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Engineering Innovations And Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Get PDFThis comprehensive study explores the dynamic intersection of engineering innovations and sustainable entrepreneurship, a nexus that promises to redefine the contemporary business landscape. The research employs a systematic approach to literature review, critically analyzing recent scholarly works to unearth the prevailing trends, challenges, and opportunities in the sector. The primary aim of this paper is to delineate the transformative role of engineering tools in fostering sustainable entrepreneurship, with a keen focus on artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and blockchain technology. Through a meticulous methodological approach, the study evaluates the impact of these innovations on sustainable practices, offering advanced interpretations and forecasts based on data analysis. The conclusion underscores a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable and future-oriented economy, driven by the integration of engineering innovations. It highlights the significant research gaps, indicating further exploration necessary to foster a deeper understanding of the sector's intricate dynamics. In light of the findings, the paper proposes strategic suggestions for the engineering sector, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts, educational reforms, and policy initiatives to navigate the complexities of the evolving landscape. Furthermore, it outlines prospective developments and implications, highlighting the potential growth trajectories and the consequent socio-economic impacts. The study culminates in a set of robust recommendations, advocating for a harmonized approach that integrates technological advancements with sustainability principles, thereby fostering a landscape that thrives on innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship
Solar Energy Adaptation And Efficiency Across Diverse Nigerian And Global Climates A Review Of Technological Advancement
Get PDFSolar energy stands as a transformative force in addressing the world's energy needs while mitigating the effects of climate change. This comprehensive review paper explores solar energy adaptation and efficiency across diverse climates, focusing on Nigeria, a nation grappling with energy access disparities and environmental challenges. The paper surveys technological advancements, climate-specific considerations, policy and regulation, environmental and economic impacts, challenges, and future directions in solar energy. Real-world case studies from rural Nigeria to Canada illustrate the versatility of solar technologies, while policy frameworks and regulatory approaches are analyzed to provide insights into effective solar energy promotion. The paper underscores the interconnected nature of environmental and economic benefits. It emphasizes the importance of tailored solutions and community engagement. Technological innovation, policy alignment, and capacity building address challenges such as intermittency, climate-related factors, and upfront costs. Future directions emphasize technological innovation, policy alignment, energy access, capacity building, international collaboration, public awareness, and monitoring and evaluation. As Nigeria and the world navigate a sustainable and solar-powered future, the sun emerges as a boundless energy source, illuminating homes, powering industries, and fueling economic growth while preserving the environment for future generations
Youth worldlessness and civic participation online and at school: Exploring Arendt’s philosophy
Get PDFThis paper seeks to explore the possible contribution that thinking with Arendt can bring to understanding the nuances of school-aged young people’s civic participation. Using Arendt’s work on responsibility, political presence and the notion of worldlessness, this paper will explore how young people’s social media interactions can serve as a way to foster a more critical sense of civic participation and political agency in education. This paper comprises three main sections. Firstly, there is a critical discussion on how the notion of ‘public sphere’ may help to conceptualise school as an important site for youth political and civic participation and engagement, even when Arendt’s position in education is that the school should not be touched by politics, in this way the paper uses Arendt to think against Arendt to position the school as a ‘space of appearance’. Secondly, the notion of what I term in this paper youth worldlessness is developed by using Arendt’s (2018) theory to frame for understanding the everyday exclusions and displacements experienced by research participants and how citizenship education struggles to serve as an outlet for them. Thirdly, the paper analyses the role of young people’s social media engagements by examining data from a qualitative study with British young people, ranging from 15 to 18 years of age
Is there cardiac autonomic dysfunction in children and adolescents with exercise-induced bronchospasm?
Get PDFThe pulmonary impairment in patients with bronchoconstriction induced by eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea(EVH) goes beyond the respiratory system, also impairing autonomic nervous modulation. This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of cardiac autonomic modulation in young asthmatics with and without EIB after the EVH test.
Research design and methods
A cross-sectional study design using 54 asthmatics(51.9% female), aged between 10 and 19 years, investigated with the EVH test. Forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1) was measured at 5, 10, 15, and 30 min after EVH. Heart rate variability(HRV) measures of time were assessed pre and 30 min-post EVH. The diagnosis of Exercise-Induced bronchoconstriction with underlying clinical asthma(EIBA) was confirmed by a fall in FEV1 ≥10% compared to baseline.
