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Whole‐Life Embodied Carbon Reduction Strategies in UK Buildings: A Comprehensive Analysis
Get PDFThis paper presents a detailed analysis of embodied carbon (EC) in various case studies using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Through comprehensive assessments, including modules A, B and C, the study evaluates EC across different stages of building life cycles. This study also considers the EC savings achievable through current end‐of‐life strategies in the UK context. As Module A accounts for the highest EC in the case studies, the majority of reduction strategies should focus on this stage. The most impactful strategy for reducing EC emissions involves incorporating Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as a replacement for cement. This approach has the potential to achieve a substantial reduction in the EC of concrete within the buildings under investigation, ranging from 60% to 70%. The study reveals that specification strategy can lead to significant Whole Life Embodied Carbon (WLEC) reductions, with the residential building achieving a 30.59% reduction, the college building a 46.86% reduction, and the hotel building a reduction of 23.69%. Effective mitigation strategies, such as utilizing recycled and reclaimed materials, demonstrate promising results, showcasing significant reduction in WLEC emissions in the buildings
A single bout of vigorous intensity exercise enhances the efficacy of rituximab against human chronic lymphocytic leukaemia B-cells ex vivo
Get PDFChronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is characterised by the clonal proliferation and accumulation of mature B-cells and is often treated with rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody immunotherapy. Rituximab often fails to induce stringent disease eradication, due in part to failure of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) which relies on natural killer (NK)-cells binding to rituximab-bound CD20 on B-cells. CLL cells are diffusely spread across lymphoid and other bodily tissues, and ADCC resistance in survival niches may be due to several factors including low NK-cell frequency and a suppressive stromal environment that promotes CLL cell survival. It is well established that exercise bouts induce a transient relocation of NK-cells and B-cells into peripheral blood, which could be harnessed to enhance the efficacy of rituximab in CLL by relocating both target and effector cells together with rituximab in blood. In this pilot study, n = 20 patients with treatment-naïve CLL completed a bout of cycling 15 % above anaerobic threshold for ∼ 30-minutes, with blood samples collected pre-, immediately post-, and 1-hour post-exercise. Flow cytometry revealed that exercise evoked a 254 % increase in effector (CD3−CD56+CD16+) NK-cells in blood, and a 67 % increase in CD5+CD19+CD20+ CLL cells in blood (all p < 0.005). NK-cells were isolated from blood samples pre-, and immediately post-exercise and incubated with primary isolated CLL cells with or without the presence of rituximab to determine specific lysis using a calcein-release assay. Rituximab-mediated cell lysis increased by 129 % following exercise (p < 0.001). Direct NK-cell lysis of CLL cells – independent of rituximab – was unchanged following exercise (p = 0.25). We conclude that exercise improved the efficacy of rituximab-mediated ADCC against autologous CLL cells ex vivo and propose that exercise should be explored as a means of enhancing clinical responses in patients receiving anti-CD20 immunotherapy
Ensuring robust OSCE assessments: a reflective account from a Scottish School of Nursing
Get PDFAimThis paper reflects on the experience of one Scottish University in conducting a face-to-face Objective Structured Examination (OSCE) for large cohorts of student nurses. It outlines the challenges experienced and learning gained.Borton’s model of reflection frames this work due to its simplicity, ease of application and cyclical nature.BackgroundThe theoretical framework for the OSCE is critical thinking, enabling students to apply those skills authentically. OSCE’s are designed to transfer classroom knowledge to clinical practice and offer an authentic work-based assessment.DesignValidity and robustness are key considerations in any assessment and in OSCE, the number of stations that students encounter is important and debated. We used a case-study based OSCE approach initially over four stations and following reflection, changed to one long station with four phases.ResultsIn OSCE examinations, interrater reliability is a necessity, and students expect equity of approach. We identified that despite clear marking criteria, marks were polarised, with students achieving high or low marks with little middle ground. Review of examination papers highlighted that although students’ overall performance was good some had failed in at least one station, suggesting a four-station approach may skew results. On reflection we hypothesised that using a one station case study-based, phased approach enabled the examiner to build up a more holistic picture of student knowledge and skills. It also provided the student opportunity to develop a rapport with the examiner and standardised patient, thereby putting them more at ease. We argue that this approach is holistic, authentic and student centred.ConclusionsOur experience highlights that a single station, four phase OSCE is preferrable, enabling students to integrate all aspects of the assessment and provides a holistic view of clinical skills and knowledge
