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Governance in the process of regional transition: an evaluation of decentralization models
Get PDFThe purpose of this concept paper is to address the role of governance in the process of regional transition, by analyzing the concept of transition and its implications for regional sustainability, and highlighting their socio-technical, institutional, and governance dimensions. This study is based on the selected review of the literature providing insights into sustainability transitions, regional development, and decentralization. Transition is a long-term, multidimensional shift shaped by innovation, societal pressures, and governance structures. Regional transitions integrate development and sustainability agendas but often face barriers such as technocratic bias, limited social participation, and misaligned public finance. Decentralization models ‒ political, fiscal, and administrative ‒ shape how regions navigate these transitions. The study synthesizes transition theory with regional development and decentralization frameworks, offering an integrated perspective on how governance arrangements influence sustainable regional transformation
Morphology in children’s books, and what it means for learning
Get PDFBreaking down complex words into smaller meaningful units (e.g., unhappy = un- + happy), known as morphemes, is vital for skilled reading as it allows readers to rapidly compute word meanings. There is agreement that children rely on reading experience to acquire morphological knowledge in English; however, the nature of this experience has remained unclear. We quantify the morphological information in 1200 popular children’s books and offer the first concrete description of how readers may learn affix morphemes through real-life text input. Our account considers the realities of morpheme presentation in natural language, such as the low number of distinct words in which affixes appear and the fact that their identification often requires specialised linguistic knowledge. This theory further accounts for the challenge posed by spelling patterns that may lead to incorrect morphological parsing. We conclude by exploring the implications of our findings for instructional programmes in morphology
Spatial econometric models to understand factors affecting older drivers at accident hotspots
Get PDFRoad accidents involving older drivers tend to cluster geographically rather than occur randomly due to collective road conditions, traffic environment, and driver characteristics. This paper analyses the spatial distribution and causal factors of road accidents involving older drivers in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom. Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) was applied to accident data from 2006 to 2016 to identify accident hotspots and measure spatial clustering. LISA and Moran’s I (0.341) of accident data indicate that road accidents involving older drivers cluster in major urban centers within the West Midlands, particularly near complex junctions and dense traffic areas. This paper later applies the spatial lag and spatial error models to examine the existence of spillover effects and spatially autocorrelated errors, respectively. The spatial diagnostic tests, such as log likelihood, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), and likelihood ratio test probability, indicate that the spatial error model best fits the observed accident data. The spatial error model identified that journey purpose, location, and types of junctions, poor lighting, road surface condition, weather conditions, gender, and time of day are the most significant predictors of accident risk involving older drivers. Noticeably, older drivers are exposed to accident risks during school runs, social trips, and navigating complex junctions due to slower reaction times, cognitive decline, and reduced ability to interpret dynamic traffic conditions. The findings of spatial models provide actionable insights for policy interventions at both local and national levels. Policymakers can improve mobility and safety for older drivers by focusing on environmental design, driver assessment, technology, and educational programs
Autobiographical Memory Specificity and Flexibility Moderate the Influence of Negative Life Events on Major Depression in U.K. Undergraduate Students: A 1-Year Longitudinal Study
Get PDFAutobiographical memory specificity, the ability to retrieve memories of unique events, can moderate the influence of chronic life stress on mood. The current aim was to determine if autobiographical memory flexibility, the ability to switch between the retrieval of specific (unique) and general memories (summaries of repeated events), moderated the influence of life stress on probable major depression in a U.K. student sample at 12-week and 1-year follow-up. A total of 92 students (Mage = 22.03, SD = 4.84) completed a task assessing autobiographical memory flexibility and autobiographical memory specificity and measures of anxiety and major depressive disorder. At follow-up, participants completed the same mood scales plus a recent life hassles measure. Specificity and flexibility individually moderated the relationship between daily hassles and probable major depressive disorder at 1-year follow-up; lower specificity/flexibility combined with increased life stress was linked to a higher probability of major depressive disorder. Memory flexibility represents a plausible target for interventions to improve students’ mood
A novel integrated Six Sigma and simulation approach for reducing waiting time in emergency departments
