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Construction 4.0:Understanding and Awareness for Master’s Level Students
Get PDFConstruction 4.0 refers to the integration of automation, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the construction industry, which has changed traditional construction practices. MSc courses play a crucial role in developing the next generation of leaders within the construction industry by equipping graduates of these courses with advanced technical, managerial, and strategic skills, including the arrival of Construction 4.0. As future professionals and construction industry leaders, it is necessary to identify the current level of awareness and understanding of Construction 4.0 amongst master’s level students. As such, this paper studies these areas to help identify the gaps in education and training requirements—essential for matching academic programs with industry needs. Through the use of a survey-based approach with 112 MSc students on various Construction Management courses, a series of revealing results were obtained. The results presented herein indicate that there is a shared definition of what constitutes Construction 4.0 amongst engineering management students. However, while they are relatively aware of Construction 4.0 technologies, they do not differentiate strongly between Industry 4.0 and Construction 4.0. Therein, they are ambivalent as to the role of Education 4.0 in improving this situation. Key to this is the requirement to keep up with industry needs. The lack of application of Construction 4.0 means students lack the necessary ‘practical skills’ to implement innovations on real construction sites. Students advocated for more hands-on training, industry-linked projects, and guest lectures within the curriculum, alongside developing the essential skills of critical thinking and problem-solving. Changes in the curricula are suggested, achievable through readily existing 4.0 Frameworks
Natural Ventilation Reduces Cooking-Related PM<sub>2.5</sub> Peaks Indoors
Get PDFIndoor cooking generates intense, short-duration fine particulate matter (PM2.5) peaks with acute health risks. To quantify the efficacy of natural ventilation configurations, we conducted approximately two months of continuous monitoring in a modern UK one-bedroom apartment, comparing three ventilation scenarios during cooking: fully opened (all windows and internal doors open), door-opened only (internal doors open but windows closed), and fully closed (all windows and internal doors closed). Air quality sensors were calibrated against a reference instrument (Fidas 200E) both before and after the field deployment. During the study period, outdoor PM2.5 mass concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 31.0 μg m-3, averaging 6.3 μg m-3. Indoor concentrations were substantially higher than average outdoor levels, with the fully opened scenario yielding the lowest exposure at 14.9 μg m-3 in the living room/kitchen and 15.4 μg m-3 in the bedroom. Relative to the fully opened scenario, PM2.5 concentrations increased by 58.4% (living room/kitchen) and 55.8% (bedroom) under door-opened only conditions, and under fully closed conditions by 28.9% and 27.9%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that simultaneous opening of windows and internal doors during cooking can substantially reduce acute PM2.5 exposure, offering a simple, low-energy strategy to mitigate short-term health risks in naturally ventilated apartments.</p
Pro-Con:Antiobesity Drugs Such as Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Should Be a First-Line Treatment in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Get PDFIn this Pro-Con piece, our authors tackle the question of whether or not antiobesity drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) should be the new first-line treatment in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)
Science and Belief in Argentina:Mapping Moral and Epistemological Conflicts Through Moral Foundations Theory
Get PDFMost studies on science and religion attitudes assume that science and religion are contradictory belief systems. Since Evans reframed them as institutions offering moral definitions, scholars have increasingly explored moral conflicts. Drawing on 63 interviews and 6 focus groups in Argentina, we analyzed moral and epistemological conflict attitudes using grounded theory and Moral Foundations Theory. We found patterns similar to Western contexts: Systemic epistemological conflict was concentrated among secular intellectual elites, while propositional conflict appeared mostly among conservative Evangelicals. However, we also uncovered novel insights. Participants from all backgrounds perceived moral conflicts, but emphasized different moral foundations: Harm, fairness, and liberty were more frequent among non-religious participants, while religious individuals drew on all six foundations. We identified 11 recurring moral judgments that may inform future cross-cultural research. Our study contributes to science and religion scholarship by expanding conceptual and methodological frameworks and by highlighting the importance of moral dimensions in shaping public perceptions across cultural settings
