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Progress in palladium-based bimetallic catalysts for lean methane combustion: Towards harsh industrial applications
Get PDFSignificant volumes of lean methane (0.1–1.0 vol%) are released untreated into the atmosphere during industrial operations, contributing to the greenhouse effect and energy wastage. Catalytic methane combustion presents a promising avenue to mitigate these emissions. Depending on their active components, catalytic systems are predominantly categorized into noble metal-based and non-noble metal-based catalysts, with palladium (Pd)-based catalysts recognized for their superior low-temperature oxidation activity. Nevertheless, enhancing the thermal stability of Pd remains challenging, complicated by impurities such as H2O, SO2 and H2S in the lean methane stream, which can cause catalyst poisoning and deactivation. Recent research has focused on the design of Pd-based bimetallic catalysts, offering improved stability, activity, and resistance to poisoning in harsh industrial conditions. This review examines advancements in improving the deactivation resistance of Pd-based bimetallic catalysts for lean methane combustion, covering active site characterization, dispersion and metal-support interactions, the role of auxiliary metals, and structural modulation strategies. It also investigates the impact of harsh industrial environments on Pd-based catalyst performance, focusing on deactivation mechanisms and mitigation strategies. Ultimately, this review identifies current research trends and challenges for Pd-based catalysts in demanding applications. By providing insights into the design of Pd-based catalysts with enhanced stability, activity, and resistance to poisoning, this review aims to guide the development of catalysts that meet industrial demands
Experimental testing and micromechanical modelling of unidirectional CFRP composite lamina under multiaxial loading conditions
Get PDFThis paper presents comprehensive experimental testing and numerical modelling of the failure behaviours of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced polymer (UD-CFRP) composite laminae under multiaxial loading conditions. A novel modified Arcan test rig with a rotational clamp was developed to enable multiple stress combinations with out-of-plane stresses in UD laminae on a traditional laboratory-based uniaxial test machine. The test rig was verified by uniaxial tension and validated by off-axis tension. UD CFRP laminae were tested for the first time under five stress combinations using the test rig, with results cross-validated against a high-fidelity representative volume element (RVE)-based 3D micromechanical finite element model. Failure strength envelope and damage mechanisms demonstrate the applicability of the test rig for composite failure under multiaxial loading conditions with a broad spectrum of stress combinations.</p
Offensive and harmful advertising:A content analysis of official complaints
Get PDFThis study presents an analysis of 9,055 complaints about offensive and harmful advertising, using archival data from the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The aim is to identify what advertising is actually complained about and contrast these findings with the field’s previous focus on potential offense. Due to its moral calculus, growing presence in the marketplace, and higher proportion of offense and harm-based complaints, the noncommercial sectors (not-for-profit, third, and public sectors) have been selected for study. Key findings are used to propose a new typology of offense elicitors and raise questions about the effectiveness of a self-regulatory system.</p
The feasibility and acceptability of delivering a group trauma-focused intervention to children in care
Get PDFObjectiveYoung people in care (i.e., in the child welfare system) are a group who have often experienced very high rates of potentially traumatic events, including maltreatment. It is well-documented that they have high rates of trauma-related mental health difficulties, such as posttraumatic stress. To address the needs of the large number of young people who may benefit from support, scalable interventions are crucial. But also important is that they are effective and deliverable – particularly given the complexity of this group and services. We assessed a five-session group CBT-based intervention for PTSD. The primary goal was to understand core procedural and protocol uncertainties to address prior to a definitive trial.MethodsParticipants were 34 10–17 year olds in care, with moderate to severe posttraumatic stress symptoms, and their caregiver. We ran seven groups (four online), delivered in social care and NHS-based mental health teams. Data were collected via pre-, post-, 3-month follow-up questionnaires and qualitative interviews.ResultsOf the 34 participants allocated to the intervention, 27 (80%) attended at least three of the five sessions (most attended all). Caregiver attendance was lower (50%). There was generally good completion of assessment measures. Qualitatively, most participants were positive about the intervention, and many reported improvements in areas such as coping, sleep, and willingness to talk about experiences. However, there were important concerns about the lack of ongoing support, given this was a low-intensity intervention for a group who often had complex needs.ConclusionThe intervention and research protocols were acceptable to most young people and carers. With modifications, a future definitive trial would likely be possible. However, key considerations include: how (and whether) to screen for PTSD; the trial design; and the option to embed high-intensity support (e.g., via assessing a stepped-care model)
A newly developed 20K SNP array reveals QTLs for disease resistance to Cryptocaryon irritans in tiger pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes)
