Search

ChatGPT could allow students to plagiarize the content of their coursework with little risk of detection. Little is known about undergraduate willingness to use AI tools. In this study, psychology undergraduates (N = 160) from the United Kingdom, indicated their willingness to use, and history of using, ChatGPT to write university assignments. Almost a third (32%) indicated that they would use such tools; 15% indicated that they had used them already. Neither personality (conscientiousness, agreeableness, Machiavellianism, narcissism), academic performance, nor study skills self-efficacy could predict future use of AI tools. A novel Degree Apathy Scale was the only significant predictor. Willingness to use AI tools was greater when the risk of getting caught was low, and punishment was light, particularly for those high in degree apathy. Findings suggest that degree apathy is a key risk factor in academic misconduct. Wider research and pedagogical applications of degree apathy are discussed. • Thirty-two percent of students surveyed reported that they would use ChatGPT on future academic assignments. • Future use of AI tools was significantly predicted by a new Degree Apathy Scale. • Big Five and Dark Triad scores were not significant predictors, nor was previous academic performance. • Likelihood of cheating using ChatGPT was reduced with increasing risk of detection or severity of punishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Natural Environment White Paper represents the most important conservation policy shift in the United Kingdom (UK) in twenty years. It formalises the ecosystem approach within national policy objectives and emphasises the economic value of ecosystem services. By analysing the use of various evidence sources, the involvement of science entrepreneurs, and the development of policy narratives, our goal was to understand factors that influenced adoption of an ecosystem service framework in the UK. We interviewed 48 policy actors and found that centrally-sponsored synthesis reports with entrepreneurial authors provided the most influential expert-based knowledge in the development of the White Paper . More recently published reports had greater influence, yet the window of opportunity for scientific evidence having policy impact was greater in the problem-setting stages of policy development. The interaction between teams preparing syntheses and expert entrepreneurs helped influence the construction of strategic policy narratives. Those narratives increased the impact of scientific evidence by communicating and framing key policy-salient messages, and brokering between broad ecosystem-based and environmental economics narratives. The combination of ecological and economics evidence was particularly salient in the UK case due to the context of continued biodiversity loss and the acceptability of valuation narratives within central government. Our findings suggest that evidence impact varies at different stages of the policy process, and that this is driven by the interplay of contextual factors like policy timing, personal influence, and the competition between different sets of actors and narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus argenteus and Staphylococcus schweitzeri, previously known as divergent Staphylococcus aureus clonal lineages, have been recently established as novel, difficult-to-delimit, coagulase-positive species within the S. aureus complex. Methicillin-resistant strains of S. argenteus are known from Australia and the UK. Knowledge of their epidemiology, medical significance and transmission risk is limited and partly contradictory, hampering definitive recommendations. There is mounting evidence that the pathogenicity of S. argenteus is similar to that of 'classical' S. aureus , while as yet no S. schweitzeri infections have been reported. To provide decision support on whether and how to distinguish and report both species. PubMed, searched for S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri. This position paper reviews the main characteristics of both species and draws conclusions for microbiological diagnostics and surveillance as well as infection prevention and control measures. We propose not distinguishing within the S. aureus complex for routine reporting purposes until there is evidence that pathogenicity or clinical outcome differ markedly between the different species. Primarily for research purposes, suitably equipped laboratories are encouraged to differentiate between S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri. Caution is urged if these novel species are explicitly reported. In such cases, a specific comment should be added (i.e. 'member of the S.aureus complex') to prevent confusion with less- or non-pathogenic staphylococci. Prioritizing aspects of patient safety, methicillin-resistant isolates should be handled as recommended for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In these cases, the clinician responsible should be directly contacted and informed by the diagnosing microbiological laboratory, as they would be for MRSA. Research is warranted to clarify the epidemiology, clinical impact and implications for infection control of such isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article inform the number of enrolled participants and the percentage of those that desired to continue the intervention post-trial (70%) suggest that people with progressive multiple sclerosis are receptive to this intervention. Topic include participants were required to manoeuvre into the standing frame or need assistance from one person, limiting feasibility of this intervention for people with impairment or without an able-bodied caregiver to assist them.

Disposable paper cups comprise typical single-use plastic items, as they are lined internally with a thin plastic coating for waterproofing. They are consumed at a staggering rate worldwide, with the UK alone consuming around 7 million cups daily, thus annually producing around 30,000 tonnes of paper cup waste. Contrary to popular belief, less than 1 in 400 paper cups is currently recycled in the UK, which is in stark contrast to the waste hierarchy and the European Commission's ambitious Circular Economy Action Plan. Paper cups typically end up in landfill sites or even improperly disposed of, contributing to (micro)plastic waste and potentially polluting the world's oceans. The implications of the latter are not fully known yet and cannot be quantified by existing life cycle impact assessment methods. By employing the life cycle assessment methodology, UK's annual carbon footprint from paper cup consumption was found to be 75 kt of carbon dioxide equivalents, which is similar to that of manufacturing 11,500 mid-size passenger cars. Globally, their environmental footprint was found to be comparable to that of some 1.5 M average European inhabitants, indicating the nature and extent of the single-use plastics problem, which paper cups are just a typical example of. Paper cup recycling could reduce this environmental footprint by up to 40%, whereas switching to reusable cups appears to be more environmentally sustainable, achieving a threefold reduction in carbon emissions, which at global scale is more than twice Malta's annual carbon footprint. Results indicate that consumerism along with small daily choices, such as using reusable cups or bags instead of their disposable counterparts, could play a huge role in climate change. At policy level, no concrete measures to curb the superfluous consumption of paper cups, as well as of other single-use plastic items that are becoming increasingly ubiquitous, have materialised. Furthermore, it appears that decision- and policy-makers tend to step in to curtail wasteful and polluting practices only when environmental problems have started to generate widespread concern, instead of undertaking preventative policy measures. Image 1 • The environmental sustainability of disposable paper cups was examined. • 75 kt CO 2eq are emitted annually in the UK and 7.5 Mt CO 2eq globally. • Switching to reusable cups axes carbon emissions by threefold. • Robust LCIA methods should be introduced to account for (micro)plastic pollution. • Existing policy on single use plastics appears to be too little too late. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a 12-week pedometer-based intervention, delivered in primary care, produces long-term gains in physical activity. It mentions study illuminate the potential of pragmatic, pedometer-based interventions to impact on activity levels over more extended time frames; and also mentions the natural overlap between rehabilitation and physical activity presents an opportunity for physiotherapists to respond to major public health issue.

The article focuses on a 12-week pedometer-based intervention, delivered in primary care, produces long-term gains in physical activity. It mentions the multi-component intervention included a pedometer, keeping a step-count diary, 12 weeks of goal setting, and a handbook that included behaviour change techniques; and also mentions participants in the control group were provided with a pedometer and instructions with no further support.

