192815 research outputs found
Sort by
Cultivating enduring social responsibility in financial literacy: a perspective from Scotland
No full textThis chapter redefines financial literacy by challenging the traditional capitalist approach centered on short-term profit maximization and individual financial gain. Instead, it proposes a long-term holistic model that integrates global citizenship, equity, and sustainability. Grounded in the Scottish educational context, this chapter argues for financial education that not only equips individuals with practical skills but also fosters long-term thinking through ethical decision-making and critical awareness of cognitive biases. Using a theory adaptation approach, the chapter connects economic and social frameworks with inquiry-based pedagogical strategies to expand the scope of financial literacy education. It critically examines foundational financial literacy concepts and their role in addressing human financial knowledge deficits. Drawing from research in behavioral economics, actuarial science, and investment consulting, alongside lived experience in pensions and pedagogical expertise, the discussion highlights the importance of reinforcing the social contract between generations and positioning finance as a tool for social and economic justice. This reframed perspective offers a compelling direction for fostering not only individual financial competence but also a more just and sustainable society
Bayesian games with nested information
Full text linkA Bayesian game is said to have nested information if the players are ordered, and each player knows the types of all players that follow her in that order. We prove that all multiplayer Bayesian games with finite actions spaces, bounded payoffs, Polish type spaces, and nested information admit a Bayesian equilibrium
High-entropy 2D MXenes: a new paradigm for energy storage
Full text linkTwo-dimensional (2D) MXenes, a family of transition metal (TM) carbides and nitrides, have rapidly reshaped the landscape of electrochemical energy storage owing to their rich chemistry and outstanding charge-storage performance. High-entropy MXenes (HE-MX), which integrate five or more near-equimolar TMs within a single two-dimensional (2D) lattice, extend this platform by introducing entropy-stabilised multielement configurations inspired by high-entropy alloys (HEAs). In these materials, configurational entropy, lattice distortion and “cocktail” effects cooperatively enhance electrochemical stability, activity and durability. This review explores the development of HE-MX, tracing their evolution from the foundational concepts of HEA to sophisticated multi-component architectures with adjustable structures and functional properties. It emphasises advancements in synthesis, such as the selective etching of complex precursors and in the management of lattice strain and surface terminations. By combining insights from in situ spectroscopy, multiscale simulations and electrochemical measurements, we clarify how features such as cation ordering, tailored surface terminations and entropy-stabilised phases govern capacitive behaviour, ion transport kinetics and cycling robustness. Building on these entropy–structure–property relationships, this review outlines the design principles for atomic-level control of the composition and interfaces and identifies strategies to improve stability under extreme operating conditions and enable scalable manufacturing. HE-MX thus emerges as a versatile platform to alleviate the longstanding trade-off between energy density and durability in next-generation electrochemical energy storage systems
Programmable multifunctional bistable structures for energy transfer and dissipation
Full text linkBistable structures exhibiting snap-through behavior are prevalent in nature, enabling rapid transitions between two stable states
upon external stimuli. Considering such a processis accompanied by a dramatic energy conversion, here, a multifunctional bistable
system composed of asymmetric bistable beams with programmable motion patterns is developed. Unlike symmetric bistable
beams, the asymmetric bistable structures store greater strain energy while requiring lower activation force. The energy density of
the system can be tuned by adjusting geometric parameters, type of material, and the number of beams incorporated. Experiments
indicate that a three-beam system manufactured from polylactic acid projects a sphere–comparable in weight to the beams–to a
height 35 times its diameter, representing a 41% increase in energy transfer efficiency compared to a single beam of identical
geometry. Leveraging the programmability and high energy conversion density features of the system, we showcase its versatility
in applications including targeted payload delivery, rapid stimuli-responsive actuation, and biomedical stents. Additionally, the
capability of the system to dissipate impact energy is investigated, underscoring its potential for shock absorption
Recurrent choledocholithiasis after laparoscopic bile duct exploration: incidence, risk factors, and management strategies
