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The lack of evidence for growth convergence between economies has resulted in two responses in the literature. One response has been to challenge the basis of the neo-classical theory that predicts convergence resulting in models of endogenous growth. Another has been to condition convergence to a steady state that itself is a function of institutions, human capital, and historical factors. The finding of cross-country absolute convergence in recent decades published in the NBER Macroeconomic Annual of 2022 has raised a further issue – what is meant by convergence? Papers presented at the Convergence and Determinants of Growth and Productivity workshop in 2023 at the University of Nottingham addressed this issue head on and extended the notion of convergence beyond economies to markets. This Special Issue publishes a selection of papers from the workshop covering methodology, cross-country, single country, and markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bio- and thermal degradation as well as the water absorption properties of a novel biocomposite comprising cellulose nanoparticles, natural rubber and polylactic acid have been investigated. The biodegradation process was studied through an assembled condition based on the soil collected from the central Malaysian palm oil forests located in the University of Nottingham Malaysia. The effects of the presence of the cellulose nanoparticles and natural rubber on the biodegradation of polylactic acid were investigated. The biodegradation process was studied via thermal gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. It was understood that the reinforcement of polylactic acid with cellulose nanoparticles and natural rubber increases the thermal stability by ~ 20 °C. Limited amorphous regions on the surface of the cellulose nanoparticles accelerated the biodegradation and water absorption processes. Based on the obtained results, it is predicted that complete biodegradation of the synthesised biocomposites can take place in 3062 h, highlighting promising agricultural applications for this biocomposite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proven to be the gold-standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection in clinical settings. The most common approaches rely on nasopharyngeal specimens obtained from swabs, followed by RNA extraction, reverse transcription and quantitative PCR. Although swab-based PCR is sensitive, swabbing is invasive and unpleasant to administer, reducing patient compliance for regular testing and resulting in an increased risk of improper sampling. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a non-invasive one-step RT-qPCR assay performed directly on saliva specimens. The University of Nottingham Asymptomatic Testing Service protocol simplifies sample collection and bypasses the need for RNA extraction, or additives, thus helping to encourage more regular testing and reducing processing time and costs. We have evaluated the assay against the performance criteria specified by the UK regulatory bodies and attained accreditation (BS EN ISO/IEC 17,025:2017) for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. We observed a sensitivity of 1 viral copy per microlitre of saliva, and demonstrated a concordance of > 99.4% between our results and those of other accredited testing facilities. We concluded that saliva is a stable medium that allows for a highly precise, repeatable, and robust testing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misophonia is a condition of abnormal emotional responses to specific auditory stimuli. There is limited information available on the prevalence of this condition. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of misophonia in an undergraduate medical student population at the University of Nottingham. A secondary aim of this study was to assess the psychometric validity of the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-Miso-S) questionnaire tool in this population. The A-Miso-S was administered online to medical students at the University of Nottingham. To assess the validity of the A-Miso-S, a factor analysis was conducted. To determine prevalence and severity the results of the questionnaire were quantitatively analysed using SPSS. Actor analysis was conducted. Free text responses to one questionnaire item were analysed using a thematic approach. Responses were obtained from 336 individuals. Clinically significant misophonic symptoms appear to be common, effecting 49.1% of the sample population. This is statistically significantly higher prevalence than previous studies have found (p < 0.00001). Using the classification of the A-Miso-S, mild symptoms were seen in 37%, moderate in 12%, severe in 0.3% of participants. No extreme cases were seen. The A-Miso-S was found to be a uni-factorial tool, with good internal consistency. This study has provided new information on misophonia and validity of the A-Miso-S questionnaire in a sample population of UK undergraduate medical students. The results indicate that misophonia is a phenomenon that a significant proportion of medical students experience though only a small subset experience it severely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professor Mario Guagliano, Dr. Vincent Rat, and Dr. Katy Voisey have joined the editorial team of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology (JTST) as Associate Editors. Professor Guagliano is a mechanical engineering professor at Politecnico di Milano in Italy, with expertise in mechanical surface treatments and cold spray. Dr. Rat is a senior research scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and leads research on coatings by thermal spraying. Dr. Voisey is an associate professor at the University of Nottingham, specializing in coatings, corrosion, and laser materials processing. They join the existing team of Associate Editors at JTST. [Extracted from the article]