This paper discusses the digital transformation journey of a small and medium enterprise (SME) based in the UK. With the proposed digital transformation archetype, the paper highlights the improvement in various key performance indices (KPIs) for the case SME. The core KPIs and operational KPIs show improvement through the technology adoption as part of the digital manufacturing initiative. While embracing technology, such as Industry 4.0, it is important to highlight the importance of the change and other benefits of technological changes. The paper uses socio-technological system principles to achieve a successful transition. An action research approach and a specific soft system thinking methodology known as Process-Oriented Holonic (PrOH) modeling were used in this paper. A digital twin architecture is presented in the paper that showcases the use of integrated technologies for a digital manufacturing roadmap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing number of space debris is alarming as it threatens space-borne services. Hence, there is an increasing demand to remove space debris to ensure sustainability and protect valuable orbital assets. Over the past few years, the research community, agencies and industries have studied many passive and active debris removal methods. However, the current technology readiness for space debris removal is still low. This paper first presents a comparative study of various space debris removal technologies to address the knowledge gap and quantify the challenges. This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art space technologies relevant to Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions. Detailed trade-off analysis is then presented based on the Low Earth Orbit Pursuit for Active Removal of Debris (LEOPARD) Phase 0-A study; this study is part of the United Kingdom (UK) Space Agency's Active Debris Removal programme. The ADR mission scenario considered in this paper comprises a chaser spacecraft equipped with recommended technologies to capture non-cooperative targets safely. The final capture technology for the LEOPARD mission consists of an active robotic manipulator and a passive net capture mechanism. An analysis of the coupled-body dynamics of the chaser spacecraft carrying the robot manipulator and the targeted debris is carried out in simulation using SimscapeTM. The chaser spacecraft comprises Airbus's Versatile In-Space and Planetary Arm (VISPA) mounted on a base spacecraft from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL); the targeted debris is SSTL's Tactical Operational Satellite (TOPSAT). The simulation results show dynamic changes in the chaser robot and the target satellite while performing non-cooperative capture. The simulation study accounted for various operational scenarios where the target is stationary or in motion. Further, for different modes of operation, the worst-case end-effector capture force limits were determined using open-loop control to execute a safe capture. Overall, the results presented in the paper advance the current state-of-the-art of robotic ADR and offer a significant leap in designing close-range motion and force control for stabilising the coupled multi-body system during capture and post-capture phases. In summary, this paper pinpoints the technological gaps, identifies barriers to realising ADR missions and offers solutions to catalyse technology maturity for protecting the space ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver transplantation (LT) for unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRCLM) demonstrates good overall survival for selected patients in contemporary studies, with 5-year survival of 80%. A Fixed Term Working Group (FTWG), set up by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) Liver Advisory Group (LAG), advised whether CRCLM should be considered for LT in United Kingdom. Their recommendation was that LT may be undertaken for isolated and unresectable CRCLM using strict selection criteria as a national clinical service evaluation. Opinions were sought from colorectal cancer/LT patient representatives, experts in colorectal cancer surgery/oncology, LT surgery, hepatology, hepatobiliary radiology, pathology, and nuclear medicine, and appropriate patient selection criteria, referral and transplant listing pathways were identified. This paper summarises selection criteria for LT in United Kingdom for isolated and unresectable CRCLM patients, and highlights referral framework and pre-transplant assessment criteria. Finally, oncology-specific outcome measures to be utilised for assessing applicability of LT are described. This service evaluation represents a significant development for colorectal cancer patients in United Kingdom and a meaningful step forward in the field of transplant oncology. This paper details the protocol for the pilot study, scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022 in United Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenged by complex problems and the speed of technological, social, and environmental change, the joint approach of Lean Management and the Agile Mindset has been explored in business as a management model. This paper aimed to carry out a bibliometric analysis of Lean Agile Management, pointing out trends in scientific research. To this end, an exploratory and descriptive study was developed, with a quantitative approach and based on secondary data from the Web of Science and Scopus, between 1994 and 2022. Bibliometric indicators pointed to 1808 different papers in 897 sources, with 18 citations per paper, and higher scientific productivity of U.S. (276), India (221), and UK (191), with production peaks in 2018 and 2021, suggesting the diffusion and contemporaneity of the research topic. The laws of bibliometrics were not met for this research subject, and dense networks of collaboration and co-citation among researchers were identified, mainly in four application domains, including supply chain, manufacturing, sustainability, and software development as corroborated by the word network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Systematic mass testing in closed settings provides information on infection rates. • Test positivity was 11.6%, with only one-quarter reporting symptoms. • The prison wing handling new admissions reported the second-lowest positivity rate. • Testing uptake was higher in residents than in staff members. • Mass testing is a valuable tool to bring outbreaks under control quickly. The aim of this paper was to describe the results of mass asymptomatic testing for COVID-19 in a male prison in England following the declaration of an outbreak. It provides novel data on the implementation of a mass testing regime within a prison during the pandemic. The paper is an observational evaluation of the mass testing conducted for 6 months following the declaration of a COVID-19 outbreak within a prison. It investigated the incidence of positive cases in both staff and residents using polymerase chain reaction testing. Data from October 2020 until March 2021 was included. A total of 2170 tests were performed by 851 residents and 182 staff members; uptake was 48.3% for people living in prison and 30.4% for staff. Overall test positivity was 11.6% (14.3% for residents, 3.0% for staff), with around one-quarter of these reporting symptoms. The prison wing handling new admissions reported the second-lowest positivity rate (9.4%) of the eight wings. Mass testing for COVID-19 over a short space of time can lead to rapid identification of additional cases, particularly asymptomatic cases. Testing that relies on residents and staff reporting symptoms will underestimate the true extent of transmission and will likely lead to a prolonged outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The swift urbanization and ensuing challenges in global cities require a transition towards "intelligent" urban management. This change is motivated by the necessity to enrich the quality of life, tackling crucial issues such as transportation. How can municipal authorities effectively utilize smart city principles and technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability in urban living? This query plays a vital role in steering urban policies and city governance towards a more sustainable and intelligent future. The paper suggests a survey-based research perspective unprecedented on "disruptive" transportation, offering a longitudinal examination (2010–2023) of cross-national comparison (ITA-UK) using a relatively large sample (No. 450 total) and divided into No.150 –UK 2023, No.150 –ITA 2023, and No. 150 Italy 2010 respectively. The sample base considers the two Capitals (London and Rome) for diversity, population size, and ongoing projects related to "smart" urban developed. Intending to offer a valuable analytical tool for policymakers, scholars, managers, and professionals, the paper primarily explores the evolutionary progression of sustainability concepts inherent in the smart city paradigm and their fusion with transportation; after the cross-national comparison is essential for highlighting mindset disparities that influence future planning endeavors for future urban transportation sector. The key findings revolve around cultural, ideological, ownership disparities and individualistic tendencies that contribute to a resistance to change. The empirical analysis demonstrates an advancement for Italy compared to previous years, but still cautious particularly concerning the adoption of shared mobility alternatives, which also presents a viable solution for increasing the adoption of electric vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper proposed a comprehensive framework for parametric semi-automatic BIM and bridge member segmentation. • The parametric algorithm accounted for diverse types of bridge members and produced BIM bridge models using shape information automatically extracted per parameter. • The parametrically generated bridge BIM model was converted into PCD, serving as deep learning train data for automatic segmentation of bridge members. • The trained deep learning model showed high accuracy for segmenting superstructures, indicating promise for automated segmentation of bridge members. • The segmentation accuracy increased when accounting for the point density of members corresponding to the different sizes of bridge members. This paper proposes a comprehensive framework for parametric semi-automatic BIM and bridge member segmentation. For this, a parametric algorithm was developed to accommodate diverse superstructures, piers, abutments, and bearings. Each structural member in a bridge was classified to designate its shape information as parameters. The range of each parameter was defined to account for