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Ultrasonic cavitation shock wave exfoliation dynamics of 2D materials revealed in situ by MHz XFEL imaging and multiphysics modeling
Get PDFUsing megahertz x-ray free electron laser imaging with x-ray pulses of ~25 femtoseconds and a machine-learning strategy, we have conducted comprehensive in situ imaging studies on the dynamics of cavitation bubble clouds in ultrasound fields at the SPB/SFX beamline of the European XFEL. The research unambiguously revealed the quasi-simultaneous implosion of multiple bubbles and simultaneous collapse of bubble cloud in nanosecond scale and their dynamic impacts onto two-dimensional (2D) materials for layer exfoliation. We have also performed multiphysics modeling to simulate the shock wave emission, propagation, impact, and stresses produced. We elucidated the critical conditions for producing instant or fatigue exfoliation and the effects of bonding strengths and structural defects on the exfoliation rate. The discoveries have filled the long-standing missing knowledge gaps in the underlying physics of exfoliating 2D materials in ultrasound fields, providing a solid theoretical foundation for optimizing and scaling-up operation to produce 2D materials in a much more cost-effective and sustainable way
HCGN : A Hierarchical Causal-Graph Network for sustainable communication and coordination in edge–fog systems
No full textThe proliferation of intelligent edge devices necessitates novel communication and coordination protocols that can operate under significant bandwidth and latency constraints. This paper introduces the Hierarchical and Causal-Graph Network (HCGN), a framework designed for efficient, decentralized decisionmaking
in large-scale edge computing environments. HCGN integrates a hierarchical control paradigm, mapping naturally to edge-fog architectures, with a Graph Neural Network (GNN) that learns a bandwidth-efficient communication policy between edge nodes. Furthermore, a novel Causal Credit Assignment Module (CCAM) enables intelligent resource allocation by quantifying each node’s true causal contribution to system-wide objectives, ensuring that computational and communication resources are directed to the most effective parts of the network. We demonstrate through extensive simulations, including a novel edge-based collaborative video analytics task, that HCGN significantly outperforms traditional communication protocols in terms of task success rate, communication overhead, and robustness to network degradation. Our results validate HCGN as a scalable and resource-aware solution for the next generation of decentralized AI systems
The protected ground of religion and belief : emerging trends
No full textThe chapter considers two elements of non-discrimination protection on grounds of religion in employment, together with the related CJEU case law: the protection available to individual workers and the position of staff and employers in workplaces with an ethos based on religion or belief. The protection against discrimination on grounds of religion and belief raises a number of fundamental and distinctive questions, many of which are peculiar to the context of religion and belief and which do not have direct analogies with the protection of other characteristics. The chapter discusses the challenges facing the CJEU in determining the proper scope of EU non-discrimination law in respect of religion and belief, given complicating factors, such as the parallel human rights protection for freedom of religion. It suggests that the Court’s decisions involve a compromise which reflects the varied historical, political and constitutional role of religion among member states of the EU
Architectures of violence : the fight Scenes of Hollywood's luxury hotels
No full textThe hotel is a key setting for Hollywood’s fight sequences, which we argue are always determined and understood through spatial orientation and architectural setting. Offering both private and public spaces, the upscale hotel offers a compendium of the contemporary action film’s fight scenes in one locale. Foregrounding a compelling fantasy of extravagance and mobility, the luxury hotel fight is foundational to the resilience of action heroes such as John Wick or James Bond. Indeed, John Wick is unimaginable without the fictional assassin hotel, the Continental. But the action hotel fight is not singular. For instance, the hotel room fight scene in Haywire plays with the erotic secrecy of the clandestine hotel room meeting, whereas the expansive lobby in John Wick 3 becomes a multi-participant battlefield.
We argue that the hotel fight is a notable, specific, and underexamined space in action cinema with a particular relation to propulsion and violent action anchored to concepts of luxury, erotics, and precarious service economies. Considering the concepts of luxury and class that shape both the service economies and the erotic charge of luxury hotels, we look at the fights that map and are mapped by these spaces. We consider the hotel fights in luxury hotels that play with liminal public/private spatiality to articulate the architecture of violent action. We focus throughout on John Wick’s Continental Hotel, but also draw on other key contemporary Hollywood action films and franchises that foreground luxury hotels as a character, setting, and choreographic element
Sustainable Energy and Economic Growth: A Catalyst for Prosperity?
No full textSustainable Energy Investment is increasingly acknowledged as a fundamental Catalyst for Economic Growth, promoting fiscal efficiency and employment, simultaneously mitigating critical environmental challenges (Zahoor, Khan & Hou, 2022). Hence, this study aims to investigate the quantitative relationship between renewable energy consumption and GDP growth across more than 30 countries (World Bank, 2024) for the period of 2005-2015 by employing Econometric methodologies for empirical estimations, Cross-Sectional Data, Linear Regression Models, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), along with the Lagrangian optimisation model (Nicholson & Snyder, 2019), where optimal resource allocation is assessed under fiscal constraints to maximise economic returns while maintaining fundamental Sustainability Goals.
Overall, the results indicate a strong positive correlation between renewable energy consumption and GDP growth. This aligns with the International Energy Agency's (IEA, 2023) findings, highlighting the accelerating global shift towards Cleaner Energy Investment. Although economic benefits may be influenced by policy incentives requiring more time to develop, long-term advancements include improvements in Environmental Sustainability, Social Equity, and Financial Stability (United Nations, 2023).
To contextualise the role of Government intervention, this study broadens the traditional ESG framework by replacing Governance with Government policies, reflecting the significance of state-led Clean Energy Investment. Despite potential biases, such as selection effects, Policy-Influenced distortions, and lagged economic impacts, the overall findings reinforce the importance of Sustainable Energy in fostering long-term Prosperity.
Ultimately, this research contributes to the growing discourse on sustainable development, providing empirical evidence that investment in clean energy is not only an Environmental Necessity but also a Catalyst for Prosperity
Care Purchasing & Brokerage Assignment Support Materials
No full textAssignment Support Day materials updated August 202
Capacity and capability for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional principal investigator roles in healthcare research : a national survey
Get PDFAims.
To understand the current capacity and capability for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional (NMAHP) principal investigator roles in England.
Design.
Quantitative online survey.
Methods.
Online national quantitative survey across England analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results.
The number of NMAHP PIs in an organisation was unrelated to the size of the NMAHP workforce. NMAHP PIs were more common in non-CTIMP studies. A quarter of organisations had no specific education or support for NMAHP PIs. Most respondents indicated that a national approach to support and training would be helpful.
Conclusions.
Having more research-active NMAHPs provides career progression, improved staff retention and improves the evidence base for practice. Having a broader range of CI/PIs allows for more targeted and specialty-specific oversight of research studies and streamlines the acceptance process to allow research to be delivered in a more timely manner.
Implications for Practice.
This will require more collaboration between NMAHP, medical and industry communities to promote a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare research delivery and to ensure that CI/PI roles are fulfilled by the most appropriate person, regardless of their profession.
Impact.
To ascertain NMAHP capacity and capability for PI research roles. Shows where national and organisational effort should be focused to increase this nationally.
Reporting Method.
Cross reporting guidance for survey studies was utilised.
Patient Contribution.
No patient or patient contribution