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Post-pandemic geographies of working from home : more of the same for spatial inequalities?
Get PDFFunding: The author wishes to thank the British Academy for funding this study.Rather than being an indiscriminate ‘greater leveller’, it is widely recognised that the burden of the covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath has largely mirrored longstanding cleavages of social and spatial disadvantage. This paper considers how the nature and effects of the mass covid-induced shift to remote and hybrid working can inform theorisations of contemporary regional inequalities. Through a loosening of the relationship between the geography of home and employment, in theory, these novel working practices and associated changing residential preferences hold potential for easing spatial disparities. Drawing predominantly on interviews and workshops across 15 UK case study areas, this analysis however contends that stark social and spatial divides in the prevalence of remote/hybrid working mean that the propagation of working from home (WFH) may well in fact entrench rather than alleviate geographical inequalities, as working practices have improved for the mainly higher socio-economic employees who can WFH (overrepresented in prosperous areas) but remain largely unchanged for the majority of the workforce elsewhere who cannot WFH. In this sense, the resilience of core–periphery economic geographies is just as compelling as the significant shift in working practices and residential preferences that the pandemic created. Consequently, caution is needed to avoid a fetishisation of ostensibly transformed post-pandemic geographies of work–home relations and their potential as a panacea for spatial inequalities.Peer reviewe
Meaning making in an art context affects semantic distance : the case of semantic inconsistencies in written language
Get PDFFunding: This work was supported by the Templeton Religion Trust (TRT-2021-10512).When people know they are encountering art, that awareness may change how they interpret what they experience. However, it is not clear how engaging with art affects cognition in everyday life. This collection of studies investigates how meaning-making in an art context influences semantic distance. Semantic distance involves connecting weakly-related concepts and plays an important role in cognitive processes such as memory and creativity. Across four studies, participants attributed meaning to semantically incongruent sentences («Most cats see well at court”), believing either that they were or were not created by artists. We then measured the effects on semantic distance using a network-based approach (Studies 1 and 2) and a sensorimotor distance-based approach (Studies 3 and 4). In Studies 1 and 2, participants decided whether two words were related or unrelated in word pairs with varying path lengths (e.g., ashtray-smoking, sea-survey). In Studies 3 and 4, participants made similar decisions for word pairs that were either closely associated ('to see' – 'colour') or distantly associated ('to see' – 'song') with different sensory modalities. In Studies 1 and 3, both prime and target words were presented without time limitations, and participants in the art condition evaluated distant word pairs as more strongly associated compared to those in the baseline condition. In Studies 2 and 4, participants performed similar tasks, but prime and target words appeared only briefly, reducing the influence of top-down deliberation processes and decreasing the observed effects. These findings suggest that meaning-making in an art context facilitates connecting distant concepts, offering insights into how art impacts cognition in everyday life.Peer reviewe
Discipline and difference : an event report on Silent Spring: Chemical, Biological and Technological Visions of the Post-1945 Environment
Get PDFAn event report on the outcomes of an Arts and Humanities Research Council Collaborative Skills Development Project (Post-Graduate Award, University of York and Birkbeck, University of London)Non peer reviewe
Advances in half-Heusler alloys for thermoelectric power generation