various dimensions of the shape of the bridge member. Therefore, libraries for each member were established to produce BIM bridge models using shape information automatically extracted per parameter. Then, the framework includes an algorithm that is developed to convert bridge BIM models generated by the parametric algorithm into PCD data. The virtually generated PCD is used as deep learning train data for automatic member segmentation based on the Point-Net algorithm. The trained algorithm using the virtual PCD was applied to a real bridge PCD. The segmentation of the bridge members showed high accuracy for the superstructure but low accuracy for the bearing. The segmentation accuracy of the algorithm including the bearing member could increase by modifying the density of PCD to account for the different sizes of bridge members. Furthermore, the proposed framework was applied to a UK bridge PCD and showed its applicability for use in bridges in different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the transition towards a circular economy (CE) being a significant element in achieving the decarbonisation of the built environment, a clear and common pathway to applying CE principles to building design is still lacking in both industry practice and academia. The integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has the potential to enable the identification of feasible pathways to increase circularity. This study aims to investigate its practical use to facilitate the application of circular economy principles at the early stage of building design via using LCA-based BIM plugins. Within this aim, the paper centres on a co-production approach and presents a gap analysis by identifying gaps in knowledge and implementation as well as addressing the pressing needs of the current practice in the UK. A series of semi-structured interviews with expert practitioners in the field were conducted for data collection, contributing to the following phases of the co-production by allowing for an in-depth investigation and reflection of the practice. The findings have revealed that: (a) there is still an insufficient level of contextual awareness and readiness in the implementation of CE principles in the built environment and LCA understanding and (b) the adoption of BIM at the early stages of building design is still limited in the current practice; BIM models with sufficient level of data details and quality to enable circularity assessment are rarely produced. Thus, the paper highlights the need for enabling mechanisms, including the introduction of legislative instruments, the involvement and commitment of the industry and key stakeholders, the support for training and skills improvement, and the establishment of effective communication and implementation process management frameworks. Future research agenda points to the need of formulation of a BIM protocol to enable integration of BIM and LCA to promote CE principles in the building design process. [Display omitted] • Co-production is a promising approach to capture and respond to the industry needs. • Lack of seamless integration between BIM and LCA tools. • Insufficient understanding of how to apply CE principles in the building design. • Lack of systematic guidance and standardised process to implement BIM and LCA integration. • A tailored BIM protocol needed for applying LCA from a CE perspective in the building design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions are available for achieving thermal comfort. They were either trained with limited datasets or using personalized training with limited field studies. This work assessed the model that used the ASHRAE multiple databases as the shallow supervised learning dataset for an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based controller suitable for the residential dwellings' node. The learning accuracy can be increased to 96.1%. This paper presented the field studies to show the model performances for the common UK dwellings: the prior 1970s, the new, modular, refurbished, and the use of new materials to improve indoor thermal performance. The result shows that the model was able to perform in different environments and able to acknowledge adaptive human comfort. This was shown by the ability to represent 98.90% of the ASHRAE Standard 55 data, 6.06% improvement from the previous research. As a result, the broader comfort zone acknowledgement can lead to energy saving whilst maintaining comfort by the possibility of lowering the temperature set point. This study also proves that further energy savings can be acquired from the occupants' presence, scheduling, and activities. These factors can increase the comfort probability to more than 10%. [Display omitted] • This paper addresses the gap between the physiology and the psychology thermal comfort approach, dominated by AI solutions. • The work shows a wider comfort zone which has been identified to become progressively narrower over the past several decades. • The field studies represent major UK-dwelling cases that weren't addressed in the previous Artificial Intelligence approach. • The occupant presence and scheduling can contribute to more than a 10% increase in comfort which impacts energy saving. • This work highlights the possibility of achieving indoor thermal comfort with less energy for more sustainable dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising temperatures exacerbated by climate change are a growing concern in the UK. This paper assesses the state of heat risk governance in the country through an analysis of the Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) launched in 2023, which replaces the former Heatwave Plan (HWP) for England — the prominent policy for addressing heatwaves in the UK. Through 17 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, the paper assesses the perceived effectiveness of the new plan in addressing heat risk. The findings demonstrate that AWHP has been positively received and is considered to have well-functioning institutional arrangements and strategies tailored to manage immediate heat risks. However, areas for improvement are identified: the need to enhance public communication and broaden the cross-sectoral understanding of heat impacts beyond the domain of 'health'. Further, the research reveals gaps in leadership, institutional structure, delineation of roles and responsibilities, and funding and resources for addressing long-term heat risk and preparedness in the UK. The paper explores these and highlights the need for strengthening governance and capacity to tackle the multi-dimensional climate risk, i.e., heat, effectively. • UK heat policy lacks consideration for long-term risks. • Understanding heat impacts beyond health is crucial for effective risk mitigation. • Establishing an institutional structure with clear leadership is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of a fragmented and evolving governance landscape, this paper examines how effective climate commissions are in engaging the public to co-produce local climate action in the UK. Climate commissions are emerging amid heightened concerns regarding the top-down style of policymaking on climate change and resource-constrained local authorities. However, less is known about how they engage the public who are pivotal for climate action, both in signalling greater ambition from governments and through their own mitigation and adaptation efforts. This paper draws on qualitative interviews with an array of individuals both inside and outside climate commissions in the UK, and utilises Cash's theoretical framework of 'salience, legitimacy and credibility' to assess how effective climate commissions are in engaging the public to co-produce local climate action. The findings indicate a discernible chasm between commissions and the broader public. Equally however, they provide hopeful perspectives into the effect that more collaborative engagement, that speaks to local concerns and leverages local knowledge, would have on commissions' 'salience, legitimacy and credibility' and, additionally, the legitimacy of local authorities. Moreover, they suggest that deeper collaboration with local networks of community groups, who are not yet represented on commissions, could foster more sustained climate action. It concludes by considering the novel implications of these emergent insights for the Cash framework and what this means for commissions in their future engagement with the public. • Knowledge co-production resonates in both theory and practice. • Local and grassroot action is critical to meet climate mitigation and adaptation goals. • Ensuring 'salience, legitimacy and credibility' can lead to more effective climate policy. • Climate commissions need to better leverage local knowledge to drive climate action. • Community groups are under-utilised in climate conversations and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the history of the first ethical gold certification programme: Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold, launched in February 2011, and its two successors. By presenting an overview of the key events that occurred in the UK and Switzerland relating to these three leading certification schemes, it outlines the trajectory and relevance of ethical gold in both countries up to the present day. This material is then used to explain why ethical gold certification has survived but remained peripheral to gold jewellery manufacturing in the UK throughout the past decade, whilst growing in relevance and institutional support in Switzerland over the same period. The paper also considers the overall impact of ethical gold certification programmes on global gold supply chains since their inception and concludes by reflecting on the extent to which these schemes have benefitted artisanal and small-scale gold mining communities around the globe. • The first ethical gold certification programme, Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold, was launched in 2011. • Despite claims Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold would take a significant market share, ethical gold has remained a niche product. • The viability of using ethical gold in branded luxury goods was proved by the launch of the L.U.C Tourbillon Fairmined watch. • The support of the Swiss Better Gold Association has pushed cumulative exports of Fairmined Gold into tonnages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Police negotiators work in small units or teams. In a crisis negotiation, one of the team becomes the 'primary' negotiator and talks with the person in crisis. However, because the person in crisis may refuse to participate, and because several negotiators are co-present, there are multiple opportunities for negotiators to talk between