This simulation study is aimed to model a contemporary Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) CHP system having a 'heat and power' autonomy as well as a provision of demand-driven electrical supply to the grid. A novel nanowire-electrode PEMFC stack is adopted within this PEMFC CHP system so to effectively replace the existing natural gas fuelled durable solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) CHP system installed at David Wilson Millennium Eco-house at University of Nottingham. The energy savings, environmental, and economic performances of the proposed PEMFC system are determined and compared to the base case (SOFC) which is operated continuously to maintain a 1.5 kWe. While to meetup the highly fluctuating and seasonal demands of heating and power like in the UK, a PEMFC is more productive and advantageous over a SOFC. The proposed PEMFC unlike to the SOFC will be able to operate and adjust its output and turn down instantly as per changing conditions of ambient temperatures and loads in terms of electricity and heat. The results of the modelling predicted that as compared to the base case scenario, this PEMFC CHP system will efficiently reduce an annual CO2 emission by 65.99% and fiscal costs by 66.74% with a viable internal rate of return as 8.93% and benefit to cost ratio as 1.02. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Crops For the Future (CFF), as an entity, has established a broad range of research activities to promote the improvement and adoption of currently underutilised crops. This paper summarises selected research activities at Crops For the Future (CFF) in pursuit of its mission 'to develop solutions for diversifying future agriculture using underutilised crops'. CFF is a research company focussed on the improvement of underutilised crops, so that they might be grown and consumed more widely with benefits to human food and nutritional security; its founding guarantors were the Government of Malaysia and the University of Nottingham. From its base in Malaysia, it engages in research around the world with a focus on species and system diversification. CFF has adopted a food system approach that adds value by delivering prototype food, feed and knowledge products. Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) was adopted as an exemplar crop around which to develop CFF's food system approach with emphasis on the short-day photoperiod requirement for pod-filling and the hard-to-cook trait. Selective breeding has allowed the development of lines that are less susceptible to photoperiod but also provided a range of tools and approaches that are now being exploited in other crops such as winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), moringa (Moringa oleifera) and proso (Panicum miliaceum) and foxtail (Setaria italica) millets. CFF has developed and tested new food products and demonstrated that several crops can be used as feed for black soldier fly which can, in turn, be used to feed fish thereby reducing the need for fishmeal. Information about underutilised crops is widely dispersed; so, a major effort has been made to develop a knowledge base that can be interrogated and used to answer practical questions about potential exploitation of plant and nutritional characteristics. Future research will build on the success with Bambara groundnut and include topics such as urban agriculture, rural development and diversification, and the development of novel foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In celebration of International Women's Day, on 6 March 2020 the University of Nottingham hosted its second Women in Chemistry conference. Or, as branded by a security guard at the host building, a 'chemical ladies' meeting'. Victoria Richards recounts the event and shares key take-home messages from the speakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay studies the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University-the two Chinese campuses established respectively by the University of Nottingham and the University of Liverpool. They represent successful models of globalization of higher education in China; however their rationale, strategies, curricula, partnership, and orientation are very different. Through a comparative analysis, the paper reveals their unique development and offers a template for studies of globalization of higher education in China and elsewhere through branch campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper arises from a dissertation submitted to the University of Nottingham towards a Masters Degree in Clinical Education. The purpose of the paper is to describe and name the process that the dental profession is experiencing. The authors will argue that this phenomenon has all the hallmarks of an industrialisation process. It will become clear that this industrialisation process is not confined to the dental profession in the UK. The key drivers for this process are described, followed by the results and analysis of a small-scale research project designed to explore the reactions of professionals to the new methods of working. Finally, there is a discussion of the implications for dental education in this new era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethical matrix approach was developed by Prof Ben Mepham and his colleagues at the University of Nottingham in the early 1990s. Since then the approach has received increasing attention and has been used by several researchers in different projects related to assessing ethical impacts of different food production technologies and other policy options of societal concern. The ethical matrix is sometimes understood