47011 research outputs found
Sort by
Not always as advertised: Different effects from viewing safer gambling (harm prevention) adverts on gambling urges
Get PDFPublic concern around gambling advertising in the UK has been met not by government action but by industry self-regulations, such as a forthcoming voluntary ban on front-of-shirt gambling sponsorship in Premier League soccer. “Safer gambling” (harm prevention) adverts are one recent example, and are TV commercials which inform viewers about gambling-related harm. The present work is the first independent evaluation of safer gambling adverts by both gambling operators and a charity called GambleAware. In an online experiment, we observed the change in participants’ (N = 2,741) Gambling Urge Scale (GUS) scores after viewing either: a conventional financial inducement gambling advert, a gambling operator's safer gambling advert, an advert from the GambleAware “bet regret” campaign, an advert from the GambleAware “stigma reduction” campaign, or a control advert that was not about gambling. Relative to a neutral control advert, GUS scores increased after viewing a financial inducement or an operator's safer gambling advert. In comparison to the neutral control condition, GUS score changes were similar after viewing a bet regret advert, but showed a significant decrease after viewing a stigma reduction advert. Those at higher risk of harm reported larger decreases in GUS after watching a bet regret or stigma reduction advert. Overall, this study introduced a novel experimental paradigm for evaluating safer gambling adverts, uncovered a potential downside from gambling operators’ safer gambling adverts, and revealed variation in the potential effectiveness of charity-delivered safer gambling adverts
Investigation of PWM Techniques for High-Frequency Harmonics Loss Performance in Dual-Three Phase Asymmetrical Machines
No full textDual three-phase asymmetrical machines are more sensitive to voltage pulses from pulse width modulation (PWM) compared to conventional three-phase machines. This sensitivity results in substantial current harmonics, which cause increased machine losses, significant current distortion, and excessive vibration. This article presents a comprehensive investigation into the high-frequency harmonic losses introduced by PWM techniques applied to voltage supply machine drives. To ensure a fair comparison, the computational burden among different PWM technique groups is standardized through a general carrier-based PWM approach. An analytical high-frequency harmonic loss model is introduced, expressed through machine parameters and the harmonic components of current and voltage. A corresponding equivalent loss resistance circuit is also discussed. Four existing PWM techniques, widely examined for their distinct current distortion performance, are evaluated. Extensive simulation and experimental results confirm the correctness of the analytical comparisons
Impact of Public Space in Primary and Secondary Schools Based on Natural Visibility Ratio
Get PDFCampus safety is an essential prerequisite for the development of the education system, as it directly impacts the security of life and property for a significant number of students and faculty members. In recent years, the safety of primary and secondary schools has garnered considerable attention from policymakers and architects, necessitating rational design methods to develop effective strategies that optimize the campus environment. This study utilizes algorithmic simulations, spatial analysis, and statistical methods to examine the relationships between building layout, public space morphology, and campus safety. The study Analysed 53 schools and their variants generated through computational modelling. It revealed that while the architectural layout has a relatively limited direct impact on the safety of school public spaces, the shape and scale of these spaces can significantly enhance safety performance through improved natural surveillance. The findings underscore the critical importance of controlling the form and configuration of buildings and public spaces in school design, providing a robust foundation for safety-oriented campus planning
Supporting children’s numeracy competencies and families’ HNE: Exploring the role of apps and digital parent information in STEM vs. Non-STEM families
Get PDFEarly numeracy competencies are of great importance for children’s competency development. Here, early digital intervention approaches offer the potential to support all children and their families. We investigated whether the provision of specific numeracy learning apps and parent information about children’s numeracy development improves both, children’s numeracy competencies and the quality of families’ home numeracy environment (HNE) while considering the potential impact of parental (STEM) occupation. Children’s numeracy competencies were measured twice in two cohorts (N1 = 190 children; M1age = 63.6 months; SD1 = 4.4; N2 = 310 children; M2age = 59.4 months; SD2 = 3.9) with a six-month interval between t1 and t2. Parents were surveyed about the family characteristics and the HNE. Families in the numeracy intervention group (Ntotal = 151) received tablet computers with specific numeracy learning apps and parent information. No significant intervention effect on the quality of the HNE was found. However, children from intervention families showed significantly greater numeracy competency gains, even when considering child and family characteristics and independent of parental occupations. Consequently, high-quality learning apps can support the development of children’s numeracy competencies already at preschool age. Further ideas on how to reach families and enhance the HNE are discussed
Training of Executive Functions in Children: A meta-analysis of cognitive training interventions
Get PDFWe investigated the effect of cognitive training of executive functions on children’s cognitive outcomes. To address this issue, a systematic meta-analysis of published research articles on cognitive training interventions was performed considering children’s age, training duration, -procedure, and -technology in moderator analyses. The results (N = 57) of a random-effects-model showed that cognitive training was effective with a total effect size of g = 23 The training was more effective for younger compared to older children. Training benefits were found for near- and far-transfer tasks. The largest gains for a near-transfer skill were found for working memory. Both numeracy and literacy skills profited from training. Computer training was very effective, however, only a few studies used mobile technology. Non-adaptive training was associated with greater effect sizes and both group and individual training were similarly effective. Verbal feedback was important for younger children. School was an effective context for training, however, only a few studies were conducted at home or at the lab. The findings are discussed and advocate an early start of cognitive training interventions