themselves, 'behind-the-scenes'. We used conversation analysis to analyse these interstitial sequences in a corpus of audio-recorded UK suicide crisis negotiations. Our analysis focused on how negotiators talk about what, when, and how to communicate to people in crisis. We found that negotiators evaluated different communication technologies and modalities (e.g., telephone versus face-to-face) and physical locations (e.g., standing on the ground versus on a roof) in terms of their affordances for future interactions and impact on previous ones. Second, negotiators (re)formulated what and how to communicate with persons in crisis and evaluated hypothetical consequences. Third, they evaluated their progress in terms of specific (in)effective words and phrases. The analysis shows how negotiators, in contrast to individual post hoc reflection, come to share live scrutiny of their negotiation practice. Overall, the paper augments what we know about the low frequency but high-stakes activity of crisis negotiation. • The paper examines 'behind-the-scenes' communication between teams of crisis negotiators. • We analysed UK police negotiations with suicidal people in crisis. • Data were transcribed and analysed using conversation analysis. • Negotiators plan their ongoing communication in terms of precise words and phrases. • In contrast to individual post hoc reflection, negotiators evaluate practice in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do 'green' environmental concerns – such as about biodiversity, climate change, pollution – deter citizens from having children? This paper reports the first longitudinal evidence consistent with that increasingly discussed hypothesis. It follows through time a random sample of thousands of initially childless men and women in the UK. The paper shows that those individuals who are committed to a green lifestyle are found to be substantially less likely to go on later to have offspring. Probit and Weibull survival models are estimated. The results are robust to controlling for people's age, education, income, marital status, mental health, life satisfaction, optimism, and physical health. The paper's key estimated effect-size is substantial. A person entirely unconcerned about environmental behaviour is estimated to be just over 50% more likely to go on to have a child than a deeply committed environmentalist. • Will fertility decline because humans become so concerned about environmental damage? • Using UK data on thousands of randomly selected young adults, we provide the first longitudinal evidence that those who have environmental concerns and act in a 'green' way go on to have fewer children. • The estimated effect-size is large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of energy and climate policy is usually seen as an 'expert' domain, relying on technical tools such as economic analysis. However, policy requires the support of politicians and citizens alike, through the democratic process. Many policies, such as reducing carbon emissions from homes and transport, also affect people's lives directly. It is thus necessary to supplement technical analysis with methods that allow an exploration of people's views, values and behaviours. One such method is codesign, whereby groups of citizens work with policy analysts to develop strategies informed by the lived experience of citizens, as well as the specialist knowledge of analysts. There is a history of co-design approaches in public services such as healthcare, but there have been few attempts to co-design public policy measures. This paper reports on a Citizens' Panel, a representative group of people working with specialists to create co-designed policy recommendations for reducing carbon emissions from homes. The process revealed that policy co-design can provide detailed, viable proposals. In this case, panellists emphasised the necessity of leadership and support from government; tailored, consistent information; targeted regulation; and financial incentives. Finally, the wider potential role for policy co-design for energy and climate is addressed. • Co-design processes are widely used but rarely applied to the design of energy and climate policy. • Co-design processes can embed citizen perspectives in policy design. • The paper reports on an experimental panel on home energy decarbonisation. • Co-design can ensure that policies are effective and will gain support of politicians and publics. • Changes to cultures of policymaking are needed to embed such approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main road widening can reduce the clearance of the low-level underpass road, restricting the passage of vehicles and leading to collisions with structures. Therefore, checking the clearance of the underpass road effectively should be considered at the design stage. This paper describes a digital twin approach for checking the clearance of underpass roads in highway widening projects using online map data. The underpass road digital twin and BIM model of the newly widened road based on the existing main road digital twin are created to assist the clearance check and redesign. The proposed method presented a cost-effective clearance check for underpass roads in road widening design without field surveys and was successfully implemented in an underpass road in the UK. In future research, more digital twin methods for overpasses, bridges, tunnels, and traffic safety facilities should be employed comprehensively to assist more road widening applications. • A novel approach is presented to check the underpass road clearance in the road widening project. • A method for building road digital twins from online map data is proposed. • A systematic method for road widening based on the digital twin is proposed. • According to the clearance check, the underpass road can be redesigned to increase the insufficient clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent times there has been a rise in the number of objects placed into Earth orbit. With various countries licensing a number of large constellations, the orbital population is set to increase dramatically. A significant number of technical advances have facilitated this and, in the UK and elsewhere, this has been matched by the updating of legislation and an increased policy focus on the need for increased space surveillance and tracking. The rise of large constellations coupled with an increasing number of experimental techniques such as active debris removal or on-orbit servicing procedures means that establishing fault will be crucial if litigation is to be successful. In doing this, any legal proceedings will look at both norms of behaviour, deviation from which will point towards fault and the types and standard of evidence that will be required. This paper will outline these problems in detail. It will be proposed that what is required to map out the contours of liability are both codification of the norms for satellite operations and clarity on protocols for evidence gathering in cases where fault may be contested in orbital operations. This discussion will identify that a way in which this could be achieved is by the use of "space law games". These are simulations, similar to military war games, in which fictional scenarios could highlight some of the key legal issues that might need to be dealt with. The paper will outline some of the ways in which the law games might work and pose questions as to what data and other considerations will be needed to make such simulations meaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative social and environmental consequences caused by corporate activities (e.g., workplace incidents, oil spills, and product-related accidents) can significantly affect the success and survival of a business. When there is bad news to report, how will companies handle the information disclosure? This paper examines discursive strategies UK and Chinese Fortune 500 companies used for communicating negative aspects in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. Based on 50 UK and 50 Chinese CSR reports, the study shows how companies legitimize the bad news via the strategies of Denial, Deflection, Mitigation and Admission. Two major differences were observed in the legitimation efforts made by Chinese and UK companies: i) almost all legitimation strategies were more frequently found in UK reports, and ii) UK reports mobilized a wider range of linguistic and rhetorical resources for realizing the strategies. The paper discusses the results by considering cultural, social, and organizational factors that may shape CSR discourse in the two countries. Findings add to the understanding of crisis communication and image repair strategies used by large corporations and the genre of CSR reporting in different cultures. • Legitimation strategies used by UK and Chinese companies were investigated. • 50 UK and 50 Chinese corporate social responsibility reports were analysed. • Chinese companies relied mainly on strategies of Deflection and Corrective Actions. • UK companies employed a wider range of linguistic and rhetorical tactics. • Findings reveal differences in the genre of CSR reporting in the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to air quality concerns and stricter carbon targets, surface transport electrification is quickly spreading, posing questions on the impact it will have on national and local electrical networks. This paper proposes an agent-based model to assess the per-minute weekday and weekend impact of the uptake of Electric Vehicles (EVs) over the next decade on local electrical and charging infrastructures, aimed at local decision-makers and stakeholders for transport electrification forecasting purposes. This study compares two scenarios, the first assessing the case where no restrictions are imposed on the daily charging events, and the second scenario where the peak electrical demand period between 5pm and 8.30pm is constrained for charging. Swindon Borough is selected as case study since it has one of UK's highest EV adoption rates and has ambitious aims for decarbonisation. The results show that, over time, scenario two consistently lessened the constraints imposed on the grid by lowering the weekday and weekend peak loads up to 7% and 20%, respectively, and through lowering the usage rate of the charging infrastructure by around 12%. This scenario postponed the 5pm to 8.30pm EV charging demand to later hours, resulting in delayed load waves in residential areas that, over time, took values of higher proportion of the daily peak, forecasted to match it by 2036. However, controlling the EV demand through this strategy became less effective over time, and so, constraining charging between 7am and 2.30pm is suggested for further control. To