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Using large language models for narrative analysis:a novel application of generative AI
Get PDFThis study, a collaboration between the University of Southampton and Ipsos UK, aimed to develop and test a novel method for analysing qualitative data using generative artificial intelligence (AI). It compared large language model (LLM)-conducted analysis with human analysis of the same qualitative data, explored optimisation of LLMs for narrative analysis and evaluated their benefits and drawbacks. Using existing data, 138 short stories written by young people (aged 13–25 years) about social media, identity formation and food choices were analysed separately three times: by human researchers, and by two different LLMs (Claude and GPT-o1). The method was developed iteratively, combining Ipsos' artificial intelligence (AI) expertise and tools with researchers’ qualitative analysis expertise. Claude and GPT-o1 each conducted a narrative analysis of all 138 stories using the same analytic steps as the human researchers. Findings between the humans and both LLMs were then compared. Both LLMs quickly and successfully conducted a narrative analysis of the stories. Their findings were comparable to those of the human researchers and were judged by the researchers to be credible and thorough. Beyond replication, the LLMs provided additional insights into the data that enhanced the human analysis. This study highlights the significant potential benefits of LLMs to the field of qualitative research and proposes that LLMs could one day be seen as valuable tools for strengthening research quality and increasing efficiency. Additionally, this study discusses ethical concerns surrounding responsible AI use in research and proposes a framework for using LLMs in qualitative analysis
Energy and exergy analysis of liquid piston compression for small-scale methane liquefaction
Get PDFThis study evaluates a proposed small-scale methane liquefaction system with two compressor configurations: a reciprocating compressor and a liquid piston. While capturing gaseous methane offers environmental benefits and energy potential, its low volumetric energy density challenges its practical and economic viability. The proposed configuration with a liquid piston uses 6 mm diameter inserts to enhance heat transfer. Its performance is compared to that of the reciprocating compressor through a validated lumped parameter model and Aspen HYSYS thermodynamic simulations. For a compression ratio of 10 and a stroke time of 15 s, the final gas compression temperatures were 550 K, 492 K, and 319 K for the adiabatic process, liquid piston, and liquid piston with pipe inserts, respectively. The liquid piston with pipe inserts achieved near-isothermal compression (with a polytropic index of 1.1). Additionally, results indicated that enhancing surface area was significantly more effective at lowering the polytropic index of compression than increasing stroke time. The reverse Brayton cycle using the liquid piston configuration reduced specific energy by 39 % compared to the reciprocating compressor. This decrease in specific energy made the cycle competitive with other methane liquefaction cycles, producing 3.7 tonnes of liquid methane daily. The lower cooling requirements offered by the liquid piston with inserts resulted in an 83 % reduction in total exergy destruction within the compressor train
BBC Access All Podcast Interview - Rethinking Blue Space Access and Disability:Sensory-led research, visual impairment, and inclusive fieldwork
No full textIn this national episode of the BBC’s Access All podcast, Sadie Rockliffe discusses her research into blue space accessibility, inclusive aquatic environments, and disability justice. The interview covers the methodological innovation of sensory-led and participatory fieldwork with visually impaired communities, offering new perspectives on interdependence, relational access, and the politics of inclusion. The conversation connects Sadie’s public engagement work with wider theoretical frameworks around embodied research, environmental accessibility, and social justice
Progressive enrichment of rare earth elements (REE) between parent granites and weathering crust contributed to the generation of regolith-hosted REE deposits in South China
Get PDFRare earth elements (REE) concentrations and patterns in granites controlled the generation of regolith‑hosted REE deposits, but the REE occurrence and enrichment mechanisms in granites with few primary REE-rich minerals, such as allanite and titanite, are not well studied. In this contribution, we conducted detailed whole-rock and in-situ mineral geochemical studies on the Xunwu biotite monzogranite and muscovite syenogranite, where some samples from the monzogranite have total REE contents higher than 1000 ppm. The monzogranite and syenogranite were generated in the Late Cretaceous with similar zircon U-Pb ages (95.3±0.3 and 96.4±0.3 Ma, respectively). REE-phosphates and Ti-Fe oxides (magnetite and ilmenite) are the dominating REE-bearing minerals in the monzogranite and syenogranite. The REE-phosphates are distributed radially in fractures of feldspar or occur around and replace the primary apatite, indicating generation due to interaction between primary apatite and REE-rich fluid. The Ti-Fe oxides generally show high REE contents, which is also caused by interaction with the REE-rich fluid. The higher P and Fe contents in the monzogranite make it more effective at fixing the REE during fluid-rock interaction and thus display higher REE contents than those of the syenogranite. The occurrence of negative Ce anomalies in altered minerals from both the monzogranite and syenogranite indicates that the fluids had high oxygen fugacity with high REE but low Ce abundance. This kind of fluid is consistent with the circulating meteoric water carrying REE ions from the weathering crust. This study highlights the progressive enrichment of REE between parent granites and weathering crust as follows: (1) Granites intrude and the upper parts are weathered to generate the REE-bearing weathered crust; (2) Circulating REE-bearing meteoric fluids replace apatite with REE phosphate and enrich Ti-Fe oxides in granite with REE; followed by (3) Continued upgrading of REE enrichment lower in the developing weathered granite profile over time by downward circulating meteoric fluids which leach REEs from previously formed phosphate and oxide minerals and likely their weathered equivalents in the upper parts of the granite regolith. These processes favor the generation of regolith‑hosted REE deposits in the weathering profile for those granites with the absence of primary REE-rich minerals
