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Novel approaches for enhanced visualisation and recognition of rock carvings at Stonehenge
No full textThe sarsen uprights at Stonehenge feature the largest panels of Early Bronze Age axe-head carvings in the world. Archaeologists use these carvings to better understand the significance of the monument. Between 2011 and 2012, the analysis of laser scanning and photogrammetric data led to the identification of 71 axe-head carvings and one dagger carving, in addition to the 44 carvings already known. Recent advances in carving visualisation and machine learning warrants a reanalysis of this data using new methods. Two novel techniques for carving visualisation, difference of Gaussians and pseudo-depth mapping, are introduced and compared to four recent techniques, radiance scaling, openness, distance between meshes, and extended difference of Gaussians. On the northwest face of Stone 53, difference of Gaussians highlighted the presence of two previously unidentified carvings, ten potential areas of carving, and nine alternative interpretations on previously found carvings. Pseudo-depth mapping revealed the presence of a further two previously unidentified carvings. In addition, an existing classifier for 3-D shape representation, MeshNet, is converted into a technique for carving recognition. MeshNet achieved 90.7 % accuracy on labelling samples of surfaces at Stonehenge with and without carvings, close to the benchmark performance of 91.9 % on ModelNet40. Both difference of Gaussians and pseudo-depth mapping can be implemented for visualisation of highly faded rock carvings in under two hours and under ten minutes respectively, while the application of MeshNet serves as a feasibility study of semi-automated carving recognition
The illustrated Hospital by Quentin Blake:Compiled by Liz Williams
No full textQuentin Blake’s large and relatively unknown body of work for hospitals and healthcare settings has never before been collected together in one place. The Illustrated Hospital is a beautifully-crafted catalogue of all the drawings he designed for these specialised spaces and the patients, staff and visitors who use them. Nearly 20 years in the making, this book allows everyone to enjoy Blake’s wonderful, varied visions originally installed in clinics across the UK and in France.'Since 2005, Quentin Blake’s drawings for hospitals and healthcare settings have become a significant part of his work. Because of their clinical function, many of the spaces are not easily accessible to visitors, so relatively few people – only patients and hospital staff – may get the chance to see these artworks. This is the first time that the attempt has been made to collect all of Quentin’s work for hospitals together to form a detailed catalogue.There are so many drawings, for such a variety of settings, that it’s been a real challenge to try and make this collection as complete as possible. I hope we’ve succeeded. For reasons of space – not to mention the impossibility of pinning down a situation which is constantly changing – I’ve only included works which Quentin has produced specifically for hospitals. Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, for example, has a copy of the large mural featuring some of the University’s most famous alumni, which Quentin created for the University’s 800th anniversary in 2009; and the Ophthalmology Outpatients Department at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury boasts a set of prints of Roald Dahl’s characters, gifted to them by Quentin in 2016. There are certainly others. All these works are much valued in the spaces they occupy, but the drawings weren’t created with the hospital setting in mind, so, sadly, are not shown here.But with sprightly elders, swimming babies, friendly aliens, helpful dragons, treetop adventures and poignant landscapes, there are plenty of unexpected delights to discover – all in Quentin’s ‘illustrated hospital’.' Quentin Blak
Behavioral, Virologic, and Immunologic Factors Associated with the Acquisition and Severity of Mpox:A Tale of Africa and America
No full textBackground: Mpox (formerly monkeypox) has emerged as a critical public health issue worldwide, characterized by notable differences in acquisition and disease severity between Africa and the Americas. Understanding the interplay of behavioral, virologic, and immunologic factors is essential to addressing these disparities.Aim: This review examines the behavioral, virologic, and immunologic determinants influencing Mpox acquisition and severity, with a focus on regional variations in Africa and the Americas.Methodology: A narrative review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles, public health reports, and official guidelines published between 2019 and 2024. Key sources were identified via databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Analysis centered on behavioral risk factors (e.g., sexual networks, wildlife exposure), virologic attributes (e.g., viral clades), and immunologic influences (e.g., vaccination status).Results: The findings reveal distinct regional differences in Mpox transmission dynamics and outcomes. In Africa, zoonotic transmission is prominent, compounded by poor hygiene and under-resourced healthcare systems. In the Americas, outbreaks are driven predominantly by human-to-human transmission within sexual networks, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM), and international travel. Virologically, the Central African clade demonstrates greater virulence than the West African clade, which has predominated recent global outbreaks. Immunologically, limited smallpox vaccination coverage in younger African populations has increased vulnerability, while partial cross-protection from smallpox vaccines in the Americas has mitigated disease severity to some extent.Conclusion: Effective Mpox control necessitates region-specific public health strategies. Enhanced vaccination programs, improved healthcare infrastructure, and tailored interventions addressing behavioral and virologic drivers are critical. Global collaboration is imperative to mitigate Mpox's spread and burden while addressing socio-economic and epidemiological disparities
An experimental analysis of the effect of dissolved gas on pool boiling
Get PDFThe presence of non-condensable gases (NCGs) is typically considered detrimental to the performance of passive two-phase ooling systems. However, their specific impact on thermal performance, particularly on vapor bubble nucleation, remains unclear. This study presents pool boiling experiments conducted in an alumina chamber filled with degassed deionized water and mirror-polished copper samples, with varying concentrations of diluted oxygen. The first nucleation event is recorded, and key thermal parameters such as the onset nucleate boiling temperature TONB, and the critical heat flux CHF are measured for standard comparison of pool boiling behavior. The study explores the hypothesis that gas nanobubbles may act as nuclei for vapor bubble formation. <br/
Can chlorhexidine gluconate baths reduce fungal colonisation in intensive care unit patients?