conclude, this scenario can be portrayed in reality by adding flexibility to the grid, through the use of time-of-use tariffs (TOUTs), hence, if well implemented, postponing the upgrade of the grid and the charging infrastructure, presenting savings to the network operator, charging network stakeholders and EV users. The paper thus highlights the advantages of using a model of a heterogeneous population with fine spatial and temporal detail to provide decision-support to key stakeholders in planning energy transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the potential implications of the proposed European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the recently adopted United Kingdom (UK) legislation on deforestation-free supply chains (henceforth 'the legislation') for different stakeholders in Brazil. These regulations intend to address global commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation by ensuring that targeted commodities and products placed on (or exported from) markets are of minimal risk of being associated with - in the EU - deforestation and forest degradation or - in the UK - illegal deforestation. The paper examines potential compliance readiness in cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soybean and tropical timber supply chains in Brazil, indicating specific challenges that may arise. Through the construction of a "Compliance Likelihood Index", our research provides comparable indications to policymakers on sectors and stakeholders that may need stronger support to meet the requirements, in order to maintain Brazil's access to EU and UK markets. The paper indicates that coffee is the sector with the highest level of incentivization and smallest hurdles for compliance, while the cattle sector may face stronger challenges to rapidly adjust its production system towards a deforestation-free value chain and prove compliance. Results of our analysis also highlight the need for collaboration between the EU/UK and Brazil in order to promote alignment between domestic and demand-side legislations so that they are mutually reinforcing. Results of this exercise, which has a focus on the producer-country view of demand-side legislation, will contribute to discussions on the merits of different approaches to strengthen the governance of deforestation-risk commodity trade. [Display omitted] • Brazil's coffee sector may currently have the greatest likelihood of ready compliance. • Cattle may be the sector to which the regulations may pose the greatest challenges. • The EU and UK should focus on providing financial means and technical assistance for smallholders. • The EU and UK legislation will need to be accompanied by domestic policies and regulations in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting social information disclosure can develop sustainable banking. This paper aims to evaluate the social sustainability of banks by constructing a new interval-based composite indicator using the Thomson Reuters database. In this paper, to measure the social sustainability of European banks, we propose an approach to construct interval-based composite indicators that usefully extends the construction of the composite indicator and allows us to measure the uncertainty generated by the choices made in the construction of the composite indicator. The methodological approach is based on Monte Carlo simulation and allows us to improve the information provided by the composite indicators. Thus, we measure the value of the social indicator and its subcomponents and the uncertainty of the value due to the different possible weightings. The results show that the best international ESG practices in European banks are found in French and British banks, especially in Italian ones. Finally, we analyze innovative perspectives and propose policy recommendations to support sustainable banking ecosystems in light of the increasing attention to ESG indicator disclosure and its correspondence to reality. • The best practices are found in French and U.K. banks. • Skandinavian banks face non-excellent results. • The work is a first attempt to elaborate on a specific social disclosure index. • Results are a valuable baseline to understand the actions to take. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metrology provides the underpinning science that supports the practical use of testing standards; ensuring that different users, be it academia, government or industry, develop a common language regarding the capabilities of many materials sectors. For the hardmetal community, after a century of fundamental and effective applications, it isn't surprising that there are already a considerable number of formal International Standards. For example, ISO and ASTM are well known [1], and over time these have evolved, with international consensus, from metrological studies. Currently important properties of hardmetals such as Stiffness, Density, Hardness, Toughness, Abrasion Resistance, Macroscopic Strength and Phase and Magnetic properties are comprehensively supported by these international standards. However, there are other testing strategies where improved knowledge could contribute to enhanced carbide functionality. These might include high resolution microscopy, indentation strength measurements, micro-tribology, thermal fatigue testing and modelling in all its diverse approaches which are not yet addressed through standards, though they often feature strongly in published academic papers. The hardmetal research community is international, diverse and productive in addressing these many facets and frequently embed metrological studies that are relevant to the practical characterisation of hardmetals. In the UK the Materials Group at the National Physical Laboratory, NPL, has a prime remit to focus on metrology and our contribution to the WC-Co 100 year anniversary publication provides some specifics of typical metrological issues that need further attention before addressing the formal stage of standardisation. In this celebratory paper we have chosen examples of recent metrological activities that fall under this remit and which have only partly been contributed to the scientific published domain. These five examples are High Hardness measurements, Dislocation Analysis, Micro-Tribology, Nanoindentation and Structural Characterisation. • Issues associated with high hardness metrologies. • Assessment of dislocations in WC using slip trace analysis. • Micro-tribology as a metrology tool for hardmetal wear. • Nanoindentation of WC crystals at ambient and high temperatures. • WC grain size issues using EBSD, especially in large data files. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of Big Data, the Internet has become one of the main data sources: Data can be collected for relatively low costs and can be used for a wide range of purposes. To be able to timely support solid decisions in any field, it is essential to increase data production efficiency, data accuracy, and reliability. In this framework, our paper aims at identifying an optimized and flexible method to collect and, at the same time, geolocate social media information over a whole country. In particular, the target of this paper is to compare three alternative methods to collect data from the social media Twitter. This is achieved considering four main comparison criteria: Collection time, dataset size, pre-processing phase load, and geographic distribution. Our findings regarding Great Britain identify one of these methods as the best option, since it is able to collect both the highest number of tweets per hour and the highest percentage of unique tweets per hour. Furthermore, this method reduces the computational effort needed to pre-process the collected tweets (e.g., showing the lowest collection times and the lowest number of duplicates within the geographical areas) and enhances the territorial coverage (if compared to the population distribution). At the same time, the effort required to set up this method is feasible and less prone to the arbitrary decisions of the researcher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows how existing methods of time series analysis and modeling can be exploited in novel ways to monitor and forecast the COVID-19 epidemic. In the past, epidemics have been monitored by various statistical and model metrics, such as evaluation of the effective reproduction number, R (t). However, R (t) can be difficult and time consuming to compute. This paper suggests two relatively simple data-based metrics that could be used in conjunction with R (t) estimation and provide rapid indicators of how the epidemic's dynamic behavior is progressing. The new metrics are the epidemic rate of change (RC) and a related state-dependent response rate parameter (RP), recursive estimates of which are obtained from dynamic harmonic and dynamic linear regression (DHR and DLR) algorithms. Their effectiveness is illustrated by the analysis of COVID-19 data in the UK and Italy. The paper also shows how similar methodology, combined with the refined instrumental variable method for estimating hybrid Box–Jenkins models of linear dynamic systems (RIVC), can be used to relate the daily death numbers in the Italian and UK epidemics and then provide 15-day-ahead forecasts of the UK daily death numbers. The same approach can be used to model and forecast the UK epidemic based on the daily number of COVID-19 patients in UK hospitals. Finally, the paper speculates on how the state-dependent parameter (SDP) modeling procedures may provide data-based insight into a nonlinear differential equation model for epidemics such as COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores distinct usages of the response particle right in American versus British English conversation. The analysis shows that, in American English, right conveys the speaker's knowing stance and, in certain environments, the speaker's claim of primary knowledge. In contrast, in British English, right registers provided information as previously unknown, informative, and relevant to the current speaker's ongoing project. The analysis draws on large corpora of audio- and video-recorded ordinary and institutional interactions in British and American English. We use the methodology of Conversation Analysis to examine sequential environments in which right is used, its interactional import, and prosodic realizations. • The response particle right is used differently in US versus UK English interaction. • In US English, right coneys a knowing stance and sometimes epistemic authority. • In UK English, right registers information as previously unknown but informative. • Implications of these findings are discussed. • The study employs Conversation Analysis to examine diverse data