simply as a checklist of ethical concerns, but might also be seen as a guide to coming to conclusions on moral questions. The problem I discuss in this paper relates to how using the ethical matrix method as a decision guide can be combined with respecting pluralism. The aim of the paper is to suggest a framework making it possible to -- at the same time -- enhance public justification of judgments and respect pluralism. I argue that pluralism is fundamental to the ethical matrix approach; I distinguish between intuitionist principled pluralism and societal value pluralism; and I show how both kinds of pluralism imply restrictions on how conclusions can be made. No substantive moral decision principles can be allowed. Still, I argue, decision principles of a more epistemological or procedural character can be acceptable even within pluralism. The pragmatist principle of inquiry is defended as an account of moral problem solving compatible with both principled pluralism and value pluralism. When an ethical matrix is used within such a participatory inquiry process substantive conclusions can be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of bridge health monitoring and management has been recognized by authorities of long-span bridges throughout the world in recent years. The GeoSHM consortium, led by the University of Nottingham, was awarded a Feasibility Study (FS) grant in 2013 by the European Space Agency (ESA) to investigate how to use integrated GNSS and Earth Observation technologies for the structural health monitoring of large bridges. During the GeoSHM FS period a small monitoring system was installed on the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland and the consortium have gathered huge data sets and rich experience regarding the design and implementation of GeoSHM according to essential user needs. This paper, based on the data from GNSS receivers installed on the two middle span sites and top of the southern tower of the Forth Road Bridge, intends to reveal the dynamic characteristics of the bridge. By using a moving average filter, Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) and the peak-picking approach, the three-dimensional (3D) displacement time series under ambient excitation were decomposed into long-period movement and dynamic vibration response. The results demonstrate that the movement of the Forth Road Bridge in lateral direction is mainly caused by wind loading, and the correlation is about 0.7. In vertical direction, the displacements of middle span sites under the normal traffic loadings can reach 0.3 m and because of the main cable linking the middle span and top of the tower, the longitudinal movement of the southern tower top site has a high correlation with the vertical displacements of middle span sites. It has been found that due to the stiffness of the tower the trend terms inside lateral and vertical time series mainly consist of multipath effect and quasi-static displacement. The dynamic vibration frequencies and corresponding motion amplitudes were also extracted. It is found that the first natural frequencies of the middle span of the Forth Road Bridge are 0.065 Hz, 0.15 Hz and 0.104 Hz for lateral, longitudinal and vertical directions, respectively. For the south tower, vibration frequencies of 0.18 Hz can be seen in all three directions, but 0.104 Hz is only visible in longitudinal component because of the cables linking the tower and middle span. It demonstrates that with a proper data mining approach both the low frequency responses and dynamic vibration characteristics of a large bridge under ambient loadings can be extracted from GNSS data sets. Thus, GeoSHM can be used by bridge owners as an effective tool to assess the operational conditions of the bridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's insights on the extension of the concept on self-assembly of molecules from porous two-dimensional networks to three dimensions, with a little help from fullerene molecules. He highlights the unique approach by Peter Beton, Neil Champness and colleagues from the University of Nottingham, showing a stacking pairs of two-dimensional (2D) porous molecular arrays to form a surface-supported supramolecular bilayer. He notes that Beton, Champness and colleagues attained success in realizing a 3D architecture through a transition from a 2D pattern through adding an appropriate guest molecule.

Presents brief news reports from the world of science as of February 2001. Chinese Academy of Sciences' denunciation of the banned Falun Gong sect; British government's efforts to save the proposed Daresbury laboratory in northern England; Withdrawal by Britain's Cancer Research Campaign of its pledge to support a research institute at Nottingham University, because British American Tobacco helps fund the university; Charles Elachi to become director of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The article offers a brief profile of author Janet Thornton who has written around 400 papers and has studied physics at the University of Nottingham.

The article offers information on the statement of Sir William Slater, the secretary of Agricultural Research Council at the University of Nottingham, which says that the universities should lead instead in contemporary thought in 1960, as well as the radiology and electricity congress held at Brussels, Belgium on September 13-15, 1910.

The article presents a research conducted by Martin Schroder at the University of Nottingham in England and his colleagues which investigated which parts of a series of copperbased metal organic frameworks (MOFs) were responsible for increasing the hydrogentrapping ability of the materials. MOFs are the focus of the research for a range of applications, including hydrogen storage. Related issues are further discussed.