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University students’ sense of belonging and the impact of commuting
Get PDFA strong sense of belonging is positively related to students’ emotional wellbeing, academic motivation, and success in higher education (HE). The research on which this paper is based was conducted in an ancient Scottish university and used a mixed methods approach including analysis of administrative data, a survey and case studies of commuter students. In this paper, we focus on six students from lower socio-economic groups who were the first generation in their family to attend HE and commuted to an ancient Scottish university. Using these case studies, we investigate why some students feel marginalised and what might be done to enable them to flourish. We use a three-dimensional definition of sense of belonging - social connections, place and political status - to investigate the factors that contributed to students’ exclusion and inclusion and find that most commuter students faced multiple disadvantages. We conclude that there is much that this university could do to respond more effectively to the academic and social needs of commuters. In particular, there is a need for the university to change its culture and practice to ensure that such students are regarded as an important part of the university community rather than as an anomaly
Gastrointestinal tract disease classification from wireless capsule endoscopy images based on deep learning information fusion and Newton Raphson controlled marine predator algorithm
Get PDFWorldwide, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in humans. Interobserver variability and specialized experience are key factors in diagnosing gastrointestinal tract (GIT) abnormalities using endoscopic procedures. Due to this diversity, small lesions may go unnoticed, leading to a delay in early diagnosis. Therefore, it is essential to design a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for the detection and classification of GIT diseases at the early stages. This paper proposes a CAD system that combines the feature fusion of modified deep learning models with optimal feature selection. Three publicly available datasets, including Kvasir V1, Kvasir V2, and Hyperkvasir, are utilized in the experimental process. In the proposed method, a contrast enhancement step is performed using the fusion of the top-bottom filtering technique. In the next step, two deep learning models (ResNet18 and ResNet50) are modified with a new layer called entropic field propagation (EFP). The pooling layers are replaced with EFP layers in both models, which are then trained on the selected datasets. In the testing process, trained models are employed, and features are extracted from the deeper layers, which are further refined using the Newton-Raphson Marine Predator Optimization (NRMPO) algorithm. The selected features from both models are finally fused using a novel mean threshold-based fusion approach and passed to machine learning classifiers. The proposed CAD system achieved accuracies of 99.0, 89.6, and 82.7% for Kvasir V1, Kvasir V2, and HyperKvasir, respectively. A detailed ablation study is also conducted for the middle steps that validate these reported accuracies. Conclusion: A comparison is performed with state-of-the-art (SOTA) techniques, showing that the proposed method achieves improved accuracy and precision rates
Hazard screening of colloidal silica nanomaterials with varying degrees of silane surface functionalization: a safe-by-design case study
Get PDFBackground: The Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) concept facilitates the design of safer and more sustainable chemicals and materials and is a crucial approach towards reaching the goals set out in the European Green Deal. It is critical that suitable guidance is provided on how to use new approach methodologies (NAMs) to fill hazard data gaps for nanomaterials (NMs) to facilitate SSbD decisions. Here, we showcase a nano-specific in vitro SSbD case study. The five colloidal silica nanoforms (SiO2-NFs) under investigation in this study are surface modified with varying amounts of glycerolpropyl-organosilane groups. In this study, we use a simple yet comprehensive in vitro test battery along with thorough particle characterization to investigate the effect of surface silanization on in vitro toxicity to inform SSbD decisions. Results: Cytotoxic, pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in A549, dTHP-1, and BEAS-2B cells after exposure to SiO2-NFs submerged and at the air-liquid interface (ALI) decreased with increasing silane surface modification. None of the SiO2-NFs showed surface reactivity or haemolytic potential. Deposition assessment using inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) revealed that increasing silane surface modification decreased particle settling. The two SiO2-NFs with the highest amount of surface silanization did not reach the cells in a submerged exposure setting, and they were therefore only tested at the ALI. Identical dose-response curves were observed for both the submerged testing and testing at the ALI for the SiO2-NFs without and with low/intermediate surface functionalization, again showing a decrease in effects with increasing surface functionalization. Conclusion: We show that in vitro toxicity assays provide valuable information for SSbD decision making. In vitro cytotoxic, pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress responses can be reduced with increasing surface silane functionalization. The reduced deposition efficiency with increasing silane functionalization, however, highlights that thorough characterization of particle behaviour in cell culture medium should always be performed for SSbD hazard testing. The amount of silane required to reduce toxicity is important information for the future production of safer SiO2-NFs and nano-enabled products. Exposure, functionality, and sustainability remain to be investigated to draw full SSbD conclusions
The role and forms of social media branded content driving active customer engagement behaviours
Get PDFIn today’s saturated digital ecosystem, content is crucial for brand differentiation and audience engagement. This study adopts a consumer-centric approach, using event-based diaries and semi-structured interviews to explore how different types of branded content on social media – informational, entertaining, remunerative, and contextual – drive active customer engagement (i.e. deliberate interaction). It also examines the motivations behind these behaviours, identifying three core drivers: functional, hedonic, and symbolic, along with varying levels of engagement, from low to high involvement. In an era defined by the attention economy and generative AI – where content is abundant but meaningful engagement is scarce – our approach advances the understanding of branded content’s strategic role in digital marketing and offers actionable insights for content marketers aiming to optimise audience engagement
