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An ultra-endurance event leads to changes in circulating regulatory T-cells, CD4+ naïve and CD8+ effector memory T-cells in the 48 h post-race recovery period
Get PDFPurpose: Exercise is known to acutely affect T-lymphocyte populations in the peripheral blood, which is intensity- and duration-dependent. However, effects of longer duration endurance exercise (>5 h) on T-cells in the days following are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulating T-cell changes that occur in response to an ultra-endurance event, which may provide insight into the inflammatory response to ultra-endurance exercise. Methods: Ten individuals (m = 7, f = 3) completing an Ironman 70.3 event volunteered for the study. Peripheral blood samples were taken 1–2 days pre-race (PRE-RACE), and 1 day (RACE + 1) and 2 days (RACE + 2) post-race, with circulating T-cells enumerated by flow cytometry (total CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, regulatory T-cells [CD4+CD25+CD127−; TREG], naïve [CD27+CD45RA+; NA], central memory [CD27+CD45RA−; CM], effector memory [CD27−CD45RA−; EM], and effector memory CD45RA+ [CD27−CD45RA+; EMRA]). Results: There were no changes in total CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. TREG RACE + 1 was significantly higher compared to PRE-RACE, as were the proportion of CD4+ NA cells and CD8+ CM cells at RACE + 2; CD8+ EM cells fell at RACE + 2 (absolute counts and proportion). Conclusion: In conclusion, the ultra-endurance event evoked T-cell changes over the 48 h recovery period, with an increase in T-cells that regulate the immune response, and a reduction in circulating EM T-cells, most likely trafficked to sites of tissue damage and inflammation
Unleashing the Power of Generative AI in Agriculture 4.0 for Smart and Sustainable Farming
No full textGenerative artificial intelligence (GAI) represents a pioneering class of artificial intelligence systems renowned for producing diverse media, such as text and images. Agriculture 4.0 (AG-4.0) is a concept that integrates advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, artificial intelligence, and precision agriculture into the agricultural sector. The integration of GAI and AG-4.0 can generate new and valuable agricultural insights and solutions through pattern recognition and data analysis. This integration enhances farming practices by generating predictive models, simulating optimal growth conditions, diagnosing plant diseases, and optimizing genetic traits. In spite of the tremendous scope of GAI in agriculture, there has been no detailed study concerning the applications and scope of GAI in AG-4.0. Addressing this research gap, we explore various applications, real-world products, and limitations of GAI in agriculture. We explore how GAI models such as ChatGPT and Dall-E can be personalized advisors for farmers, help increase awareness about farmer relief programs, design farm layouts, and many other such applications. Additionally, we cover four real-world GAI products deployed to assist farmers. Since GAI is a growing technology, it poses challenges such as scarcity of data, data privacy, and interpretability. We elaborately discuss these limitations and suggest multiple directions for future research in GAI for agriculture
Hearing the Edge: Auditory Optimisation for Performance, Clarity, and Resilience in eSports
Get PDFThis technical report outlines a structured and ethical framework for auditory optimisation in eSports. It argues that hearing, though central to timing, communication, and orientation, is the least deliberately trained sense in competitive play. The report introduces practical approaches to auditory training, recovery, and reflection, supported by current evidence from hearing science and psychoacoustics. It emphasises inclusion, ethical monitoring, and the recognition of hearing as both a performance and welfare concern
Frequency Characteristics Guided Network for Few-Shot SAR Target Recognition
Get PDFContemporary research in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) reveals that few-shot learning algorithms can attain exceptional classification accuracy through training paradigms employing several hundred to thousands of sample inputs. However, existing methods ignore the frequency characteristics in radar images and only rely on the similarity of pixel descriptors for target recognition. To overcome this limitation, this article presents frequency characteristics guided network (FCGN), an architecture explicitly developed for SAR ATR scenarios with limited training samples. First, we propose a frequency-separated feature extractor, which enriches the frequency characteristics of the target. In addition, FCGN further incorporates a frequency-domain sample expander, a dedicated component for generating spectrally congruent pseudosamples that enhance support set heterogeneity, ultimately refining class separation boundaries in the latent representation space. Finally, we propose an adaptive frequency-domain matcher (AFDM). AFDM calculates the inter-sample frequency-domain consistency through selected frequency components, and the network synthesizes the pixel consistency and frequency-domain consistency to discriminate the samples. Rigorous evaluation on the moving and stationary target acquisition and recognition dataset demonstrate that the proposed method surpasses current approaches
Review of the AI-Based Analysis of Abdominal Organs from Routine CT Scans
Get PDFAccurate and timely segmentation of liver trauma in computed tomography (CT) images is essential for effective diagnosis and management in emergency medicine. This review examines advancements in liver segmentation techniques from 1993 to 2024, focusing on deep learning models and their impact on improving diagnostic accuracy for liver injuries. Early methods relied on basic image processing, which faced limitations due to noise, intensity variations, and complex abdominal anatomy. The advent of deep learning has transformed this domain, with architectures such as UNet, UNet++, UNet3+, multiscale large kernel (MSLUNet), and Swin-Unet achieving significant improvements in segmentation precision. Additionally, generative adversarial networks (GANs), including conditional GAN and pixel-to-pixel (Pix2Pix) GAN, have further enhanced image quality and detail, addressing deficiencies in traditional methods. This review provides a comparative analysis of these models, highlighting their strengths and limitations in liver injury segmentation
RF-sputtered Al-doped ZnO-based transparent electrochemical capacitors developed as a structural energy storage to replace double-glazed window for a smart building