Results
Thirty(55.5%) asthmatics had EIBA. Subjects with EIBA have reduced mean of the R-R intervals in relation to baseline until 15 minutes after EVH. Individuals without EIBA had increased parasympathetic activity compared to baseline(rMSSD) from 5 min after EVH(p < 0.05). This parasympathetic activity increase in relation to baseline was seen in individuals with EIBA after 25 minutes (rMSSD = 49.9 ± 5.3 vs 63.5 ± 7.2, p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Young asthmatics with EIBA present a delay in the increase of the parasympathetic component after EVH when compared to asthmatics without EIBA
Clinician experiences on training and awareness of sexual orientation in NHS Talking Therapies Services for Anxiety and Depression
Get PDFPrevious research that explored sexual minority service users’ experiences of accessing NHS Talking Therapies
for Anxiety and Depression Services highlighted the need for specific sexual orientation training. Inconsistent or lack of training may contribute to disparities in treatment outcomes between sexual minority service users and heterosexual service users. The aim of the study was to explore clinicians’ competencies working with sexual minority service users, their experiences of sexual orientation training, their view of current gaps intraining provision, and ways to improve training. Self-reported sexual orientation competency scales and open ended
questions were used to address the aims of the study. Participants (n=83) included Psychological
Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) and high-intensity CBT therapists (HITs). Responses on competency scales
were analysed using Kruskal–Wallis tests and thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative responses.
Participants who identified as 25–29 years old had higher scores on the knowledge scale than 45+-year-olds.Bisexual participants also had higher scores on the knowledge subscale than heterosexual participants. Threeover-arching themes were identified: (a) training received on sexual minority issues by Talking Therapies
clinicians, (b) clinicians’ experiences of accessing and receiving sexual minority training, and (c) perceived gaps in current sexual minority training and ways to improve training. Findings were linked to previous literature and recommendations to stakeholders are made throughout the Discussion section with the view of improving sexual orientation training
Observations from the EEFIT-TDMRC mission to Banda Aceh, Indonesia to investigate the recovery from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
Get PDFOn 26th December 2004 a subduction zone earthquake of magnitude Mw 9.3 struck off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. A large area of the Indian Ocean seabed was vertically displaced, and as a result a tsunami wave was generated that went on to affect many countries around the world. One of the worst hit places was the Aceh province of Sumatra where the capital city, Banda Aceh, experienced serious ground shaking and significant sea water inundation. In Indonesia at least 126,732 people were killed, a further 93,652 people were confirmed missing and 533,770 people were displaced. In 2022, nearly 20 years on from the disaster, engineers and scientists from the UK Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) and from the Indonesian Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Centre (TDMRC) conducted a joint longterm recovery mission. This paper reflects on how a society rebuilds after such a devastating loss and what lessons can be learnt as a community for future disaster risk reduction. The scope of the paper includes the rapid assessment of post-disaster housing, community infrastructure and preparedness measures
Impact of cyclic bending on coronary hemodynamics
Get PDFIt remains unknown that the degree of bias in computational fluid dynamics results without considering coronary cyclic bending. This study aims to investigate the influence of different rates of coronary cyclic bending on coronary hemodynamics. To model coronary bending, a multi-ring-controlled fluid–structural interaction model was designed. A coronary artery was simulated with various cyclic bending rates (0.5, 0.75 and 1 s, corresponding to heart rates of 120, 80 and 60 bpm) and compared against a stable model. The simulated results show that the hemodynamic parameters of vortex Q-criterion, temporal wall shear stress (WSS), time-averaged WSS (TaWSS) and oscillatory shear index (OSI) were sensitive to the changes in cyclic rate. A higher heart rate resulted in higher magnitude and larger variance in the hemodynamic parameters. Whereas, the values and distributions of flow velocity and relative residence time (RRT) did not show significant differences between different bending periods. This study suggests that a stable coronary model is not sufficient to represent the hemodynamics in a bending coronary artery. Different heart rate conditions were found to have significant impact on the hemodynamic parameters. Thus, cyclic bending should be considered to mimic the realistic hemodynamics in future patient-specific coronary hemodynamics studies
Doctors and nurses subjective predictions of 6-month outcome compared to actual 6-month outcome for adult patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in neurocritical care: An observational study.
Get PDFAcute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage is a devastating form of stroke. Prognostication after ICH may be influenced by clinicians' subjective opinions. To evaluate subjective predictions of 6-month outcome by clinicians' for ICH patients in a neurocritical care using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and compare these to actual 6-month outcome. We included clinicians' predictions of 6-month outcome in the first 48 h for 52 adults with ICH and compared to actual 6-month outcome using descriptive statistics and multilevel binomial logistic regression. 35/52 patients (66%) had a poor 6-month outcome (mRS 4-6); 19/52 (36%) had died. 324 predictions were included. For good (mRS 0-3) versus poor (mRS 4-6), outcome, accuracy of predictions was 68% and exact agreement 29%. mRS 6 and mRS 4 received the most correct predictions. Comparing job roles, predictions of death were underestimated, by doctors (12%) and nurses (13%) compared with actual mortality (36%). Predictions of vital status showed no significant difference between doctors and nurses: OR = 1.24 {CI; 0.50-3.05}; ( = 0.64) or good versus poor outcome: OR = 1.65 {CI; 0.98-2.79}; ( = 0.06). When predicted and actual 6-month outcome were compared, job role did not significantly relate to correct predictions of good versus poor outcome: OR = 1.13 {CI;0.67-1.90}; ( = 0.65) or for vital status: OR = 1.11 {CI; 0.47-2.61}; = 0.81). Early prognostication is challenging. Doctors and nurses were most likely to correctly predict poor outcome but tended to err on the side of optimism for mortality, suggesting an absence of clinical nihilism in relation to ICH. [Abstract copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Registered Nurses’ use of a National Early Warning Score: An interpretative hermeneutic phenomenological study
Get PDFBackground: The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) was introduced in the U.K. to address the patient safety risk of failing to recognise and act on patient deterioration promptly. However, patients still deteriorate unnoticed. Registered Nurses are responsible for patient monitoring and are the main users of NEWS.