Get PDFFunding: The EPSRC (EP/N01717X/1) and Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2020- 177) [are acknowledged] for funding and Heriot-Watt University is [acknowledged] for a James Watt Scholarship for RJQ.Half-Heusler alloys are leading candidate materials for large scale thermoelectric power generation. In the past decade, substantial improvements have been made to the established n-types based on XIVNiSn, and exciting new p-types based on XVFeSb and ZrCoBi have been discovered. This has been achieved through careful experimental work and by increased fundamental insight. In particular, advances in materials synthesis and compositional optimisation guided by empirical modelling have been key to extracting more performance from half-Heuslers alloys. This review summarises recent progress for the main classes of half-Heusler alloys, including their fundamental electronic and thermal properties, processing, and thermoelectric performance. It also incorporates some of the expanding body of work focused on translating materials performance (zT > 1 at 773 K is now routinely possible) into generator devices.Peer reviewe
Effect of the electron donating group on the excited-state electronic nature and epsilon-near-zero properties of curcuminoid-borondifluoride dyes
No full textFunding: This work is supported by funding of the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning, Korea (2014M3A6B3063708, 2017R1E1A1A01075394). YUL acknowledges National Research Foundation for funding (2021R1F1A1062916). This work was carried out in the framework of CNRSUMI2002 2B-FUEL “Building Blocks for Future Electronics Laboratory”.Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) properties have been reported in organic molecular films. In particular, cyanine and squaraine films have been shown to exhibit ENZ properties in the visible spectral region with a strong 3rd order nonlinear optical response near the ENZ spectral region. Noting both cyanine and squaraine belong to the polymethine family, a series of six curcuminoid borondifluoride (Curc) derivatives were developed to examine whether such a polymethine character is positively correlated with the ENZ property of the organic films. Those Curc derivatives possess a Donor–Acceptor–Donor (D–A–D) architecture with acceptor, AcacBF2, located at the molecular center. The backbone of Curc is designed such that the donor strength can be tuned to transit between charge transfer (CT) and polymethine character. This balance between CT and polymethine character of the Curc series is examined based on the Lippert–Mataga plot. As donor strength in the D–A–D structure increases, CT character is less marked resulting in a more dominant polymethine character. The structural and optical properties of the Curc films with a thickness in the order of 30 nm were examined to correlate the polymethine character with the ENZ response. The results obtained in isotropic Curc thin films demonstrate that an increase of polymethine character associated with a stronger donor strength leads to an appearance/enhancement of the ENZ property in the visible spectrum range from 500 to 670 nm. Overall, this study provides useful guidelines to engineer new organic materials showing ENZ properties in a desired spectral range.Peer reviewe
Bonding and reactivity of a pair of neutral and cationic heterobimetallic RuZn2 complexes
Get PDFFunding: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement 792674 (F.M.M.) and EPSRC (Grant EP/T019743/1 for A.-F.P., Grant EP/T019876/1 for L.S., and Grant EP/R020752/1 for N.A.R.).A combined experimental and computational study of the structure and reactivity of two [RuZn2Me2] complexes, neutral [Ru(PPh3)(Ph2PC6H4)2(ZnMe)2] ( 2 ) and cationic [Ru(PPh3)2(Ph2PC6H4)(ZnMe)2][BArF4] ([BArF4] = [B{3,5-(CF3)2C6H3}4]) ( 3 ), is presented. Structural and computational analyses indicate these complexes are best formulated as containing discrete ZnMe ligands in which direct Ru–Zn bonding is complemented by weaker Zn···Zn interactions. The latter are stronger in 2, and both complexes exhibit an additional Zn···Caryl interaction with a cyclometalated phosphine ligand, this being stronger in 3 . Both 2 and 3 show diverse reactivity under thermolysis and with Lewis bases (PnBu3, PCy3, and IMes). With 3 , all three Lewis bases result in the loss of [ZnMe]+. In contrast, 2 undergoes PPh3 substitution with PnBu3, but with IMes, loss of ZnMe2 occurs to form [Ru(PPh3)(C6H4PPh2)(C6H4PPhC6H4Zn(IMes))H] ( 7 ). The reaction of 3 with H2 affords the cationic trihydride complex [Ru(PPh3)2(ZnMe)2(H)3][BArF4] ( 12 ). Computational analyses indicate that both 12 and 7 feature bridging hydrides that are biased toward Ru over Zn.Peer reviewe
Evaluating the Arclight : a low-cost tool to strengthen eye care and training in low resource settings
Get PDFThis portfolio thesis for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of St Andrews, titled "Evaluating the Arclight: A Low-Cost Tool to Strengthen Eye Care and Training in Low Resource Settings," comprises five research papers published from 2018 to 2023.