Disulfiram metabolite Cu(DDC)<sub>2</sub> enhances radionuclide uptake <i>in vivo</i> revealing insights into tumoural ablation resistance
Get PDFBackgroundExploitation of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) has potentially broad clinical application across different tumour ablative settings but often fails in aggressive cancer due to diminished transport activity. We aimed to discover whether enhancing NIS function by modulating proteostasis was targetable in vivo, as well as the clinical relevance to radioiodide (RAI) treatment of patients with cancer.MethodsWe used 3D modelling, iterative design, reformulation, RAI uptake, RNA-Seq, cell surface biotinylation assays and NanoBRET in transformed cell lines and primary thyroid cells from patients to identify new drugs targeted at enhancing NIS function and to uncover their respective mechanisms. Systemic drug responses were monitored via 99mTc pertechnetate gamma counting and SPECT/CT imaging in wild-type BALB/c and Tg-rtTA/tetO-BRAFV600E mice, as well as orthotopic NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) breast cancer.FindingsCopper diethyldithiocarbamate (Cu(DDC)2), a metabolite of the FDA-approved drug disulfiram, modulated NIS function in thyroid and breast cancer cells (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, Cu(DDC)2 elicited a dual effect on NIS function, targeting valosin containing protein (VCP)—a key regulator of proteostasis—as well as inducing potent transcriptional responses (P < 0.05). In mice, the copper-bound metabolite stimulated NIS activity in normal thyroid tissue, thyroid tumours and in breast orthotopic tumours (P < 0.05), the latter augmented by the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat (SAHA). Notably, there was clinical association of drug-perturbed genes in RAI-treated thyroid cancer, enabling construction of a robust dual risk score classifier for predicting recurrence (AUC >0.95; P < 0.001).InterpretationOur findings reveal a mechanistic pathway towards enhancing radionuclide uptake in vivo, with clinical relevance for RAI therapy and identifying survival indicators of recurrent disease.</div
Bilateral subclavius posticus innervated by the lateral pectoral nerve:a cadaveric and ultrasound case report
Get PDFPurposeThe subclavius posticus is a well-known variation of the subclavius muscle. This study aims to describe the morphology, innervation, and anatomical relationships of a bilateral subclavius posticus identified in a cadaver, to demonstrate its detection by high-resolution ultrasonography, and to discuss its anatomical and clinical implications.MethodsRoutine dissection of a soft-embalmed adult cadaver, a 54-year-old donor who died from rupture of a cerebral aneurysm, was performed. The infraclavicular and thoracic outlet regions were examined bilaterally. Morphometric data, muscle attachments, and neurovascular relationships were recorded. High-resolution ultrasonography was used to evaluate the contralateral side prior to dissection. Innervation and venous drainage patterns were identified through careful tracing of peripheral nerves and associated vessels.ResultsAn accessory muscle consistent with the subclavius posticus was identified bilaterally. On both sides, the muscle originated near the junction of the first rib and costal cartilage and inserted onto the medial aspect of the coracoid process. Ultrasound successfully detected the left-sided muscle prior to dissection. Notably, both muscles were innervated by the lateral pectoral nerve, a finding not previously reported in the literature. Venous drainage was observed through a tributary to the cephalic vein.ConclusionThis report documents the first bilateral subclavius posticus innervated by the lateral pectoral nerve. These findings broaden the recognized spectrum of subclavius-related variants and highlight the utility of ultrasound for identifying accessory musculature in the thoracic outlet region
Health economics analysis of restrictive school smartphone policies in secondary schools in England (SMART Schools)
Get PDFBackground Many countries have introduced restrictive smartphone policies in schools, aiming to improve adolescent health and educational outcomes. However, whether these policies represent value for money to schools remains unclear.Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the costs and quality of life and mental well-being outcomes associated with restrictive and permissive phone policies in secondary schools in England, and conduct an economic evaluation to determine whether restrictive phone policies are cost effective for schools.Methods A cost–utility analysis was conducted as part of a cross-sectional study on school smartphone policies in England (SMART Schools), comparing schools with restrictive (recreational phone use not permitted) and permissive (recreational phone use permitted) policies. Outcomes were valued using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and mental well-being adjusted life years (MWALYs). Costs were estimated from the school’s perspective and comprised staff time spent on policy implementation. Mixed effects and linear regression models were used to estimate incremental differences in outcomes and per pupil costs.Findings 815 pupils (aged 12–15) from 20 schools (13 restrictive, 7 permissive) were included in a complete case analysis. Differences between restrictive and permissive schools in incremental QALYs (0.009, 95% CI −0.014 to 0.032) and MWALYs (−0.004, 95% CI −0.044 to 0.036) were minimal. Time implementing and enforcing policies was equivalent to 3.1 FTE staff in restrictive and 3.3 FTE staff in permissive schools. The incremental difference in per pupil school year cost was −£94 (95% CI −£229 to £41). The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve indicated a 90% probability of restrictive policies being cost effective at a threshold of £20 000 and £30 000 per QALY.Conclusions Restrictive school policies were associated with minimal differences in quality of life or mental well-being of pupils. However, they may offer some cost savings to schools by reducing staff time spent managing phone-related activities.Clinical implications School policies and practices require development to address the significant amount of time teachers spend managing phone use.</div
Dynamics of a large multidrug-resistant plasmid encoding New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 and oxacillinase-58 carbapenemases in <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> clinical isolates from a tertiary hospital in Malaysia
Get PDF Acinetobacter baumannii carrying the bla NDM-1 gene, which encodes New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1), exhibits resistance to nearly all β-lactams and is not affected by β-lactamase inhibitors, limiting treatment options. The bla NDM-1 gene is often associated with other antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, resulting in multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. We previously reported a large, circa (ca.) 170 kb plasmid co-harbouring bla NDM-1 - and bla OXA-58-encoded carbapenemases in clinical MDR Acinetobacter nosocomialis and A. baumannii isolates from a tertiary hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia, in 2015 and 2016, respectively. In this study, we identified four additional MDR A. baumannii isolates from the same hospital (2018-2020) carrying bla NDM-1 on a similar plasmid. Complete genome sequences were obtained using a hybrid assembly of short-read DNA Nanoball Sequencing(DNBSeq) and long-read (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) data. All isolates belonged to distinct, unrelated clonal lineages, indicating the ongoing horizontal transmission of this plasmid. Comparative analysis revealed substantial structural variability among the plasmids, largely driven by insertion sequence elements and mobile xrs (also known as pdif) modules. In two A. baumannii isolates (i.e. AC1932 and AC2014), bla OXA-58 and several adjacent xrs modules were absent. Despite this, carbapenem minimum inhibitory concentrations remained comparable across all isolates, strongly indicating that bla NDM-1 is the primary carbapenem resistance determinant. Notably, in A. baumannii AC1839, we identified a 15,434 bp presumptive transposon carrying a type III cyclic oligonucleotide-based anti-phage signalling system, inserted within the xrs-rich region of the plasmid. AC1839 also carried a separate 11.1 kp plasmid carrying the tetracycline resistance genes tetA(39)-tetR within an xrs module. Identical xrs modules were identified in other unrelated Acinetobacter plasmids. These results underscore the mobility and potential roles of xrs modules in AMR gene dissemination and, more generally, in shaping Acinetobacter plasmid evolution. </p
The Grey Areas:Interdisciplinarity, Memory, and the Amateur’s Perspective
Get PDFThis article reflects on eleven years leading the University of Birmingham’s Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences unit, examining how we might continue to educate undergraduates in genuine interdisciplinarity when the very concept remains contested and unstable. Drawing on Walter Benjamin’s understanding of historical consciousness and the ‘weak messianic power’ of the past, I argue that interdisciplinary education succeeds not through mastery but through what I call the amateur’s advantage—the willingness to stand as a curious outsider across multiple domains. As a Classicist and literary scholar by training, I trace how leading programmes that bridged arts and sciences transformed my own scholarly identity, revealing interdisciplinarity not as a fixed pedagogical method but as a disposition towards knowledge itself. The suspension of our successor BASc programme in 2025 prompts reflection on what interdisciplinary education can and cannot achieve within institutions organised around disciplinary structures, and on the fragility of educational experiments that demand students and staff alike inhabit uncomfortable grey areas where established canons, questions, and methods no longer suffice
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