Get PDFStructural energy storage combines energy storage with structural strength, reducing weight, saving space, and improving efficiency. Among various types, transparent structural energy storage shows strong potential for seamless integration into windows, screens, surfaces, consumer electronics, and automotive applications. Developing new electrode designs with environmentally abundant materials is essential to achieving global decarbonization goals and the net-zero target. In this work, we developed a transparent electrochemical capacitor (TEC) as a structural energy storage using aluminum-doped ZnO (AZO) film prepared by radio frequency sputtering on an indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) glass. We observed that the excellent electrical properties of the AZO film including high carrier concentration 6.54 × 1020 cm−3, Hall mobility 25.8 cm2 V−1 s−1, and resistivity 3.7 × 10−4 Ω cm contributed to enhancing the electrochemical performance of the TEC. The prepared transparent AZO exhibits a high specific capacitance of 44.4 μF cm−2 at 1 mV s−1 for a three-electrode study in a liquid electrolyte. The TEC fabricated using gel electrolyte shows a specific capacitance of 5.93 μF cm−2 at 1 mV s−1. We observed that both the electrochemical double-layer capacitance and pseudo-capacitance contributed to the charge storage in TEC, which was measured using Dunn's method. The double-glazed window shape of the TEC exhibits its promising potential for implementation as structural energy storage in smart buildings. We demonstrated TEC performance under various temperatures (−10 to 30 °C), its transparency of about 85% in the visible light range, and its integration capabilities with solar cells. This TEC aims to develop a structural element for smart buildings or autonomous electric vehicles
Publishing as a Creative Industry
No full textBook publishing is big business, contributing significant employment in the creative industries and adding billions to the global economy. Despite this, the sector is often overlooked in the creative industries' research tide. This book remedies this gap in knowledge, providing an examination of book publishing in the UK within the wider context of the creative industries and the existing academic discourse.Balancing the tensions of art and commerce perhaps more than any other creative field, this book considers the position of the book publishing industry within the contemporary cultural economy. Through this focused analysis on the culture(s) and organisation(s) of book publishing in the UK, the author demonstrates how this creative industry reflects, and perpetuates, many of the key issues and challenges, including inequalities in representation, cultural and economic dominance of global conglomerates, and hierarchies of value, already recognised as central within the creative industries in the UK and beyond.This concise book will be essential reading for academics, researchers, and students with an interest in the publishing industry and its position within the UK Creative Industries and cultural economy
Hyperfoams: Energy dissipation and shock wave formation
Get PDFIt has been found that highly porous organic foams (hyperfoams) modeled by the Blatz–Ko and Hill hyperelastic potentials may exhibit mechanical energy loss caused by the formation and propagation of strain discontinuities arising when a portion of a faster wave pulse overtakes a slower one. This observation opens up a possibility for creating a new type of shock absorbers containing no viscous or dry friction elements. For example, the considered Blatz–Ko-type hyperelastic potential is a good material behavior model for moderately stiff polyurethane (PU) foams both at large compression and at large extension strains. The analysis utilizes a combined method consisting of the explicit time integration technique coupled with the finite element method for spatial discretization
Sound Dominates, We Just Forgot to Listen
Get PDFThis public commentary explores the under-recognised role of sound in perception, memory, protest, and shared space. Challenging the assumption that humans are primarily visual beings, the piece argues that sound is more immediate, socially shared, and neurologically fast-processed. It considers how listening affects presence, inclusion, and cognition while often going unnoticed. Drawing on research in sound design, auditory development, protest regulation, and sensory culture, the article advocates for greater attentiveness to how sound shapes public life. Originally written for a general professional audience, it contributes to public discourse around accessibility, spatial design, and the politics of listening
Unlock and revive: co-producing impactful and accessible online culture and heritage events for people living with dementia
Get PDFPurpose The study aims to identify the active ingredients needed to deliver accessible online cultural and heritage events bringing positive benefits to people living with dementia (PWD) and their caregivers.Design/methodology/approach The researchers undertook semi-structured interviews with event managers to understand their experiences of delivering online events, attended and observed the online events, compiled field notes and held focus groups with participants.Findings Online events for PWD provide an opportunity for social interaction and stimulation for individuals. While many people prefer physical events, there is clear evidence that online events can be impactful. In this paper, we co-create a new framework based on the “Six Senses” (continuity, significance, security, belonging, achievement and purpose) which can be utilised to create meaningful online events for PWD.Research limitations/implications These findings highlight that the delivery of online events should not be limited to times of pandemic as at-home participation can boost a sense of inclusivity and well-being. The framework identifies how event managers can stimulate the “Six Senses”.Practical implications Through the application of this framework, culture and heritage organisations can play their role in creating meaningful and impactful events for PWD.Social implications Participation in meaningful online culture and heritage events will strengthen a sense of well-being for PWD. It can also foster connections, build community and provide support.Originality/value Currently, there is a lack of research examining the importance of events from PWD and their carers. This research gains valuable insights and provides a framework on how online events for PWD can be meaningful by contributing to a sense of well-being and fostering community
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