No full textBackground: Recurrent common bile duct stone (CBDS) following laparoscopic bile duct exploration (LCBDE) represents a clinically significant long-term complication, with implications for patient morbidity, healthcare utilization, and procedural outcomes. This study aims to quantify the incidence of recurrent CBDS and identify potentially modifiable risk factors in a high-volume referral center Methods: A 30-year prospectively maintained database of LCBDE was analyzed. Recurrences were defined by clinical and biochemical suspicion, with or without radiological confirmation, and included non-intervention cases. Electronic records were reviewed in 2020 and 2023 to identify additional episodes not captured in the original database. Results: Among 1447 patients undergoing LCBDE, 56 (3.8%) developed recurrent choledocholithiasis after a median interval of 24 months (range: 5–220). Twelve patients (21.4%) experienced spontaneous resolution, while 44 patients (78.6%) had 61 confirmed recurrence episodes. Eight resolved with conservative management, while 53 episodes required 65 ERCPs. Multiple recurrences occurred in 13 patients (23.2%). Patients with recurrence were significantly older (median age 72 vs 60 years, p < 0.001), had larger stones (median diameter 10 mm vs 8 mm, p < 0.001), were more likely to have had a difficult LCBDE (64.3% vs 27.8%, p < 0.001), via a choledochotomy (55.4% vs 30.5%, p < 0.001), or required T-tube drainage (37.7% vs 15.1%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Recurrent CBDS occurred in 3.8% of patients who underwent LCBDE (3% confirmed), a rate notably lower than the 4–30% reported after sphincterotomy. Glucagon may aid the spontaneous passage of small stones in suspected recurrence episodes. Multiple recurrences affected 23.2% of patients, warranting consideration of bile acid dissolution therapy. Two modifiable factors significantly reduce recurrence risk: avoiding preoperative sphincterotomy and favoring transcystic over choledochotomy exploration
Realizing Field-Ready MEMS Gravimetry
Full text linkWe present the first field-deployable implementation of the MEMS Gravimeter Wee-g, designed for single-user operation, portability, and real-time monitoring. Trials confirm laboratory-grade performance, with bias instability as low as 3 µGal after 300 seconds of averaging, and sufficient sensitivity and stability to resolve gravity variations from Earth tides with high accuracy. While drift and environmental sensitivities remain areas for improvement, the results presented here outline a clear path toward practical, low-cost MEMS gravimetry for real-world applications
Taking the crucified people down from the cross. Child sex abuse in catholic residential schools in Canada and Scotland
Full text linkContemporary clerical child sex abuse has resulted in serious long term mental and physical illness for many of the victims and an ongoing scandal that has damaged the reputation of the Catholic church worldwide. Clerical child sex abuse and the inconsistent and often ineffective responses from the Catholic Church have been researched from a wide variety of perspectives: legal, ecclesial, sociological, psychological, theological and crisis management. This article is focussed on the accounts of the circumstances of clerical sexual abuse in some of the Catholic residential schools in Canada and Scotland, as represented in documentation from government inquiries. Adults other than priests, religious brothers and sisters also engaged in this sexual abuse. Two hermeneutical lenses are adopted to analyse these accounts of sexual abuse and the response from the Catholic church to accusations of sex abuse in some of their institutions. First, the adoption of image repair theory from the perspective of crisis management and, second, from a Catholic theological perspective, the theology of the cross of Moltmann. This latter lens was applied by Ignacio Ellacuría and Jon Sobrino to the context of late twentieth century El Salvador and they argued that the oppressed people of El Salvador had to be taken down from the cross so that they could rise again. Similarly, the adults who were sexually abused as children now have to be taken down from the cross
What makes an intervention dyadic? Introducing the DYADIC meta-framework to Describe Your focAl Dyadic Intervention Components
Full text linkBackground: Engaging in health behaviors often occurs within a social context. This recognition has led to a notable growth in intervention approaches designed explicitly to involve a “close other,” often referred to as dyadic interventions. Yet, there has been surprisingly little discussion of what makes an intervention dyadic. Methods: To address this gap, we developed the DYADIC meta-framework (Describe Your focAl Dyadic Intervention Components) based on iterative discussions. Results: The DYADIC meta-framework delineates 4 dimensions that capture distinct ways an intervention can be dyadic: Who is there? What is done? How does it work? What is the outcome? These features can combine in distinct configurations, such that an intervention may be dyadic in only 1 dimension or across all 4. For each dimension, we propose criteria to distinguish between individual and dyadic operationalizations. The DYADIC meta-framework for dyadic interventions broadens how researchers conceptualize an intervention as dyadic, identifies meaningful ways in which dyadic interventions can differ, and facilitates testing whether different dyadic features uniquely promote behavior change. Conclusions: Together, these contributions lay the foundation for generating the evidence-based guidance to optimize dyadic intervention design. The framework is designed to be applicable across diverse dyad types (eg, romantic partners, family members, adolescent friends)
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