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Copper mineralization in the Coed-Y-Brenin Porphyry Copper Deposit, North Wales: Mineralogy and Textures
No full textIntegrating Intelligent Web Scraping Techniques in Internship Management Systems: Enhancing Internship Matching
Full text linkThe study explores the integration of intelligent web scraping techniques to enhance the internship matching process within internship management systems. The increasing demand for internships necessitates timely and efficient intern matching, a task that conventional manual techniques need help with due to its complexity and time-consuming nature. Intelligent web scraping algorithms and machine learning techniques analyze extensive datasets to match interns with businesses based on competencies, interests, and professional objectives. The integration leverages natural language processing to extract relevant information from internship listings and candidate profiles, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of the matching process. Additionally, clustering and matching algorithms refine recommendations, pairing students with opportunities that fit their competencies and career objectives. However, implementing intelligent web scraping raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding data privacy and algorithmic bias. Ensuring the ethical utilization of these techniques is critical for fair and unbiased internship matching. The research addresses these ethical considerations while proposing a framework for integrating intelligent web scraping into existing systems. The study reviews the literature on web scraping and machine learning in internship management, critically analyzing and synthesizing past research findings to demonstrate the efficacy of these techniques over conventional methods. The study also introduces a theoretical model for effective internship matching, investigating intelligent web scraping and machine learning techniques to optimize the process. Additionally, it examines the benefits, challenges, and limitations of integrating these techniques. The proposed intelligent web scraping approach simplifies internship matching, aligns student strengths with opportunities, enhances onboarding efficiency, and bridges academic learning with practical application.<br/
Homicides in England and Wales: The effects of victim and offense characteristics on case clearance
Full text linkThis study explores a range of victim and offense characteristics to identify which are associated with significantly higher or lower likelihood of homicide clearance in England and Wales. Data relating to 6,299 currently recorded homicides from the Home Office Homicide Index over an 11-year period (ending March 2022) were analyzed using binary logistic regression to assess the factors which influence the likelihood of clearance. Results indicated greater odds of clearance if the victim was female or if the victim was living with the suspect. Additionally, results indicated lower odds of clearance if the victim was older than 46 years, if the victim was intoxicated with drugs and alcohol, if the method of offense was hitting or kicking without a weapon, poisoning, exposure or negligence, if the main circumstance of the offense was a reckless act, or if the offense was gang-related. We discuss the implications of these findings for future research on homicide clearance, and implications for policy and practice
An Assessment of the Impact of Liquidity and Capital Regulatory Reforms on Retail Banks in the United Kingdom
Full text linkGlobal Roadkill Data: a dataset on terrestrial vertebrate mortality caused by collision with vehicles
Full text linkRoadkill is widely recognized as one of the primary negative effects of roads on many wildlife species and also has socioeconomic impacts when they result in accidents. A comprehensive dataset of roadkill locations is essential to evaluate the factors contributing to roadkill risk and to enhance our comprehension of its impact on wildlife populations and socioeconomic dimensions. We undertook a compilation of roadkill records, encompassing both published and unpublished data gathered from road surveys or opportunistic sources. GLOBAL ROADKILL DATA includes 208,570 roadkill records of terrestrial vertebrates from 54 countries across six continents, encompassing data collected between 1971 and 2024. This dataset serves to minimise the collection of redundant data and acts as a valuable resource for local and macro scale analysis regarding rates of roadkill, road- and landscape-related features associated with risk of roadkill, vulnerability of species to road traffic, and populations at risk of local extinction. The objective of this dataset is to promote scientific progress in infrastructure ecology and terrestrial vertebrate conservation while limiting the socio-economic costs
Exploring classroom grouping practices in Wales
Full text linkGrouping practices in classrooms are under-researched within the Welsh context. This exploratory research aimed to provide information about grouping practices for those with additional learning needs (ALN) and educators' decision-making concerning these. In addition, the study sought to gain insight into changes to grouping practices during the Covid-19 pandemic and priorities for the future. Data was gathered using an online survey of primary and secondary school ALNCos (n=102) based in Wales' south-west and south-east regions. Findings revealed ‘mixed ability’ as the most frequently used grouping across primary and secondary phases for all learners. Similar to figures found elsewhere in the UK, the grouping of core subjects in both age phases was attainment-based. A wide range of grouping practices was described with the primary purpose of offering support for academic learning, with less focus on learner choice or socially-based groups. This was the case for all learners as well as those with ALN, and figures also show an increase in attainment grouping for younger children. ALNCos also highlighted concerns over the standard of ALN provision during the pandemic and the need to move towards more child-centred socially-focused interventions for the future. Implications of the study and recommendations for the future are discussed
Extreme Weather Events in the UK and Resulting Public Health Outcomes