Smart-Textile-Based Electrochemical Capacitive Ionic Sensors for High-Performance Epidermal Electronics
Get PDFRecently, biomedical engineering has placed greater importance on wearable and disposable health-care monitoring devices. Various degradable biosensors have been developed to measure human parameters, such as temperature, pH, pressure, strain, and ion concentration, utilizing bodily fluids, such as sweat, for analysis. In this letter, we developed a new textile-based electrochemical capacitive sensor (TECS) employing multiwalled carbon nanotube-coated cellulose cloth. The electrodes for the TECS were fabricated using a drop coating method, and their surface morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopic images. Cyclic voltammetry analysis of the TECS revealed that the fabricated sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 0.29 µA/log [Na + ] in the concentration range of 0–16 mM NaCl. The device operates on an electrochemical capacitive mechanism, exhibiting a specific capacitance variation of 6.9 µF⋅cm −2 across the NaCl concentration range of 0–16 mM. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis in the frequency range of 10 mHz to 1 MHz indicates the impact of ionic concentration variation, particularly in the low-frequency range. The fabricated TECS offers high sensing performance, biodegradability, and disposability, attributed to its development on cellulose cloth. The developed sensor has potential application in epidermal electronics through integration with smart textiles and offers significant opportunities in wearable biomedical devices
A review of ethical and sustainable practices in the UK's National Health Service
Get PDFThis paper explores the relationship between environmental factors and individual outcomes, analyzing a broad range of influences from geographical location to socio-economic status. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset gathered over five years, we employ statistical methods to investigate these correlations, focusing on general well-being and performance metrics across various populations. The findings suggest significant links between external conditions and personal results, offering insights that may inform future policy and individual strategies. This study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on environment and personal dynamics, emphasizing the complex interplay of external and internal factors in shaping outcomes. The implications of this research are far-reaching, providing a foundation for further investigation into targeted interventions that could enhance individual and collective well-being
Under the radar? Modern slavery and labour exploitation risks for the hotel industry
Get PDFThe UK's tourism and hospitality industries, having the highest concentration of migrant workers compared to other industries, face complex challenges in managing the risks of labour exploitation and modern slavery (MS); issues largely neglected in academic research. New employment models risk weakening workers' power in employment relations, potentially leading to increased vulnerability and exploitation risk. Based on analysing primary and secondary sources, this article examines the nature of these risks. Our findings show the following drivers: power imbalances; possible enforcement gaps; normalisation and moralisation of possible exploitation; and potential threats posed by macro-level political and socioeconomic issues/events; these, including more competitive labour markets, paradoxically also present opportunities. We develop significant, novel theoretical contributions and propose the new ‘(in)conspicuous exploitariat’ concept, encapsulating their (dis)empowerment, and potential future risks/opportunities. The research advances theory, with implications for policy and practice, for both the UK and the international tourism and hospitality industries
Venture capital, innovation channels, and regional resource dependence: Evidence from China
Get PDFAlthough the literature predominantly emphasises the crucial role of technological innovation in alleviating resource dependence, limited attention has been given to the pivotal role of capital in driving such innovation. As a critical factor in technological advancements and productivity enhancement, venture capital has a substantial function in the utilisation of resources and the development of sustainable energy sources. Drawing upon panel data from 30 provinces in China, this study explores how venture capital and resource dependence are interrelated. Our research reveals that venture capital effectively mitigates regional resource dependence by facilitating increased investment in innovation channels. However, the weakening of regional human resources mitigates venture capital's diminishing impacts on resource dependence. These findings provide valuable insights for countries seeking to reduce their dependence on natural resources and achieve long-term economic sustainability