A Modular and Scalable Route to Protected Cyclopropane Amino Acid Building Blocks
Get PDFAn improved method for the synthesis of noncanonical cyclopropane amino acids from common laboratory reagents is described, avoiding the use of neurotoxic oxidants or precious metal catalysts. Intramolecular isocyanate trapping via a Hofmann rearrangement permits the synthesis of bicyclic carbamates in an enantioenriched and diastereopure manner. Subsequent ring-opening of these species allows access to cyclopropane amino acids which can be further functionalized via oxidation and SN2 pathways and incorporated into peptides via solid-phase peptide synthesis
Computer Vision and Transfer Learning for Grading of Egyptian Cotton Fibres
Get PDFEgyptian cotton fibres have worldwide recognition due to their distinct quality and luxurious textile products known by the “Egyptian Cotton“ label. However, cotton fibre trading in Egypt still depends on human grading of cotton quality, which is resource-intensive and faces challenges in terms of subjectivity and expertise requirements. This study investigates colour vision and transfer learning to classify the grade of five long (Giza 86, Giza 90, and Giza 94) and extra-long (Giza 87 and Giza 96) staple cotton cultivars. Five Convolutional Neural networks (CNNs)—AlexNet, GoogleNet, SqueezeNet, VGG16, and VGG19—were fine-tuned, optimised, and tested on independent datasets. The highest classifications were 75.7%, 85.0%, 80.0%, 77.1%, and 90.0% for Giza 86, Giza 87, Giza 90, Giza 94, and Giza 96, respectively, with F1-Scores ranging from 51.9–100%, 66.7–100%, 42.9–100%, 40.0–100%, and 80.0–100%. Among the CNNs, AlexNet, GoogleNet, and VGG19 outperformed the others. Fused CNN models further improved classification accuracy by up to 7.2% for all cultivars except Giza 87. These results demonstrate the feasibility of developing a fast, low-cost, and low-skilled vision system that overcomes the inconsistencies and limitations of manual grading in the early stages of cotton fibre trading in Egypt
Developing a core outcome set for hand flexor tendon injuries: a systematic review of treatment outcomes
Get PDFThis study identifies the outcome domains used in recently published studies on the treatment of hand flexor tendon injuries in adults in order to inform the development of a core outcome set. Seven databases were searched from January 2013 to March 2023 for randomized and quasi-randomized studies, trial registrations, large observational studies, database studies, and systematic reviews. From the 91 eligible original studies/trial registrations, we identified 419 author-defined outcomes. These were categorised into 147 distinct outcomes and mapped into 72 outcome domains based on the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework. The primary outcome was appropriately identified in only 52% (13/25) of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials. The large heterogeneity in the outcome domains being assessed/measured across studies highlights the need for a core set of outcomes to be measured in future clinical research on hand flexor tendon injuries
Smith-type Digital Control for a Cross-coupling Free AC Electrical Power Distribution System of the More Electric Aircraft
No full textThe development of distributed generation systems and fully-controlled semiconductor devices has brought power electronic converters into the focus of scientific research. Synchronous reference frame-based controllers are commonly employed for the control of ac/dc converters owing to their simplicity and clear physical significance. However, in aircraft ac electrical power distribution system, the variable sampling-to-fundamental frequency ratio and higher rate of electronic devices compared to utility grid leads to more significant cross-coupling between d and q axis, which will lead to additional oscillation modes and even jeopardize the system stability. In this work, a discrete Smith predictor (SM)-based decoupling scheme is proposed with a hybrid reference frame (HRF) structure, which effectively decouples the 2 output channels without sophisticated system modeling or parameter designing process. A 2-level three-phase converter is used to elaborate its performance, experimental results show that the proposed scheme enhances the overall stability of the system with sufficient robustness against parameter variation
Widespread pesticide pollution in two English river catchments of contrasting land-use: from sediments to fish
Get PDFWater, sediments, fish and invertebrates were collected along two English rivers (R. Tone, Sommerset and R. Wensum, Norfolk) and analysed for 52 pesticides to assess source to sea spatial distribution and track bioaccumulation within wildlife. Chemical risk assessments, using Toxic Units, Risk Quotients, and Microtox® solid phase tests were applied to understand threats to river health. Widespread pesticide pollution was detected in the water and sediments of both rivers, often forming complex mixtures containing numerous pesticides. Hydrophobic pesticides, such as Fipronil and Propiconazole, were also observed widely bioaccumulating in fish. The veterinary pesticide Fipronil was measured in the highest concentrations, up to 87.7 ng/g in fish muscle and 322 ng/g in invertebrates. Of particular concern were neonicotinoids in water, which frequently exceeded environmental quality standards (detected ranges: Imidacloprid <1.2–97.1 ng/L; Clothianidin <28.7–63.4 ng/L) and presented a significant risk to aquatic invertebrates and overall river health. Chronic sub-lethal risks to fish resulting from pesticide exposure were also identified. In sediments, Fipronil regularly exceeded likely-effect benchmarks by up to 256 % (0–0.355 ng/g OC; 0–12.6 ng/g). The findings highlight the potentially negative impact of pesticide pollution on river health in England, and emphasise the need for stricter regulation of the most high-risk pesticides, particularly those used in veterinary care
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! 👇