Full text linkObjectives: Extreme Weather Events (EWEs) are increasingly frequent in the United Kingdom (UK) and can lead to adverse health outcomes, resulting in additional pressure on the NHS. The aim of this review is to investigate the health impacts of EWEs on the population in the UK, through an economic lens.Methods: A systematic review of the evidence was conducted. Seven databases were searched for studies related to the public health outcomes of EWEs.Results: 48 papers met inclusion criteria: 22 flood, 25 extreme temperature, one wind. Three themes emerged: physical health impacts (predominantly temperature extremes); mental health impacts (predominantly flood-related) and socio-economic considerations (EWEs experienced disproportionately by marginalised populations). Conclusion: Whilst there is a substantial body of research on physical and mental health impacts of EWEs in the UK, there is limited evidence on socio-economic impacts, and little consideration of the economic costs. Building resilience against the health impacts of EWEs is essential. Future studies should consider incorporating cost-benefit analyses (CBA) to investigate the economic costs of EWEs on populations and health systems in the UK, and of potential mitigation efforts.<br/
Physiology of nitrogen: A life or death matter
Full text linkWith each breath, four out of every five molecules we inspire are nitrogen (N2), since this gas constitutes ∼80% of the atmospheric air that surrounds us. Despite its abundance and unlike molecular oxygen, N2 has traditionally held less appeal among physiologists given its lack of reactivity and corresponding inability to support combustion or life, rendering it metabolically nugatory. The controversial application of N2 asphyxiation for the inhumane purposes of human execution of convicted criminals and assisted suicide of a terminally ill patient has thrust this important gas into the scientific and public spotlight, sparking widespread condemnation. In the current review, we take an opportunity to explore the molecular bases and clinical consequences linked to the Janus‐faced physiology of N2 to better explain its life‐and‐death qualities. We highlight the complex history that led to its discovery and the physio‐geochemical evolution of Earth's uniquely N2‐rich atmosphere, including intimate links with oxygen (O2), another life‐and‐death homonuclear diatomic gas that preceded aerobic respiration and the emergence of complex multicellular life. Diving deep into N2’s quantum state, we expose its unique physiochemical properties to better understand why this gas is metabolically inert and physiologically deadly when in excess and especially to the exclusion of O2. We apply this integrated physiological knowledge to further inform the controversial public debate and directly challenge the misconceived notion that N2 gas asphyxiation offers a quick, indolent and dignified death for the inhumane purposes of human execution and assisted suicide
Examining the comparative effectiveness of virtual reality and in-vivo exposure therapy on social anxiety and specific phobia: A systematic review & meta-analysis
Full text linkBackground: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is the most widely used Virtual Reality psychotherapeutic intervention. There is empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of VRET on Specific Phobia and Social Anxiety Disorder. Since it has an advantage over in-vivo Exposure Therapy (IVET) in being cost-effective, adaptable and controllable, previous studies suggest it is a suitable alternative psychotherapeutic intervention for IVET. However, there is a need for a meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of VRET and IVET. Aim: The present meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness of VRET and IVET in the treatment of social anxiety disorder and specific phobia. Methods: Eligible studies needed to be randomised controlled trials which included adults diagnosed with social anxiety or specific phobia according to the DSM-4 and DSM-5 or ICD 10. Studies needed to include two treatment conditions, VRET (using a head-mounted display) and IVET, and these should be accompanied by an additional control condition. Studies also needed to include pre-and post-assessment measures to allow for the calculation of effect size estimates. The electronic databases, PubMed, PsycNet, ProQuest and ScienceDirect were systematically searched for the relevant randomised controlled studies. Data collection and results: A random effects meta-analysis was conducted to examine the comparable effectiveness of VRET and IVET on symptomology. The analysis suggested that both are equally effective at reducing social phobia and anxiety symptoms with both approaches reporting moderate effect sizes.Conclusions: Results of the meta-analysis demonstrate that VRET generates positive outcomes in the treatment of Specific Phobia and Social Anxiety Disorders which are comparable to IVET. However, due to the limited nature of the literature examined it is not possible to identify which approach is optima
Media Cymru Freelance Focus: Innovation
Full text linkExecutive SummaryThere are a multitude of interpretations of the concept of ‘innovation’ amongst screen sector freelancers. The concept is not always fully understood, but it is largely interpreted as both a product and a process.Screen sector freelancers have limited capacity to engage in the development of innovative products and Research and Development (R&D) activity and often have little autonomy to instigate innovative processes working within a project-based working environment.The introduction of innovative products often facilitates adjustments in workflows, allowing for small-scale, day-to-day innovations in the form of problem solving but freelancers are seldom the innovators themselves, rather the beneficiaries of innovations originating in the tech sector. The introduction of innovative products and processes can have both intended and unintended consequences, and these consequences are not always positive. Concerns include the lowering of production quality, a shift in the desirable skillsets in the advent of generative AI, issues related to Intellectual Property and the automation of existing roles.These findings have implications for skills and training for freelancers within the sector, and the need to better equip the region’s freelancers with the absorptive capacity to manage the introduction of such innovations.A recognition is needed of the possible contribution of the freelance proportion of the TV and Film workforce, both in the Cardiff Capital Region and more widely, as a skilled workforce able to effectively apply innovative products, rather than the source of substantive R&D activity