Dynamic Event-Triggered Resilient Heading Control for Unmanned Surface Vehicle With Encrypted Data
No full textThis paper studies data-driven dynamic event-triggered heading control issues for an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) with enciphered data and aperiodic denial of service (DoS) attacks. First, we establish a compact form dynamic linearization model for the USV by employing the control input and a formulated virtual output. Next, we design a quantization-based encoding-decoding scheme, in which the data is quantized and encoded before transmission and decoded upon reception by the controller. This approach not only compresses data bits but also prevents information leakage. Meanwhile, we design a dynamic variate and develop a dynamic event-triggered mechanism to reduce the communication burden. Moreover, we employ a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) to create an RBFNN-based compensation method to offset the effects of aperiodic DoS attacks. As a result, we propose a data-driven dynamic event-triggered resilient heading control (DET-RHC) approach, and we rigorously prove its convergence. Additionally, we verify the effectiveness of the proposed DET-RHC method through several simulation studies
Suicide prevention: Introducing the Lothian Safekeeping Plan © for parents as a clinical innovation for use alongside safety plans for children and young people
Get PDFTopic: Internationally, preventing suicide in children and young people is a priority and there are a range of preventative approaches available for health professionals to use, including brief interventions. Safety planning is one such brief intervention. Safety plans have long been recommended for use with young people who are suicidal but, these were initially developed for adults. A recent scoping review revealed safety plans need to be tailored to children and young people. This review also identified an important practice gap, that parents also require plans supporting them to keep their child safe. Purpose: This paper highlights how a Scottish clinical child and adolescent mental health setting in the UK's National Health Service developed and implemented evidence‐based safety plans for suicidality–the Lothian Safety Plan for young people and the Lothian Safekeeping Plan for parents. This paper outlines both plans and gives recommendations for their use by healthcare professionals. The parental Lothian Safekeeping Plan is discussed in more depth as this is a novel intervention. Conclusion: The Lothian Safekeeping Plan is a clinically led evidence‐based practice innovation. It is a specific suicide prevention plan for use by parents as an additional, complementary, and enhanced resource to the Lothian Safety Plan for young people. It is recommended that healthcare professionals also use a parental safety plan when supporting young people presenting with suicidal crisis. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of these plans
Correlates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Aftermath of the February 2023 Earthquake in Turkey
Get PDFOn February 6, 2023, an earthquake registering 7.8 on the Richter scale struck southeast Turkey, and this was followed by a second earthquake of magnitude 7.5. The earthquake resulted in widespread loss, devastation, and destruction, and is anticipated to bear a significant psychological toll on survivors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in those living in earthquake-affected areas of Turkey. The sample was a convenience sample of 527 adults living in earthquake-affected areas of Turkey. Prevalence rates and gender differences in exposure to earthquake-related traumatic events were investigated. Moreover, prevalence rates of ICD-11 PTSD were computed, and demographic and trauma-related correlates of ICD-11 PTSD were assessed using logistic regression analyses. Most of the sample (99.2%; n = 523) experienced at least one earthquake-related traumatic event, with the majority experiencing multiple events. Findings demonstrated high endorsement of the ICD-11 PTSD symptom clusters, with 54.1% meeting criteria for diagnosis of probable ICD-11 PTSD. Correlates associated with increased risk of PTSD include female gender, physical injury in the earthquake, physical injury of family or loved ones in the earthquake and being in the higher earthquake-related traumatic events exposure quartiles. These findings indicate high levels of trauma exposure and PTSD among survivors of the recent earthquakes which occurred in Turkey. The identification of correlates associated with increased risk of PTSD is useful for identifying Turkish earthquake survivors who are most likely to need psychological support
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