Get PDFLong waiting times in emergency departments remain a critical challenge for healthcare systems. This study proposes an integrated framework combining the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodology with simulation-based analysis to improve outpatient waiting times. In the Define phase, a SIPOC diagram was used to clarify processes and stakeholders. Key causes of delays were identified in the Measure phase using a Fishbone Diagram, while the Analysis phase applied FMEA to prioritise improvement actions. In the Improve phase, agent-based simulation was developed to model patient behaviour and process interactions, estimating patient flows across emergency department pathways. These outputs informed a discrete-event simulation model used to evaluate alternative operational scenarios for reducing waiting times. Finally, in the Control phase, statistical analysis was conducted to assess sustainability. A Wilcoxon test confirmed that the reduction in waiting times was statistically significant, demonstrating the effectiveness and stability of the proposed improvements
Subsidiary relative performance and risk-taking behavior: the role of host country culture
Get PDFPurpose Research on MNE subsidiaries has recently started to examine the risk-taking behavior at the subsidiary level, leveraging insights from the Behavioral Theory of the Firm (BTOF). While prior studies have demonstrated that as performance falls below the aspiration, subsidiaries will take more risks, this study focuses on when subsidiary performance surpasses the aspiration by unveiling the mechanisms guiding subsidiaries' risk-taking behavior. In doing so, it proposes that subsidiaries' decision-making autonomy and self-assurance are contingent on contextual factors such as the headquarter influence and the cultural conditions of the host country. Design/methodology/approach This study draws on panel data from foreign subsidiaries operating in five European countries (the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) between 2013 and 2022, sourced from the Orbis database. Fixed effects regression models were used to test the hypotheses. Findings Findings suggest that as performance exceeds the aspiration level, decision-makers within subsidiaries become inclined to take more risks. Moreover, our study reveals that the increase in risk-taking is not uniform across all subsidiaries. In particular, those situated in countries characterized by high power distance and uncertainty avoidance exhibit a weaker inclination towards risk-taking in response to performance exceeding aspirations. Conversely, subsidiaries in individualistic countries demonstrate a stronger propensity for risk-taking under similar circumstances. Originality/value This is an original study contributing to the literature on subsidiary risk behavior and the BTOF by elucidating the underlying conditions shaping such behavior
TaIlored ManagEment of Sleep (TIMES) for people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment – A Cluster Randomised Feasibility Trial
Get PDFBACKGROUND: The increasing global direct and indirect cost of dementia care reached 1.33 trillion USD in 2020 with a projected rise to 9.12 trillion USD by 2050. Sleep disturbances are prevalent in People Living With Dementia (PLWD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), impacting on daily living, increasing carer burden, and potentially accelerating disease progression. Effective sleep management could improve independence, reduce carer burden, and mitigate long-term economic costs. However, little is known about how to effectively manage sleep in PLWD/MCI within primary care settings. Challenges stem from a complex interplay of contributing patient and practice factors including inappropriate long-term hypnotic usage, diverse individual experience and perception of needs, and limited access to effective non-pharmacological interventions. Effective sleep management for PLWD/MCI might however be improved with tailored, person-centred, care plans with the input of family carers, that address individual needs and circumstances and promote independence. METHODS: We co-designed a Tailored Intervention for Managing Sleep (TIMES) with Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) groups and health and social care professionals. TIMES aims to support General Practitioners and other primary care staff, e.g. nurses, pharmacists, to provide person-centred care for PLWD and MCI, by addressing the multifaceted aspects of sleep disturbance. In preparation for evaluating the effectiveness of TIMES in a subsequent, full-scale, randomised controlled trial, we conducted a cluster-randomized feasibility trial in 10 GP practices in England, targeting 64 patient-carer dyads, including economic analysis. RESULTS: We will present key findings from the feasibility trial, highlighting (i) barriers and enablers to successful recruitment and retention of both GP practices and patient-carer dyads; (ii) intervention fidelity and acceptability within the primary care setting; (iii) preliminary outcomes of the TIMES intervention on patient sleep, quality of life, carer burden, costs and resource utilisation including medication, and primary care staff confidence in managing sleep disturbances in PLWD/MCI. CONCLUSIONS: We will discuss the implications of our findings for improving sleep management for PLWD/MCI within primary care settings. Findings from this feasibility trial will inform the design and deployment of a subsequent full-scale randomized controlled trial of the TIMES intervention