corpora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-use of climate information is often attributed to scientists failing to understand what decision-makers need. In response, co-production offers one promising method to improve the usability, and therein, use of climate information. Yet it remains unclear to what extent usability and use are linked, or if other factors influence the non-use of climate information. This paper critically examines two efforts to co-produce climate information for UK adaptation decision-making: the first and second cycles of the climate change risk assessment to gather evidence and then inform the national adaptation programme. To do this, a mixed methods approach was used: (i) textual analysis of official Government documents, and (ii) in-depth interviews with key actors. Our research found that the institutional-political context in which climate information is produced and used, played a significant role in defining who the user should be, how the data analysis was performed, and the extent to which that information was used. Just because something is co-produced does not mean it will be usable, nor does something that's usable automatically mean it will be used. Unless new research seeks to better understand how the modes of production (linear vs. co-production) influence the use of climate information, who uses it, and how it's used, questions will remain over whether the right barriers to climate inaction have been tackled. • Co-production promises to improve the usability and use of climate information. • We conducted an interview and document analysis of the UK's climate change risk assessments. • Use and usability of climate information differ. • More research is needed on the difference co-production makes to use and usability of climate information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author's provides a review of the literature using a systematic literature review of the lean tool and lean construction papers published in the time frame from 2008 to 2018. The papers selected from the Scopus database by using the following filters: ten top-rated journals selected on the basis of cite score form Scopus, the only article having a key words "lean construction", or "Lean tool" were selected, only engineering and material science article selected, and the last only journal article was selected. The search result filters the 48 articles out of 944 articles. The findings of the study conclude that only a few tool and techniques were explored a number of times by the researchers. On the other hand, few countries were dominating in terms of publication were the UK, and the USA has 15, 14 articles respectively. There is not a single article from India in the selected papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic grading is not a new approach but the need to adapt the latest technology to automatic grading has become very important. As the technology has rapidly became more powerful on scoring exams and essays, especially from the 1990s onwards, partially or wholly automated grading systems using computational methods have evolved and have become a major area of research. In particular, the demand of scoring of natural language responses has created a need for tools that can be applied to automatically grade these responses. In this paper, we focus on the concept of automatic grading of short answer questions such as are typical in the UK GCSE system, and providing useful feedback on their answers to students. We present experimental results on a dataset provided from the introductory computer science class in the University of North Texas. We first apply standard data mining techniques to the corpus of student answers for the purpose of measuring similarity between the student answers and the model answer. This is based on the number of common words. We then evaluate the relation between these similarities and marks awarded by scorers. We consider an approach that groups student answers into clusters. Each cluster would be awarded the same mark, and the same feedback given to each answer in a cluster. In this manner, we demonstrate that clusters indicate the groups of students who are awarded the same or the similar scores. Words in each cluster are compared to show that clusters are constructed based on how many and which words of the model answer have been used. The main novelty in this paper is that we design a model to predict marks based on the similarities between the student answers and the model answer. We argue that computational methods be used to enhance the reliability of human scoring, and not replace it. Humans are required to calibrate the system, and to deal with situations that are challenging. Computational methods can provide insight into which student answers will be found challenging and thus be a place human judgement is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero‑carbon electricity is a pre-requisite for decarbonisation of the wider economy and many scenarios envisage rapid expansion of renewables. IEA estimates a need to double the annual rate of investment to 2030. A rapid transition to low carbon electricity creates a risk to investors because projects being financed now will generate their revenue in a zero‑carbon electricity system for which there is no track record of price formation. Although the cost of renewable power has fallen greatly, future revenues from renewables are still affected by market price risks that are often outside the control of generators. If risks are difficult to quantify, they may be mis-priced, leading to inefficient premiums being added to the cost of capital, which could increase the overall cost of the transition. In this context many countries around the world provide support for low carbon energy, such as the UK Contracts for Difference. In this paper we investigate exposure to price risk caused by uncertainty over the mix of technologies used to achieve decarbonisation, which we term 'transition risk', and how this varies under different technology mixes, and for different policy regimes. We show that exposing investors to transition risk could increase the cost of delivering the renewables needed for a zero‑carbon electricity system by around 25% or £7bn/year compared to policy options that reduce exposure to wholesale market price risk. The paper concludes that as long as transition risks remain high, de-risking policy mechanisms can help to minimise the overall cost of achieving net-zero. • We characterise the current stage of the low-carbon transition as a 'build phase', requiring large volumes of investment • Uncertainty over the final physical state of the decarbonised system causes significant financial risk to investors • 'Contracts for difference' (CfDs) help to manage this 'transition risk' and reduce the cost of capital for projects • Exposing projects fully to transition risk could increase costs by a third, and raise the cost of transition by £7bn per year [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A net-zero DN model composed of solely non-dispatchable DGs and BESSs has been considered to tackle severe windstorms. • The proposed framework is particularly effective in DNs with high shares of converter-based DGs. • The proposed three-stage resilience assessment can provide up to 25 percent load shedding reduction. • A detailed spatiotemporal representation of the DN was implemented to accurately estimate the status of the grid. Increasing incidences of extreme weather events pose significant challenges to the electrical grids in terms of the ability to withstand those high-impact eventualities. This paper proposes a resilience assessment framework for net-zero active distribution networks (ADNs) to tackle the impacts of extreme windstorms where only renewable energy resources (RESs) and battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are considered. To accurately capture the influence of windstorms on the grid, a detailed spatiotemporal representation of grid system assets and their exposure to the wind has been implemented. The suggested day-ahead resilience assessment is based on a three-stage approach. The first stage computes the probabilities of failure of each line and determines the most vulnerable ones. The second stage obtains the optimal grid configuration based on the outcomes of the first stage given the available non-dispatchable RESs and commits the available resources in each island to minimize the loss of load during the windstorm. If such a value is still larger than zero after the second stage, a novel voltage regulation scheme is applied in the third stage, taking advantage of the RESs and BESSs in each island. The proposed resilience assessment has been evaluated using the IEEE 33-bus test system with the meteorological data retrieved from an actual windstorm event occurred in the UK on the 20th of February. The outcomes of this paper underscore that a significant reduction in load shedding during such extreme events can be achieved, thus having a notable enhancement to the overall resilience of the system. Finally, the performance of this approach is compared with other resilience-oriented methods for windstorms, where the benefits of using the scheme reported in this paper are highlighted and quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat released from the disposal of High-Heat-Generating Waste (HHGW) in a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) will result in an increase in temperature, and therefore thermal expansion of both the engineering materials and surrounding rocks. The changes to the stress state arising from the thermal expansion of these materials, restrained by the surrounding rock mass, could affect several of the Thermal, Hydraulic, and Mechanical (THM) processes that operate after closure of a GDF. In this paper a methodology is described which suggests how the influence of thermal stress on fracture aperture around a GDF can be evaluated. A set of calculations on an illustrative Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) are reported. These calculations estimate the responses of the fractures to changes in rock stress, considering changes in fracture aperture and the resultant changes to effective intrinsic permeability. • This paper provides a methodology to describe the influence of thermal stress on fracture aperture. • It uses a, realistic, but illustrative 3D fracture network involving several million finite elements. • Fracture apertures were found to be reduced in a region around and beneath the GDF due to compressive stresses. • The maximum decrease in fracture apertures in the vicinity of the GDF was by a factor of about 2. • The changes in fracture aperture led to a modified effective permeability of the rock mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An