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Unlocking the potential of metamaterials.
Get PDFMaterials underpin almost every aspect of our lives, fm protecting us to feeding us; from enabling communication to the supply of energy; from constructing transport infrastructure to housing and keeping us warm. UK leadership in, and resilient access to, current and future materials directly dictate our national prosperity, our security, and our quality of life. Advanced materials have been identified as a frontier industry within the UK's Modern Idustrial Srategy. They are a broad class of materials that are engineered to have novel or enhanced properties or functionalities that surpass those of conventional materials. Examples include advanced metals and plastics, fibre-matrix composites (e.g., carbon fibre composites), and additively manufactured (e.g., 3D and 4D printed) materials and metamaterials. A metamaterial is an assembly of carefully arranged and patterned elements ('meta-atoms'), that offers a response or function beyond that of its constituent materials. They offer more design freedom than conventional materials; as an enabling technology platform they offer generation-after-next functionality and performance, including, for example, minimising size and weight, and maximising energy efficiency. The field of metamaterials, and the associated theoretical, modelling and development platforms that underline it, expand what conventional materials can do for us. In addition to chemical composition, the fine structure of a conventional material can be designed at the outset to engineer bespoke and disruptively advantageous characteristics and functionality. This concept of function-through-structure is the basis for modern advanced materials. Metamaterial concepts add an additional design tool, with the meta-atom elements further expanding the range and combinations of advantageous properties possible. Metamaterial approaches have gained significant traction in recent years, and are poised to transform the design, manufacture, and functionality of everyday products, such as sports equipment and consumer electronics. In collaboration, the IMechE and the UKMMN have produced a report (available alongside this summary) to elevate the profile of metamaterials and identify opportunities to maximise the social and economic benefits of this pioneering field of research. It covers different types of metamaterials,4 how best to design and manufacture them, and the thematic application areas of: Health; Sustainability; Space and aviation
Comparative strength and stability analysis of conventional and lighter composite flexible risers in ultra-deep water subsea environment.
Get PDFThe hybrid flexible risers have a multi-layered structure and use thermoplastic composite for the pressure and tensile armour. In contrast, a conventional flexible riser uses heavier carbon steel as armour which significantly contributes to its weight. For shallow-water applications, the conventional risers are widely used in offshore oil and gas industry due to their corrosion resistance properties and low transportation costs. However, the weight of conventional risers is a key limitation in ultra-deep-water applications. This shortcoming can be addressed by including a lightweight carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite as one of the individual layers. The use of CFRP reduces the effective tension at the hang off point which is a key limitation in extending the range of flexible risers. Here, the dynamic stability and functional load interactions of both risers (viz: a thermoplastic CFRP riser and a conventional flexible riser) at a water depth of 3000 m were studied. A global analysis was performed considering the onerous 1000-year hurricane wave with 100-year currents. The investigation considered ±150 m vessel offsets, three vessel headings (viz: 135, 180, 225°) and three vessel draughts (ballasted, empty, loaded). Additionally, a numerical model with a variable bending stiffness was used to capture the orthotropic material behaviour of a flexible riser. Results showed that the buoyancy requirement and effective tension were 2.1 times greater and 2% higher for the conventional riser compared to its composite counterpart. The most onerous case for a conventional riser was at zero offset whereas for its composite counterpart was at –150 m along the length of a riser. It was observed that the heavier masses of a conventional riser aid in aligning the weight vector with the upward direction of the buoyancy force. Contrarily, the composite risers undergo large displacements leading to misalignments and instability. Furthermore, the observed bending radius of the flexible riser was found to be within the allowable minimum bend radius at the hog bend location
Pharmacology of non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids and their potential for treatment of cardiometabolic disease.
No full textThe use of Cannabis sativa by humans dates back to the third millennium BC, and it has been utilized in many forms for multiple purposes, including production of fibre and rope, as food and medicine, and (perhaps most notably) for its psychoactive properties for recreational use. The discovery of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) as the main psychoactive phytocannabinoid contained in cannabis by Gaoni and Mechoulam in 1964 (J Am Chem Soc 86, 1646–1647), was the first major step in cannabis research; since then the identification of the chemicals (phytocannabinoids) present in cannabis, the classification of the pharmacological targets of these compounds and the discovery that the body has its own endocannabinoid system (ECS) have highlighted the potential value of cannabis-derived compounds in the treatment of many diseases, such as neurological disorders and cancers. Although the use of Δ9-THC as a therapeutic agent is constrained by its psychoactive properties, there is growing evidence that non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids, derived from both Cannabis sativa and other plant species, as well as non-cannabinoid compounds found in Cannabis sativa, have real potential as therapeutics. This chapter will focus on the possibilities for using these compounds in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and related metabolic disturbances
Natural products as sources of novel drugs.
No full textThis book reflects the state of the art in the field of natural product drug discovery. The work explores what advances have been made in discovering novel compounds from terrestrial, marine and microbial sources for use in the treatment and management of both non-communicable (e.g. cardiovascular, neurodegenerative) and communicable (e.g. malaria) diseases. Each chapter is authored by international experts who present detailed analysis of the pipeline of natural product-derived drugs in their field. This book makes a valuable contribution to the field and appeals to researchers in all branches of natural product research
Unravelling facilitation complexity in community pharmacy: a pragmatic tool for implementation strategy selection.