Get PDFBackground: Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) bathing is widely used in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to reduce bacterial colonisation, yet its efficacy against fungal skin colonisation, particularly Candida spp., is not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of daily CHG bathing on Candida colonisation among ICU patients. Methods: From 2020 to 2022, axillary/inguinal swabs were collected from 675 ICU patients across three units on admission (Day 1, D1), Day 5 (D5) and Day 8 (D8). Patients received daily CHG bathing (either 2% impregnated wipes or 4% liquid solution) from D1 to D5, followed by soap-and-water bathing from Day 6 to D8. Standard and molecular microbiological methods were used to identify fungal species, and colony-forming units (CFUs) were quantified. Colonisation rates and fungal burden were compared across time points and bathing protocols. Results: A total of 988 swabs from 675 patients were collected, 675 on D1, 203 on D5 and 110 on D8. CHG bathing had no significant impact on Candida burden at individual time points, (D1, p = 0.223; D5, p = 0.939 and D8, p = 0.669). No significant differences in colonisation or fungal burden were observed between the use of 4% CHG solution and 2% CHG-impregnated wipes upon ICU admission. However, in the subgroup of 89 patients monitored longitudinally, a transient reduction in colonisation was observed during the CHG bathing period (D1–D5), followed by a significant increase during the soap-and-water period (D6–D8) (p = 0.005; between periods: p < 0.001). Among the 329 positive swabs, 274 yielded > 100 CFU/ml. High colony counts of C. albicans (> 1000 CFU/mL) were observed, with no significant association between colonisation levels and specific Candida species (p = 0.940). Conclusions: CHG bathing demonstrated only a limited and transient impact on Candida colonisation in ICU patients. Colonisation rates rebounded after cessation of CHG use, suggesting ongoing acquisition during ICU stay. These findings highlight the need for additional or alternative infection control measures targeting fungal pathogens in critical care settings
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
Young women's travel safety and the journey to work::Reflecting on lived experiences of precarious mobility in three African cities (and the potential for transformative action)
No full textThe relationship between women's everyday lived travel experiences as daily commuters and their employment history and potential has not been adequately researched and documented in African contexts. This multidisciplinary study, utilising an innovative action research methodology, compares experiences of young women (18-35y) resident in low-income neighbourhoods of three diverse African cities - Abuja, Cape Town and Tunis. It examines the challenges they face when undertaking travel to income-earning opportunities, the tactics necessary to enable travel with a modicum of safety and dignity, and the ongoing implications for women's employment trajectories and wider well-being. Two (often inter-related) themes occupy a central position in the discussion: mobility scheduling (as a response to domestic/care responsibilities and trip-chaining requirements) and experiences of harassment
'I Don’t Have Time to Watch Everybody':Location-Based Monitoring, Timescapes, and Family Life in Germany
No full textThis chapter explores how location-based monitoring apps are used within households in Munich when caring and watching out for each other. Drawing on Adam’s (2004) as well as Kitchin’s (2023) conceptualization of ‘timescapes’, it shows how parents check app information as a way of temporally controlling the duration of their children going to various locations, or their screen time use. This is motivated by convenience, such as timing various activities, but also due to fears about children’s safety. Some parents are more sceptical of tracking technologies due to concerns about data protection, and children’s independence. This chapter also examines particular gendered aspects of monitoring and suggests that tracking might be perceived as a form of temporal care work. Children, on the other hand, are less interested in the surveillance apps used by their parents, and preferred monitoring their friends’ locations in real time, or their own temporal routines
Reconsidering Chinese Citizenship:Cultural Roots and Cultural Reach
No full textThis book reconsiders the concept of Chinese citizenship through the lens of cultural traditions and their deep historical roots. It challenges the state’s monolithic interpretation of culture, exploring how cultural practices influence citizenship in modern China.The contributors to this volume examine how various actors, from government forces to grassroots activists, engage in culture-informed citizenship practices. They highlight the role of political ideology, spirituality, Confucianism, and minority religious traditions in shaping citizenship discourse. By broadening the understanding of Chinese citizenship beyond its Western-centric frameworks, this book delves into issues of socioeconomic injustice, cultural recognition, and the negotiation of civic rights. Readers are offered new perspectives on how China’s unique cultural heritage intertwines with its political structures, providing a nuanced understanding of citizenship in rapidly changing societies. This thought-provoking analysis will engage anyone interested in Chinese politics, culture, and the development of citizenship in a global context