Get PDFThis study describes the development and application of a 20 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in fugu (Takifugu rubripes). The main goal of this newly developed SNP array is to enhance selective breeding practice via the incorporation of genomic information. Fugu is one of the economic aquaculture species and mainly threatened by parasite disease. The performance of the array was evaluated in a farmed pufferfish population challenged with Cryptocaryon irritans and benchmarked against whole-genome sequencing of a subset of the animals. The array showed very high call rates, consistency between technical replicates, and concordance with genome-resequencing data. Heritability estimates using pedigree and SNP datasets demonstrated a significant genetic component of resistance to C. irritans, with heritability estimates ranging from 0.53 to 0.67, and prediction accuracies were significantly improved with the use of genomic data. Genome-wide association study identified two putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 3 and 17. Our findings suggest resistance to C. irritans can be rapidly increased in fugu populations by selective breeding, further expedited via the application of genetic markers. Therefore, they represent a valuable resource for selective breeding programmes aimed at enhancing disease resistance in fugu aquacultur
Proximal-Stabilized Semidefinite Programming
Get PDFA regularized version of the primal-dual Interior Point Method (IPM) for the solution of Semidefinite Programming Problems (SDPs) is presented in this paper. Leveraging on the proximal point method, a novel Proximal Stabilized Interior Point Method for SDP (PS-SDP-IPM) is introduced. The method is strongly supported by theoretical results concerning its convergence: the worst-case complexity result is established for the inner regularized infeasible inexact IPM solver. The new method demonstrates an increased robustness when dealing with problems characterized by ill-conditioning or linear dependence of the constraints without requiring any kind of pre-processing. Extensive numerical experience is reported to illustrate advantages of the proposed method when compared to the state-of-the-art solver
“That weird kid without parents”:A qualitative analysis of identity following bereavement due to parental intimate partner homicide in Australia
Get PDFPurposeBereavement through parental intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a unique form of complex trauma that may disrupt and destabilise identity in surviving children. This qualitative study aimed to generate a better understanding of post-homicide experiences and needs in the context of identity to improve support for these neglected victim-survivors.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted in Australia with 12 participants aged 16 to 55 years (10 females, one male, and one non-binary) who were younger than 18 years when one of their biological parents murdered the other. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were generated: (1) non-normalcy; (2) isolation and alienation; (3) negotiating silence; and (4) understanding self through connection to parents. Participants’ bereavement seemed to catalyse a self-concept of difference that was defined relationally in opposition to “normal” peers. Isolation ensued this othering and was sometimes compounded by a lacking sense of belonging in post-homicide family environments or engagement in support that exacerbated alienation. Societal taboos saw participants mask their inner worlds, which hampered sense making and drove self-uncertainty. Connection to parents was an important vehicle for self-understanding. Participants generally rejected perpetrators and maintained an active connection with the deceased, which sometimes served as a powerful means of resolving identity-based tensions (e.g. fear of inheriting perpetrator traits).ConclusionsPeer-based models of support and connection to victim parents warrant further investigation as potential intervention targets to alleviate identity-based distress following bereavement due to parental IPH
Low awareness and affordability are major drivers of low consumption of animal-source foods among children in northern Ethiopia: a mixed-methods study
No full textAnimal‐source foods (ASFs), contain high amounts of essential nutrients that arereadily absorbed by the body. However, children in resource‐constrained settingsoften have limited access to these nutritious foods. This study aimed to investigatethe reasons for the low consumption of ASFs among children in the Amhara regionof Ethiopia. A community‐based mixed‐methods study was conducted, usingexploratory qualitative methods supplemented by the analysis of secondary datafrom the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). The qualitative studyemployed a multiphase stepwise design and the maximum variation purposivesampling technique, enroling a diverse range of participants such as mothers and/orcaregivers, household heads, religious and community leaders, health and nutritionexperts, and others. The qualitative data were analysed using a thematic frameworkanalysis method, while the quantitative data were analysed using SPSS v22 statisticalsoftware. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify thepredictors of ASFs among children under 5 years of age in the region. Despite thelarge and diverse livestock populations available, only 13.2% of children consumedat least one animal‐source food (ASF) in the prior day. The most consumed ASFswere dairy and eggs, whereas beef, organ meat, and seafood were the least con-sumed. Household demographics such as residence, literacy level, paternal age, andhousehold wealth quintiles influenced the overall consumption of ASFs. The mainreasons for the low consumption of ASFs among children were unaffordability andpoor awareness among caregivers. In addition, religious misconceptions, price hikes,limited availability during certain seasons, low productivity, insufficient support fromhealth professionals, and time constraints for caregivers were also mentioned assignificant barriers to ASF consumption in the area. The consumption of ASFs amongchildren in Ethiopia, particularly in the Amhara region, remains very low. This ismainly due to the caregivers' levels of awareness and unaffordability of ASFs. It isrecommended that behavioural and sociocultural interventions be implemented thattarget caregivers to improve the consumption of ASFs among childre
Demographic, burnout, job experience, and job satisfaction of UK MND nurses and allied health professionals
No full textThe 5 datasets are comprised of demographic, burnout scores, job satisfaction and wellbeing of the UK motor neuron disease nurses and allied health professionals workforce. This is a cross-sectional data that was captured in the inaugural meeting on November 16th, 2023
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