Navigating racism, stigma, and autism services: A scoping review of the lived experiences of racially and ethnically minoritized families
Get PDFResearch and clinical practice that addresses the needs of Autistic children often de-centres minoritized voices, despite the existing inequities that prevents their access to services and community participation. Grounded in Disability Critical Race Theory, this scoping review sought to collate and synthesise the research on the intersecting lived experiences of Autistic children and families from racially and ethnically minoritized backgrounds to inform more culturally attuned paediatric clinical practice. The authors systematically searched 8 databases up to June 2025. Extracted data from included articles were analysed using qualitative content analysis informed by Disability Critical Race Theory. Fifty-six studies were included in this scoping review, with a total of 1454 participants across the included studies. Findings illuminated that families had difficulty learning about and understanding autism, gaining access to services that met their cultural and language needs, and experienced disability-based stigma and racism. Families thrived when they were provided opportunities to learn about autism and available resources, could advocate for their child and others, access services from providers they trusted, and have their Autistic child celebrated within their community. To reduce inequities, there is a need for service providers to conduct culturally attuned paediatric clinical practice that centres the priorities of Autistic children and their families from racially and ethnically minoritized backgrounds. This paediatric practice needs to be neurodiversity-positive, culturally affirming, and financially, geographically, physically, socially, and culturally accessible
Exploring the Red Sea Crisis’s supply chain disruption impacts on the shipping industry
No full textSince October 7, 2023, the Houthi militia in Yemen has continuously attacked Israel and its nearby ships in the Red Sea. This crisis has impacted on global ship operations, freight rates, and shipping networks, since this conflict seriously affects the international trade between Europe and Asia and brings many unpredictable butterfly effects (e.g. supply chain disruption, and high transportation costs in shipping and air cargo). This papero explores its impact on the supply chain and suggests potential solutions;, and to consider perceptions on who should be responsible for the crisis, and who will actually shoulder the responsibility for the crisis. The potential extra fuel consumption is calculated using one real containership’s data in this paper. Also, theis paper adopts semi-structured interviews of nine shipping operators and four governmental officials from Taiwan to illustrate expert perceptions of this key shipping area, and analyses and summarizes the research findings using grounded theory analysis. Results provide the latest insights and operational decision analysis suggestions for shipping operators and relevant stakeholders
From fleece to fencing: how implementing an integrated management approach is protecting Burrator Forest
No full textRead how South West Lakes Trust is collaborating with others to protect Burrator Forest from livestock and wildlife damage.Key factssite: Burrator Forest, Devonsize: 353 hectaresestablishment method: planting and natural regenerationtype: lowland broadleaved woodland; coniferous woodland; mixed (established) plantation; riparian woodland; natural regeneration; wood pasture; parkland or orchardgrants and funding: South West Water’s Water Industry National Environment Programme and Countryside Stewardship (until 2023)key objectives: water quality; timber production; nature conservation; recreational access; rural skills development.Tree protectionmain mammals causing damage or risk to trees: domestic livestock (sheep, ponies and cattle), deer and grey squirrelmain tree protection method: fencing (permanent, temporary and electric)duration of main tree protection methods: 10+ year
Managing deer populations at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve
No full textRead how Natural England are monitoring and managing significant browsing pressure from deer at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve (NNR) in West Sussex.Key factssite: Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve, West Sussexsize: 147.9 hectares of which approximately 99.1ha is woodlandestablishment method: natural regeneration and a small amount of planting of native elm cultivars as part of an ash dieback species diversification project with Kew Gardenstype: lowland broadleaved woodland; yew woodland; mixed woodland; ancient woodland; wood pasture, parkland or orchardfunding: Natural England NNR and (site of special scientific interest) SSSI improvement budget, Natural England Evidence Programme, Natural England Protected Sites Strategies and South Downs National Parkkey objective: nature conservationTree protectionmain mammal causing damage or risk to trees: deermain tree protection method: lethal controlduration of main tree protection methods: >10 year
Energy-Capital Substitution, Technological Innovation, and Monetary Policy
No full textChina has been actively implementing a green development strategy focused on peak carbon and carbon neutrality. The challenge is to avoid the economic fluctuations caused by energy price increases, promote effective substitution of capital for energy, stimulate innovation in energy utilization technology, and implement appropriate monetary policies to resist the negative impact of external supply shocks on the macro economy. This study constructs a new energy utilization technology progress equation within the NK-DSGE framework to reveal the mechanism of energy price-induced technological progress and clarify the substitution path between energy and capital. The study finds that: (1) Rising energy prices drive broad supply-side cost hikes, notably harming capital efficiency and diminishing capital's substitutability for energy. This worsens factor allocation efficiency, potentially inducing an overall demand decrease, thus causing sustained adverse effects on the economy and society (2) China's current energy technology partly reduces economic fluctuations from energy price shocks. Rising energy prices can drive firms to enhance their energy technology, easing the adverse effects of energy price fluctuations. The study notes that the extent of energy technology mitigation of price shocks relies on energy-capital substitution efficiency in production. Advanced energy technology fosters better energy-capital substitutability, curbing the duration and severity of economic stagflation triggered by energy cost hikes. (3) a monetary policy that focuses solely on the core inflation target is more effective than one that focuses on "temporary" price fluctuations represented by energy prices, implying that central banks need a clear policy target system when formulating monetary policies
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