Mitigating Environmental Impact Through the Use of Rice Husk Ash in Sustainable Concrete: Experimental Study, Numerical Modelling, and Optimisation
Get PDFCement production significantly contributes to CO2 emissions (8% of worldwide CO2 emissions) and global warming, accelerating climate change and increasing air pollution, which harms ecosystems and human health. To this end, this research investigates the fresh and hardened properties of sustainable concrete fabricated with three different replacement percentages (0%, 5%, and 10% by weight) of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) using rice husk ash (RHA). The hardened properties were evaluated at 14, 28, 60, 90, and 120 days of water curing. In addition, data-based models were developed, validated, and optimised, and the models were compared with experimental results and validated with the literature findings. The outcomes reveal that the slump values increased (17% higher) with the increased content of RHA, which aligns with the lower temperatures (12% lower) of freshly mixed concrete with RHA than the control mix (100% OPC). The slopes of the stress–strain profiles decreased at early ages and improved at longer curing ages (more than 28 days), especially for mixes with 5% RHA. The compressive strength decreased slightly (18% at 28 days) with increased percentages of RHA, which was minimised with increased curing ages (8% at 90 days). The data-based model accurately predicted the stress–strain profiles (coefficient of determination, R2 ≈ 0.9950–0.9993) and compressive strength at each curing age, including crack progression (i.e., highly nonlinear region) and validates its effectiveness. In contrast, the optimisation model shows excellent results, mirroring the experimental data throughout the profile. These outcomes indicate that the 10% RHA could potentially replace OPC due to its lower reduction in strength (8% at 90 days), which in turn lowers CO2 emissions and promotes sustainability
Rhythm and Vigilance:Ethnographies of Surveillance and Time
Get PDFStudies of surveillance have emphasised how technology is used to control space. This innovative collection examines how new monitoring technologies are also affecting the experience of time.Drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s concept of rhythm, the book brings together ethnographic research from Europe, China and the US, to show how digital monitoring is transforming spatio-temporal relations across the Global North.As digital technologies continue to reshape the rhythms of life, this book makes a valuable contribution to both anthropology and surveillance studies
Measuring the Presence of Wetness in Vapour Flow Using Optical Imaging Technique
Get PDFTwo-phase flows consisting of vapour and liquid, are critical for the efficient operation of energy transfer and energy storage systems. This study demonstrates the use of the optical imaging technique of shadowgraphy, combined with acustom-developed image processing algorithm, to enable real-time, non-invasive assessment of the quality of two-phase flows. By mining data from high-speed imaging and applying pattern analysis and recognition techniques within ImageJ, vapour quality was accurately estimated at the onset of wetness in steam flow conditions. Measurements at 50 m/s flow velocity and 1.3 bar pressure revealed a vapour content of 0.983, validated against condensate trap and mass flow balanced data. The presented methodology advances optical measurement technique for twophase flows, which offers potential in field-based process control requiring accurate fluid status characterisation
“Our voice as a legacy”:Trauma, resilience, and post-traumatic growth among people living with long-term HIV
Get PDFThere is limited empirical research into the experiences of people diagnosed with HIV in the era before antiretroviral therapy (ART) was introduced and who are living with long-term HIV. Positive psychological insights into coping can inform clinicians working with clients from this population. Eight people in the United Kingdom were interviewed regarding their experiences of living with long-term HIV. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the data. Participants described their experiences of individual and collective trauma but also how they used these experiences to derive resilience and post-traumatic growth. Two superordinate generalized experiential themes were developed: Coping through education, learning, and reflection and Relationships. Subordinate experiential themes included the significance of being the educator and the provision of education, meaning-making, self-reflection and learning, as well as both community belonging and connection and the careful management of HIV disclosure in relationships
High-performance eco-friendly concrete with improved strength, chloride ion penetration, and corrosion resistance by the high volume of Ground Granulate Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS)
Get PDFThe present research aims to manufacture concrete that meets compressive strength parameters, has the lowest environmental impact, and resists chloride ion penetration and corrosion. This study used varied volumes of cement replacement with slag (GGBS) (30, 40, and 50)% by mass of cement for two concrete classes, C30 and C40. Fresh tests (slump, initial and final setting time), hardening (compressive, splitting, and flexural strength), and durability (porosity, water absorption, density, penetration depth, chloride ion migration coefficient, electrical resistivity, corrosion rate, mass loss, crack width due to corrosion, and microstructure analysis) were performed.The environmental impact of concrete components in each mix was also assessed. The impressed current technique increased rebar corrosion in concrete specimens immersed in 5% sodium chloride. Replacing cement with GGBS by 30–50% increased the setting time and enhanced all hardening qualities. Mechanical qualities improved most at 40% GGBS, with C30 mixes' compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths up 29.3%, 38.7%, and 15.8% at 90 days. Compare 21.3%, 19.2%, and 16.2% at 90 days for C40 combinations to the reference mixture. Strength reduced marginally at 50% GGBS but remained greater than the reference blend. However, a 50% GGBS replacement rate best-improved durability, microstructure, and environmental efficiency. The C30-50% GGBS mixture is ideal because it met the design requirements of C30 and C40, had the best improvement in porosity and water absorption, the slightest chloride penetration, and the best performance against corrosive environments of the six mixtures except C40-50% GGBS. Additionally, it is the least environmentally harmful combination