Objective: The primary aim of the research was to assess the diagnostic capability, ease of use, and educational impact of the Arclight ophthalmoscope in improving eye care delivery and training among health care workers and students in Malawi, Rwanda, and India.
Methods: The methodology encompassed comparative evaluations of the Arclight against traditional ophthalmoscopes in training and clinical settings, its effectiveness in conducting red reflex assessments, and its utility in identifying amblyogenic risk factors. Additionally, the research considered the educational outcomes of Arclight workshops designed to enhance interprofessional collaboration and ophthalmic skills among healthcare students.
Results: The findings underscored the Arclight's comparable diagnostic accuracy to traditional ophthalmoscopes, with a marked preference among users for its ease of use and practicality in resource-constrained settings. The educational evaluations revealed significant improvements in students' clinical skills and confidence in ophthalmic diagnosis post-workshop, highlighting the Arclight's role in fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Implications for Future Research and Policy: The comprehensive evaluation of the Arclight ophthalmoscope sets a precedent for future research in frugal innovations within eye care, suggesting pathways for integrating such technologies into health systems to enhance eye care delivery. It also calls for policy reforms that recognise the value of low-cost diagnostic tools and interprofessional education in achieving Universal Health Coverage and Integrated People-Centred Eye Care, particularly in low-resource settings.
Conclusion: The thesis demonstrates the Arclight ophthalmoscope's potential as a key tool in global eye care. Its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and solar-powered design, coupled with the positive educational outcomes, advocate for its broader adoption in policy and practice. The research contributes valuable insights into the implementation of low-cost medical innovations for eye care, offering a scalable model to address global disparities in eye health services and training."Papers 1,2 & 3 were unfunded. Papers 4 & 5 were supported by a Scottish Funding Council Overseas Development Aid Global Challenges Research Grant, May 2018 – Value £8404.50."--Fundin
Non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viral detection and whole genome sequencing from COVID-19 rapid antigen test devices : a laboratory evaluation study
Get PDFFunding: This study was funded by the Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund (FSPGN000045). DAW was supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) investigator grant (APP1174555); MAM, MLT, and JP are supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program scholarship. MAM is supported by an NHMRC postgraduate scholarship and Melbourne Academic Centre for Health-Track (MACH-Track) fellowship.Background: There has been high uptake of rapid antigen test device use for point-of-care COVID-19 diagnosis. Individuals who are symptomatic but test negative on COVID-19 rapid antigen test devices might have a different respiratory viral infection. We aimed to detect and sequence non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses from rapid antigen test devices, which could assist in the characterisation and surveillance of circulating respiratory viruses in the community. Methods: We applied archival clinical nose and throat swabs collected between Jan 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2022, that previously tested positive for a common respiratory virus (adenovirus, influenza, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], or seasonal coronavirus; 132 swabs and 140 viral targets) on PCR to two commercially available COVID-19 rapid antigen test devices, the Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device and Roche SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self-Test. In addition, we collected 31 COVID-19 rapid antigen test devices used to test patients who were symptomatic at The Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency department in Melbourne, Australia. We extracted total nucleic acid from the device paper test strips and assessed viral recovery using multiplex real-time PCR (rtPCR) and capture-based whole genome sequencing. Sequence and genome data were analysed through custom computational pipelines, including subtyping. Findings: Of the 140 respiratory viral targets from archival samples, 89 (64%) and 88 (63%) were positive on rtPCR for the relevant taxa following extraction from Panbio or Roche rapid antigen test devices, respectively. Recovery was variable across taxa: we detected influenza A in nine of 18 samples from Panbio and seven of 18 from Roche devices; parainfluenza in 11 of 20 samples from Panbio and 12 of 20 from Roche devices; human metapneumovirus in 11 of 16 from Panbio and 14 of 16 from Roche devices; seasonal coronavirus in eight of 19 from Panbio and two of 19 from Roche devices; rhinovirus in 24 of 28 from Panbio and 27 of 28 from Roche devices; influenza B in four of 15 in both devices; and RSV in 16 of 18 in both devices. Of the 31 COVID-19 devices collected from The Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency department, 11 tested positive for a respiratory virus on rtPCR, including one device positive for influenza A virus, one positive for RSV, four positive for rhinovirus, and five positive for SARS-CoV-2. Sequences of target respiratory viruses from archival samples were detected in 55 (98·2%) of 56 samples from Panbio and 48 (85·7%) of 56 from Roche rapid antigen test devices. 