innovative dew point cooling system was designed, constructed, installed and real live tested in live data centre. • The system can provide continuously stable cooling air and maintain the required temperature and humidity in data centre. • The average COP of 29.7 was achieved during the testing period. • 90 % energy saving can be achieved for data centre cooling. • Suitability, stability and reliability of the system used in data centre environment were proved. This paper presents the development and application of a super performance dew point cooling technology for data centres. The novel super performance dew point cooler showed considerably improved energy saving and carbon reduction for data centre cooling. The innovations of this technology are built upon a series of technological breakthroughs including, a novel hybrid flat/corrugated heat and mass exchanging sheets, an innovative highly water absorptive and diffusive wet-material for the sheets which enable an intermittent water supply with well-tuned water pressure and flow rate, and the optimised fan configurations. Following a list of fundamental research including theoretical, numerical and lab experimental testing of a small scale prototype system, a specialist 100 kW rated data centre dew point cooling system was dedicated designed, constructed, installed and real life tested in an operational live data centre environment, i.e., Maritime Data Centre at Hull (UK) to investigate its dynamic performance, suitability and stability for application in operational data centre environment conditions. During the testing period, the system showed its reliability and capability to remove a tremendous amount of heat dissipated from the IT equipment and maintain an adequate space temperature in the operational live data centre. The dynamic data collection and analysis during the continuous testing and monitoring period showed the average COP of 29.7 with the maximum COP of 48.3. Compared to the existing traditional vapor compression air conditioning system in the data centre, the energy saving using the super performance dew point cooling system is around 90 %. The work presented in this paper include detailed innovation aspects of the technology and the system operation, as well as the established bridging knowledges, methodology and technical procedure for bringing this new technology into real life operation which involve in data centre survey, optimum design and modularization of the specialist cooling system for data centre application, proven system installation, operating method and cooling air management for data centre as well as the assurance of the continuous sufficient cooling supply to the data centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined two related aspects in pragmatic knowledge: namely, knowledge of the contexts in which certain linguistic forms are prototypically used (i.e. form-context mappings), and the indexical meanings which are produced when a form is used in a particular context. We employed one-to-one metapragmatic interviews with 30 L1 Korean speakers, 28 L2 Korean learners in the UK as well as eight group interviews with 26 of the learners. The interviews focused on the participants' understanding of the Korean first-person honorific pronoun ce in relation to its non-honorific equivalent na. The findings revealed that, while the learners' understanding of the contexts in which ce is normally used was fairly similar to L1 speakers, the indexical meanings that they associated with the form-context mappings differed saliently from that of L1 speakers. In addition, the learners struggled to align with the L1 speakers' meaning interpretations and made unsuccessful attempts to incorporate them into their existing indexical systems. The findings thus demonstrate that form-context mappings represent only one part of L2 learners' pragmatic competence. Future research and pedagogical efforts are encouraged to take into consideration the indexical meanings that underly language usage and help learners make more informed linguistic choices. • This paper examines two related aspects of pragmatics: form-context mappings and indexical meanings. • Second language learners had native-like understanding of the contexts in which a linguistic form is normally used. • However, they differed from the L1 speakers significantly in their interpretations of indexical meanings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fine and equiaxed solidification process delivers multidimensional benefits to Mg-alloys, such as improved castability, reduced casting defects, enhanced mechanical properties, increased corrosion resistance and potential for increased recycled contents. Despite extensive research on grain refinement of Mg-alloys in the last few decades, currently, there is no effective grain refiner available for refining Mg-Al alloys, and our current understanding of grain refining mechanisms is not adequate to facilitate the development of effective grain refiners. Under the EPSRC (UK) LiME Hub's research program, substantial advances have been made in understanding the early stages of solidification covering prenucleation, heterogeneous nucleation, grain initiation and grain refinement. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of grain refinement of Mg-alloys by native MgO particles. We show that native MgO particles can be made available for effective grain refinement of Mg-alloys by intensive melt shearing regardless of the alloy compositions. More importantly, we demonstrate that (1) the addition of more potent exogenous particles will not be more effective than native MgO; and (2) MgO particles are difficult to be made more impotent for grain refinement through promoting explosive grain initiation. We suggest that the most effective approach to grain refinement of Mg-alloys is to make more native MgO particles available for grain refinement through dispersion, such as by intensive melt shearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have investigated the distribution of greenhouse gas emissions associated with household consumption, highlighting that richer households have a substantially larger carbon footprint than poorer households. While these studies have typically used income or household expenditures as a proxy of households' living standards, the association between emissions and wealth has hardly been studied. Wealth is not just an important component of households' material living standards, known to be imperfectly correlated with income and expenditures, but it is also a very relevant dimension for climate policies. For instance, affluent households have more scope to invest in reducing emissions (e.g. insulation of their homes). Therefore, in this paper, we compare the inequality of emissions over wealth groups as well as groups defined by other living standard concepts such as income, expenditure and the joint distribution of income and wealth to add a focus on wealth to the analysis of emission inequality. Our study focuses on Belgium and the United Kingdom, which differ considerably in their level of wealth inequality. Our results highlight that the social distribution of emissions varies between expenditures, income, wealth and the joint distribution of income and wealth, with per capita emissions being more strongly associated with the joint distribution of income and wealth than with income alone. We also show that a significant share of households has both low income and low wealth, and may thus be lacking the means to prepare for a carbon-neutral future. Although increasing wealth taxation could provide much-needed revenues for low carbon investments, our results suggest that it would have a lower direct impact on the level of emissions and emission inequality compared to increasing taxes on high incomes. • Wealth is positively correlated with emissions. • Emission inequality according to wealth is higher than according to income. • People with low income and low wealth face a cumulative disadvantage. • Wealth inequality is a relevant dimension when designing climate policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting the goal of reaching zero emissions by 2050 requires profound changes in the production of bulk materials, cement and concrete. For construction sector, this transition is also dependent on the evolution of demand, stemming from changes in the population structure and practice in structural design. Many timelines have been produced suggesting pathways to zero emissions, but none have looked at the required investment level, or the feasibility of transition looking at the level of single plants being shut, transformed or built within a single country. In this paper, we have looked at transition pathways in the United Kingdom as a function of the available funding and the possible emergence of transformative technologies. We find that trade is a necessary component of the transition, allowing for continued construction while the production apparatus is upgraded. Our results further suggest that the current level of investment is consistent with today's carbon price but falls short of what is necessary to achieve net zero by 2050. Finally we find that pathways assuming that CCS will be available at scale are particularly susceptible to overshoot their emissions target if the technological deployment fails to materialise. This is because they combine heavy investments, immature technology and concentrated risk. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to introduce an artificial intelligence approach to enhance short-term daily streamflow forecasts through the integration of machine learning (ML) techniques with meta -heuristic (MH) algorithms. To maximize performance, a comprehensive analysis involving the autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation functions of the observed streamflow was conducted to derive ten distinct input combinations, from which the most suitable set was selected for investigation. Subsequently, six distinct ML methods, namely, decision trees, support vector regression, long short-term memory, gated recurrent unit, multi-layer perceptron, and radial basis function (as the optimal input combination), were leveraged to predict one-day-ahead streamflow. The most promising outcomes from these six explored methods were synergistically amalgamated to enhance predictive precision. This amalgamation was then optimized by utilizing parameter values hyper-tuned by four different MH algorithms. The algorithms included the shuffled frog leaping algorithm, particle swarm optimization, ant colony optimization (ACO), and gray wolf optimization (GWO). In culmination, a case study centered around the "Wick" river in the UK was conducted to rigorously evaluate the performance of the proposed method, utilizing a range of statistical evaluation indices. The results underscored the efficacy of the proposed combined method in substantially refining streamflow predictions, exhibiting an impressive level of accuracy. Additionally, the outcomes emphasized that ACO and GWO stand out as the optimal algorithms for calibrating the parameters of the amalgamated model. For instance, the R2 values attained by the combined models optimized through the ACO and GWO algorithms were 0.69422 and 0.69444, respectively. These values notably surpass those observed in the initial models, substantiating the superiority of the applied optimization approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been increasing attention within environmental science, policy and management on the application of natural capital approaches. Despite this, there is an evidence gap in terms of our current understanding of how natural capital and societal benefits are identified at the local scale. This paper presents a novel stakeholder-driven approach to participatory mapping which enables engagement of communities in natural capital discussions across a series of face-to-face workshops. A real-world application is presented for the Deben Estuary, Suffolk (UK); however, the methodological framework could be applied to any global ecosystem (terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, marine, urban) and community setting. All outputs developed and produced by the Deben Estuary stakeholders, who represent 26 different organisations, were used in subsequent workshops to support scenarios assessments and logic chain developments. The development of logic chains allow for the relationships between natural capital, benefits and beneficiaries to be viewed through multiple lenses, recognising the importance of natural capital in delivering societal benefits and the reliance of beneficiaries on those benefits and the natural capital which underpins them. From a management perspective, the results of this study help to identify which benefits, and therefore which beneficiaries, may be impacted by an intervention, and what direction that impact may take. [Display omitted] • There is increasing attention in science and policy on natural capital approaches. • Evidence gap of how natural capital and benefits are identified at the local scale. • Participatory mapping is advocated to support local natural capital discussions. • Logic chains enable relationships to be viewed through multiple lenses. • The 10-step stakeholder-driven framework has global relevance across all ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have demonstrated the capability of data-driven modelling based on on-site measurements to characterise the thermal performance of building envelopes. Currently, such methods include steady-state and dynamic heating experiments and have mainly been applied to scale models and unoccupied test buildings. Nonetheless, it is proposed to upscale these concepts to characterise the thermal performance of in-use buildings based on on-board monitoring (OBM) devices which gather long-term operational data (e.g., room temperatures, gas and electricity consumption...). It remains, however, to be proven whether in-use data could be a cost-effective, practical and reliable alternative for the dedicated tests whose more intrusive measurements require on-site inspections. Furthermore, it is presently unclear what the optimal experimental design of the OBM would be and which data analysis methods would be adequate. This paper presents a first step in bridging this knowledge gap, by using on-board monitoring data to characterise the overall heat loss coefficient (HLC) [W/K] of an occupied, well-insulated single-family house in the UK. With the aid of a detailed building physical framework and specifically selected data subsets a sensitivity analysis is carried out to analyse the impact of the measurement set-up, the duration of the measurement campaign and the applied data analysis method. Although the exact HLC of the building is unknown and no absolute errors could hence be calculated, this paper provides a new understanding of the decisions that have to be made during the process from design of experiment to data analysis. It is demonstrated that such judgements can lead to differences in the mean HLC estimate of up to 89.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between people's feelings about dirt, and an apparent reduction in the lifetime of vacuum cleaners. The short life-spans of vacuum cleaners is a significant environmental issue. In addition to the waste generated, they have an impact on climate change: vacuum cleaners account for the second largest embodied greenhouse gas emissions of electrical goods in the UK after televisions, largely because of their high sales volumes. Drawing from qualitative and quantitative research undertaken for the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the paper demonstrates that one motivation for vacuum cleaner replacement is the increased enjoyment from dirt removal that a new vacuum cleaner may provide. The paper also shows that premature disposal can occur once a product becomes dirty and visually damaged, and whilst functional, is perceived to be less effective. Solutions to premature disposal were explored through the co-creation of design concepts and design features were tested via an online survey. Vacuum cleaner users were clustered into four cleaner types; Spartan, Minimal, Caring and Manic. Overall, respondents reported that improving the ease of maintaining vacuum cleaners would be the most effective way to help them to increase their vacuum cleaner's longevity. Across all cleaner types maintenance levels were low, although Caring and Manic cleaners were significantly more likely to undertake such tasks. Motivations for disposal were similar across cleaner types and we found no evidence that Caring and Manic cleaners disposed of their machines earlier because they were 'worn out.' We discovered that Caring and Manic cleaners spend the most on their vacuum cleaners, vacuum more often and are the most likely to replace their machine after the shortest period. Those willing to do 'a lot more' to help the environment were significantly more likely to want to 'keep the floors in my home spotlessly clean' and significantly more likely to indicate that they preferred their vacuum cleaner to look new. Consequently, the paper proposes that design interventions to increase vacuum longevity should be targeted toward Caring and Manic cleaners and concludes with key design recommendations for these two cleaner types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK is facing tremendous challenges in tackling food waste diversion from landfill. Whilst much effort has been made to prevent food waste, there is still a lack of attention and strategic approach in dealing with resource recovery and valorisation of food waste. This paper presents a systematic framework for sustainable organic waste management and valorisation in the UK through (i) review of current policy framework; (ii) analysis of resource recovery potential from food waste at national, community and organisational levels; (iii) proposition of alternative waste management strategies; and (iv) examination of challenges and opportunities with respect to economic, environment and social dimensions of sustainability of waste management strategies. The paper explores valorisation of source-segregated food waste and mixed waste from the supermarket and households into electricity and transportation fuels, through partially and completely decentralised configurations using anaerobic digestion and gasification technologies. This study demonstrates a potential for reducing the cost of electricity and greenhouse gas emissions of one supermarket store by 12% when adopting partially decentralised food waste anaerobic digestion strategy, and full substitution of fossil fuel based electricity with net surplus renewable electricity generation through complete decentralisation of mixed waste gasification. Therefore, a more integrated, circular and advanced technological approach in waste management should be undertaken as it can lead to a wider range of socio-economic and environmental advantages to the local community, highly essential in the UK. Image 1 • Valorisation of waste closer to the source promotes resource circularity. • A synergistic approach is robust in addressing challenges in waste management. • Technology and configuration determine the viability of valorisation strategies. • Decentralised waste management enhances community participation. • A supportive fiscal incentive scheme promotes uptake of waste valorisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many higher education institutions have started to develop academic curricula, research capacity and outreach activities related to circular economy. However, little is known yet on how to apply circular economy thinking to sustainable campus management. In an attempt to address this gap, this paper proposes a methodological framework and guidance to help universities develop a circular economy strategy aimed at improving resource efficiency and environmental sustainability of their campus operations. The approach is compatible with sustainability management frameworks as it follows the well-known iterative process of planning, doing, checking and improving. The framework involves three main steps: analysis of current situation with respect to circular economy within the organisation; stakeholder engagement to get a buy-in and inform the development of a circular economy strategy; and implementation of the strategy following the guidelines provided within the framework. Application of the framework is illustrated through a case of the University of Manchester, demonstrating how circular economy principles can be used to benchmark existing sustainability policies and action plans. The paper also shows how engaging key stakeholders can be used to identify challenges and opportunities for embedding circular economy thinking into the university's sustainability management systems. The proposed framework and the guidelines for implementation of circular economy thinking are generic and can be applied by any institution across the higher education sector. Image 1 • There is a lack of knowledge on how to implement circular economy in universities. • A simple but powerful framework is proposed to guide institutions in that process. • Application of the framework is illustrated through a real case of a large UK university. • Challenges and opportunities for CE are discussed based on stakeholder interviews. • Guidelines are provided for the development and implementation of a CE strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]