Impact of oxidative stress on Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 physiology and magnetosome biomineralization at the single-cell level
Get PDFMagnetotactic bacteria, such as Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1, naturally produce magnetosomes—intracellular magnetic nanoparticles that enable navigation within geomagnetic fields. Magnetosomes hold significant potential for biomedical and biotechnological applications; however, key aspects of their biomineralization remain poorly understood. This study investigates how oxidative stress, induced by hydrogen peroxide and iron, influences magnetosome formation and bacterial physiology under aerobic and microaerobic conditions. Single-cell advanced microscopy and high-throughput techniques revealed that microaerobic conditions supported robust magnetosome production and larger magnetite crystals while maintaining low oxidative stress levels. In contrast, aerobic conditions suppressed magnetosome formation, reduced intracellular iron content, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. High extracellular iron enhanced the formation of longer magnetosome chains in microaerobic cultures without causing toxicity but reduced cell viability under aerobic conditions. Hydrogen peroxide exposure caused mild damage and a 25% viability drop in magnetosome-producing cells but led to severe damage and an 80% viability drop in non-magnetosome-producing cells, along with chain fragmentation and smaller magnetite crystals. These results suggest that magnetosome-producing cells exhibit greater resilience to oxidative stress, potentially due to ROS scavenging properties of magnetosomes, and highlight the intricate interplay between oxidative stress, iron regulation, and magnetosome biomineralization. Single-cell analysis revealed heterogeneity in physiological responses, further demonstrating the complexity of these processes. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring physiological changes during production processes to enhance the efficiency and robustness of magnetosome synthesis. The insights gained provide a foundation for improving bioprocesses for large-scale production of high-quality magnetosomes, advancing their applications in biomedicine and biotechnology. IMPORTANCE Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are fascinating microorganisms with the capacity to produce iron oxide nanomagnets, namely magnetosomes. These nanomagnets passively align with magnetic fields, providing the basis for magnetic guidance when coupled with bacterial motility. This unique feature has inspired the concept of MTB as a self-propelled medical device to deliver therapeutic cargo. To this end, survival in physiological conditions and other microenvironments is essential. This study reveals the interplay between MTB physiology and magnetosome biomineralization subject to oxidative stress and varying environmental conditions, employing a holistic multi-parametric approach. Our results provide an in-depth understanding of the metabolic and physiological mechanisms at the single-cell level. This is crucial to develop more robust MTB biomanufacturing strategies to produce bacteria that possess the required quality attributes, thus paving the way for future biotechnological and biomedical application studies
Optical percutaneous needle biopsy in oncology
Get PDFNew technologies that combine standard procedures for tissue sample extraction and analysis with optical spectroscopy and imaging represent a new step in the development of tumour tissue diagnostics. Optical percutaneous needle biopsy is a promising method for increasing the diagnostic efficiency of the procedure by selecting the area for sample extraction and obtaining information about vascular changes and the metabolism of biological tissues at the needle tip. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of existing technical solutions to address various diagnostic tasks: studying the metabolic status of tissues for the adjustment of treatment protocols, differentiating healthy and tumour tissues for navigating puncture needles, and obtaining preliminary diagnoses of the nature of neoplasms. Technical systems for assessing the perfusion and metabolic characteristics of biological tissues using fine-needle probes have been described. Fine-needle probe designs for biopsies of various organs are also presented. The results of using optical percutaneous needle biopsy in liver and breast cancers are demonstrated
6DoF Stewart motion platform control using switchable model predictive control
Get PDFDue to its high rigidity, manoeuvrability, and strength-to-weight ratio, the 6-DoF Stewart platform is widely used in flight simulators for replicating pilot motion cues. However, upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) involves rapid angular changes that exceed motor tolerance, and classical washout filter (CWF)-based motion cueing algorithms (MCAs) struggle to meet high-accuracy and fast-response requirements. This study develops a model predictive control (MPC)-based MCA to manage nonlinearities and workspace limitations in hexapod simulators. To address control uncertainties from constraint extraction (COTC), a switchable MPC (S-MPC) architecture is proposed for adaptive response. Simulations show that within the operating envelope, MPC-MCA achieves high tracking accuracy, while outside it, the S-MPC mechanism provides optimal switching control. Under horizontal stall UPRT conditions, the proposed S-MPC-MCA improves motion tracking performance by 42.34% and 65.30% over MPC-MCA and CWF-MCA, respectively, based on the average absolute scale (AAS) criterion
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