronic visual impairment.
Healthcare providers have an integral role in ensuring
patients and families are effectively supported to allay
fears and promote psychological well-being
Tasting the Future: Sensory Evaluation and Perception of Insect-Based Products Among GenZ and Millennials
Full text linkInsect proteins are suitable for human consumption and hold potential in the foodservice sector, where there is growing pressure to reduce traditional meat consumption, and this alternative could be explored through innovative gastronomy landscapes, such as by incorporating insect-based proteins into gourmet dishes. This study uniquely explored how young adults—specifically GenZ and Millennials (aged 18–30)—perceived and accepted insect-based products and whether their dietary habits aligned with sustainable principles. A mixed-methods approach was applied, including a cross-sectional study related to attributes of participants on insect products and sensory evaluation of insect and commercial products, to investigate awareness, acceptance, and sensory experiences. Key barriers included food neophobia and cultural resistance. The findings revealed a significant gap between awareness and behaviour: while 86% recognised insects as nutritious and 58% associated them with sustainability, only 18.6% have tried consuming them. This is a notable larger disparity compared to the adoption of other sustainable alternatives, such as vegetable meat based on peas, which have seen broader acceptance in recent years. Additionally, although 93.2% found products more appealing when their natural appearance is hidden, traditional insect-free products were still rated higher in taste, sweetness, and texture. Some insect-based products such as protein bars showed potential for greater acceptance than others. Bridging the awareness-behaviour gap requires targeted education, sensory improvement, and strategic marketing to emphasise nutritional and environmental benefits. Chefs could play a vital role by designing innovative menus that incorporate these products in familiar forms. This is demonstrated by successful examples where chefs have normalised unconventional ingredients, such as seaweed, overcoming cultural barriers and enhancing acceptance. Future studies should focus on expanding the diversity of participants, mapping gender differences, considering and improving the sensory properties of more products, and confirming the bioavailability of insects to promote wider acceptance of insect consumption
Data-Driven Strategic Workforce Planning in UK SMEs: A Comparative Analysis
No full textAmidst escalating digital competition, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face a vital need to strategically manage human resource management (HRM) for sustainable growth. The adoption of data-driven strategic workforce planning is crucial for SMEs, facilitating informed decisions that enhance operational efficiency. Drawing from secondary data obtained through a governmental survey involving over 2000 SMEs across various sectors in the UK, this study endeavors to deepen our comprehension of the determinants and challenges associated with the adoption of data-driven workforce planning (DDWP) in SMEs and its consequential impact on organizational performance. The study endeavors to construct a framework anchored in the technology-organization-environment (TOE) model, subsequently validating this framework across three prominent industries within the UK SME landscape to substantiate hypotheses derived from the extant literature. The discussion encompasses an exploration of the challenges inherent in implementing DDWP within SMEs, followed by an assessment of how these challenges influence the adoption of DDWP. Subsequently, the study delves into an evaluation of the impact of DDWP on performance, concluding with an examination of the framework's applicability across industries. The results illuminate that drivers influencing the level of adoption of DDWP in SMEs similarly impact selected industries. Moreover, the findings underscore that the level of adoption of DDWP exerts a palpable impact on organizational performance, enhancing overall business efficiency. The outcomes of this study furnish valuable insights and practical recommendations for HR professionals, policymakers, and researchers, delineating strategies to elevate business performance and efficiency through the transformation of workforce planning into data-driven workforce planning
The role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in advancing civil engineering: a comprehensive review
Full text linkThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has revolutionised
civil engineering, enhancing predictive accuracy, decision-making, and sustainability across
domains such as structural health monitoring, geotechnical analysis, transportation systems,
water management, and sustainable construction. This paper presents a detailed
review of peer-reviewed publications from the past decade, employing bibliometric mapping
and critical evaluation to analyse methodological advances, practical applications, and
limitations. A novel taxonomy is introduced, classifying AI/ML approaches by civil engineering
domain, learning paradigm, and adoption maturity to guide future development.
Key applications include pavement condition assessment, slope stability prediction, traffic
flow forecasting, smart water management, and flood forecasting, leveraging techniques
such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Support
Vector Machines (SVMs), and hybrid physics-informed neural networks (PINNs). The
review highlights challenges, including limited high-quality datasets, absence of AI provisions
in design codes, integration barriers with IoT-based infrastructure, and computational
complexity. While explainable AI tools like SHAP and LIME improve interpretability, their
practical feasibility in safety-critical contexts remains constrained. Ethical considerations,
including bias in training datasets and regulatory compliance, are also addressed. Promising
directions include federated learning for data privacy, transfer learning for data-scarce
regions, digital twins, and adherence to FAIR data principles. This study underscores AI as
a complementary tool, not a replacement, for traditional methods, fostering a data-driven,
resilient, and sustainable built environment through interdisciplinary collaboration and
transparent, explainable systems
Deep Learning for assessing rotational misalignment in echocardiographic imaging
No full textAccurate assessment of image quality in echocardiography is essential for both clinical interpretation and the performance of automated diagnostic tools. Rotational misalignment in apical four-chamber views is a common yet underexplored quality issue that can significantly impair anatomical interpretation and quantitative analysis. In this study, we propose a deep learning based framework for automated evaluation of rotational image quality in echocardiographic images. Leveraging a multi-image ranking annotation strategy, we trained a regression model on expert-annotated data. The model exhibited strong alignment with expert consensus, achieving Spearman’s correlation coefficients exceeding 0.88 across multiple validation sets. Comparative analysis demonstrated that model performance was on par with individual expert assessments. Additionally, a training set size analysis revealed performance plateauing beyond approximately 1,000 labelled samples, offering practical guidance for efficient annotation. These findings highlight the feasibility of scalable, objective, and clinically meaningful rotational quality assessment, with promising applications in real-time feedback, acquisition guidance, and automated quality control in echocardiographic workflows