No full textPharmacy practice is becoming increasingly patient-centric with the development of community pharmacy services. Their implementation appears to be affected by causal relationships and interdependencies of determinants. To address these determinants, change agents need to select, operationalise strategies, and measure their impact. However, there is little real-world guidance on efficiently selecting strategies tailored to determinants. The aims of this study were to (1) explore the relationships between determinants and implementation strategies identified during the implementation of a Minor Ailment Service in Spanish community pharmacies and (2) develop a visual tool that links implementation strategies tailored to specific determinants for change agents to use during the facilitation process. The study employed a mixed methods approach within a three-year pragmatic type 3 hybrid effectiveness-implementation design. Data collection was facilitated by change agents, who utilised on-site and remote communication methods. The objectives of the change agents were to identify determinants, design and operationalise tailored implementation strategies. These data were documented and transformed into Sankey diagrams. Ten change agents systematically documented 4236 determinant-strategy relationships in 92 pharmacies. The most common primary determinant domain they identified was "intervention characteristics" (n=1843, 43.5%). The most common secondary determinant domain was "characteristics of the individuals involved" (n=3069, 72.5%). The most common strategy category was "other" (n=1808, 42.7%). A Sankey diagram tool was developed to allow change agents to receive feedback on the effect of their strategies and select appropriate future implementation strategies. The findings of this study inform the development of future visual tools for assisting change agents during the facilitation process. Sankey diagrams act as a generic and real-time tool, which will reduce the complexity inherent to the facilitation activity. This will facilitate prospective implementation researchers to plan implementation interventions and train change agents more efficiently, thereby optimising the change management process
DataDRILL: resilience testbed for industrial cyber-physical systems.
Get PDFTestbeds and datasets are essential tools used in experimental work, risk assessment and validation of industrial cyber-physical systems (CPS) with the capability of seamless automation and control. Due to complexity of real CPS and the criticality of their operation, practitioners are turning toward virtualisation technologies to create digital twins (DT) of vital industrial assets supporting production processes and critical infrastructures. To make DTs practically viable and usable, they need to support advanced sensing technologies that process operational data in real time and to enable the deployment of AI-based techniques for anomaly detection and effective process control. For achieving these goals, informative and relevant datasets are needed adapted or generated with the help of virtualised testbeds. This paper presents two datasets for building a testbed of industrial CPS - a drilling rig in particular. The ultimate goal of undertaken research is to analyse the effects of anomalous conditions on the operation of asset digital twins to better capture the safety event horizon, contributing thereby to CPS sustainability and predictive maintenance
Synthesis of substituted triazines and evaluation of their corrosion inhibition performance on Fe(100) in 1 M HCl: a combined experimental and DFT study.
Get PDFThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of synthesized substituted triazine, namely 4,6-dichloro-2-morpholine-1,3,5-triazine (DMT), 4,6-dichloro-2-anilino-1,3,5-triazine (DPT), and 4,6-dichloro-N-methylanilino-1,3,5-triazine (DNT), in inhibiting corrosion on mild steel (MS) into 1M HCl solution. The methods used included electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), weight loss analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on the DMT, DPT, and DNT inhibitors to determine the degradation temperature. It was observed that the mass loss of DMT, DPT, and DNT begins when the temperature reaches 85.91˚C, 181.07˚C, and 253.82˚C, respectively. The results of the EIS approach suggested that an increase in inhibitor concentration for each inhibitor causes an increase in polarisation resistance, which increase the inhibition efficiency. The PDP results shows that the adsorbed inhibitor molecules affected both the cathodic and anodic reactions. According to the weight loss analysis the inhibition efficiency (%IE) increases with the concentration of the inhibitor and decreases with increase in temperature. The highest inhibition efficiency of DMT, DPT, and DNT was observed at a concentration of 0.005M with 93.87%, 90.20%, and 87.95 respectively, at 303K. The adsorption of all inhibitors followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The SEM/EDX confirms that DMT, DPT, and DNT inhibitors formed a protective film on MS surfaces, protecting them from a corrosive environment. The DFT/PBE/GGA/DNP-3.5 computational analysis revealed binding energy values that confirm all inhibitor molecules are chemically adsorbed onto the Fe(100) surface
Dealing with the past: a local and global imperative. Part III. [Blog post]
Get PDFIn parts 1 and 2 of this blog post, the author reflected on some of the general and specific issues arising at a global level, in regards to justice for past wrongs, and more specifically transatlantic slavery and reparations. In this part, the author considers these issues at a more immediate, local level, in terms of Scotland and Aberdeen
Navigating legal pluralism: NGOs as jurisgenerative actors.
No full textThis chapter reconceptualises NGOs as jurisgenerative actors—agents that do not merely operate within legal pluralism but actively reshape it. In the legally layered contexts of the Global South, NGOs combine state law, custom, religious norms, and international frameworks to generate hybrid legal meanings. This chapter explores how NGOs negotiate, interpret, and contest norms to advance justice via the prism of interlegality. It highlights their ethical quandaries, their epistemic authority, and their legitimacy—that which they must constantly negotiate. Rooted in local issues, NGOs navigate the meshed distance between grassroots realities and international norms, fostering more general legal dialogue. Through case studies and theoretical insights, the chapter builds on Berman's (2007) notion of 'jurisgenerativity' to argue that NGOs are not peripheral participants but co-authors of legal meaning in a plural legal world
Providing quality end-of-life care.
No full textThe term end-of-life care (EOLC) has been used for nearly two decades in England, since the EOLC programme was launched in 2005, which followed the NICE "Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer" guidelines. This was the point where, to provide good palliative care in the community, a more structured approach was adopted. This period may last years, months, weeks or days. The point is not trying to have a firm prediction, but to enable active planning ahead rather than reactive care, which is not helpful to anyone, and optimise quality of life with a focus on living rather than dying. The main framework in the community and primary care settings is the Gold Standards Framework (https://www.goldstandardsframework.org.uk/), with a focus on advance care planning, training and other useful tools. Prognostic Indicator guidelines are also provided for different disease trajectories. NHS England also set out Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care, to work alongside various NICE guidelines and NHS England's Long Term Plan
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