Aim: To explore Registered Nurses’ experiences and perceptions of using NEWS in the U.K. as part of the recognition and management of acute adult patient
deterioration.
Methodology: Sixteen Registered Nurses from a U.K. NHS Trust were interviewed using an interpretative hermeneutic phenomenological approach, guided by Gadamerian philosophy. In-depth interviews formed part of a Gadamerian spiral,
interpreted to gain new understanding through a fusion of horizons to reveal the story of using NEWS in clinical practice and the meaning for nurses.
Findings: The story revealed three pinch points of risk in clinical practice: delegation of vital sign monitoring to healthcare assistants with uncertainty and delayed escalation; over-reliance on NEWS and a culture-based deference to expertise by Junior Nurses; and Senior Nurses' potential over-confidence in selfmanaging deteriorating patients. Workplace culture surrounding NEWS revealed constant compromises and lack of learning opportunities with a potential consequence of future skills gaps in the nursing workforce.
Conclusions: When using NEWS, failure to recognise the risks associated with the three pinch points threatens patient safety. Wrong decisions at these points may lead to missed chances in preventing deterioration. Incorrect judgments may lead to unrecognised patient deterioration or inappropriate management leading to preventable adverse events.
Recommendations for practice: The nursing profession and health service need to:
• address education gaps in the registered/unregistered nursing workforce
relating to the recognition and management of deteriorating patients, to ensure safe use of NEWS;
• foster a culture that supports, values and develops nurses' clinical judgment to enhance patient safet
Negotiating Spaces In Academia: What Mediating Factors Impact On The Participation And Progression Of British African Caribbean Males In Academia
Get PDFThe experiences of racially minoritised individuals in academia has exercised the minds of several researchers in England over many years (Bhopal and Jackson, 2013; Bhopal and Pitkin, 2020; Gabriel, 2017a; Miller, 2016; Mirza, 2006; Stockfelt, 2018a). The career experiences of British African Caribbean males (BACMs) as a separate unique group have however escaped the attention of researchers. These individuals who are descendants of the Windrush Generation are largely situated at the bottom of the academic career ladder HESA, (2020) and have historically faced discrimination in the workplace (Collins, 2019; Hall, 2021; Peach, 1991b).
This thesis examined the factors that impact on the participation and progression of BACMs in English academia through the combined lens of The Silences Framework (SF) (Serrant-Green, 2011) and the theoretical framework of Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989).
The career experiences of fifteen BACMs were obtained using an 18-point semistructured interview guide. The collected data was complemented by the ‘silence dialogue’ and verified using the ‘collective voices’ embedded in The Silences Framework. Analysis used The Silences Framework Serrant-Green, (2011) and Braun and Clarke, (2006a) to uncover the ‘Silences’ embedded in participants’ narratives. This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge by addressing the distinct gap in the literature surrounding the factors that impact on participation and progression of BACMs in academia. Firstly, from a theoretical perspective I am yet to see another study among British African Caribbean Males in academia which utilises the tenets of intersectionality in conjunction with The Silences Framework. Secondly, utilising the joint methodological framework of The Silences Framework in conjunction with the analysis of framework of Braun and Clark 2006 among this population of participants has not previously been undertaken.
Thirdly, the interplay between BACM career progression and intersectionality was identified as the findings revealed that the career participation and progression of BACMs were impacted on by several ‘Silences’. These include racial discrimination and microaggression, structural and institutional racism, intersectional identity exclusion and being racially undervalued. The intersection of multiple identities as well as race, class and ethnicity continue to impact on BACMs’ career participation and progression. Finally, this thesis identified several strategies used by BACMs to address barriers to career participation and progression that could be used to inform policy and procedures in academia as well as BACMs in negotiating the
academic Space. These strategies include a multidimensional approach of six steps involving (i) engagement with role models, (ii) mentors and sponsors, (iii) social activism, (iv) having a voice, (v) networking and (vi) asserting one’s identity and visibility.
This thesis proposes a six-step stairway to organisational support for participation and progression of BACMs in the workplace which is hinged on White faculty acknowledging, understanding, recognising, and acting on the racial inequality that exist in higher education settings. In conclusion, the most important way to achieve this is by policy, engagement, and positive procedural changes