98 (87·5%) of 112 viral genomes were completely assembled from these data, enabling subtyping for RSV and influenza viruses. All 11 samples collected from the emergency department had viral sequences detected, with near-complete genomes assembled for influenza A and RSV. Interpretation: Non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses can be detected and sequenced from COVID-19 rapid antigen devices. Recovery of near full-length viral sequences from these devices provides a valuable opportunity to expand genomic surveillance programmes for public health monitoring of circulating respiratory viruses.Peer reviewe
Performing disability in French court ballet
Get PDFFunding: The writing of this article was generously supported by a scholar’s fellowship at the Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France (Autumn 2024).In response to the valuable ongoing work on disability in the field of early modern English theatre, this article advocates for Disability Studies approaches to early modern French theatre. It examines disabled characters from a range of seventeenth-century French court ballets, with a focus on Le Ballet de la nuit (1653). Modern discussions of the lived experience of disability as performance are brought into conversation with the performance by non-disabled dancers, most of them professionals rather than courtiers, of physical and sensorial disabilities in a theatrical genre that emphasized exceptional physical prowess. It is seen that the practice of cripping up (or disability drag) worked against the reality of disability and promoted a heightened ableist aesthetic. However, it is also argued that the bodily experience of performing disability – sometimes with (seemingly) cumbersome props, awkward prosthetics or concealed limbs – will also have granted the dancers new choreographic opportunities and embodied knowledge. This embodied knowledge was not, of course, the same as that of real disabled people. But the creation of ballets featuring disabled characters performed in disability drag unwittingly hinted at what those works sought to deny: the existence of – and skills involved in – authentic disability dance.Peer reviewe
Piloting an external quality assurance program (QAP) for COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) : findings and lessons learned from Cambodia
Get PDFFunding: This work was supported by The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) (Grant No. RG212766) as part of the Accelerating uptake of COVID-19 Ag RDTs in the Indo Pacific Program.Rapid antigen diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) that quickly and accurately identify SARS-CoV-2 are an essential part of the COVID-19 response, but multiple factors can affect the validity of Ag-RDTs results. In Cambodia, several commercial Ag-RDTs have become available since the COVID-19 outbreak, but quality control (QC) and external quality assurance (EQA) of these rapid tests have yet to be fully and systematically implemented. We collaborated with laboratory experts in Australia and piloted an EQA programme of the commonly used COVID-19 Ag-RDTs at the University of Health Sciences' MERIEUX Laboratory (Tier 1 site-responsible for the in-country receipt and distribution of QA material) and four other participating laboratories (Tier 2-healthcare facility based) between November 2021 and November 2022. The preimplementation training including the Khmer-translated documentation was conducted virtually for Tier 1 laboratories and in-person for Tier 2 laboratories. All QC (n=290) and EQA (n=60) specimens were distributed to the laboratories and testing was performed according to the frequency of Ag-RDTs use in each laboratory. All National Reference Laboratory-provided EQA and QC specimens were tested and results were submitted via the EDCNet portal using QR code scanning. The Tier 1 laboratory reported 100% concordance with the EQA reference result, while some of Tier 2 laboratories' results were discordant. While continued capacity building and support with troubleshooting have been key to the successful EQA piloting at the UHS laboratory, the programme experienced delays in the shipping/delivery of EQA and QC panels due to customs and border requirements, which could have hindered implementation and potentially impacted the quality of the QA materials. The pilot EQA programme demonstrated potential scalability and provided data on the reliability of test results at the site. However, to ensure sustainability and practicability of this activity, in-country EQA panel preparation may need to be considered.Peer reviewe
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