Floating offshore wind farm installation, challenges and opportunities : a comprehensive survey

The deployment of floating offshore wind farms marks a pivotal step in unlocking the vast potential of offshore wind energy and propelling the world towards sustainable energy solutions. Despite the compelling prospects of floating wind technology, its implementation is challenging. Complex installation procedures, associated high costs, and evolving regulations can hinder widespread adoption. However, these challenges present opportunities for innovation and cost reduction. This paper delves into the technical, operational, and economic aspects of floating offshore wind farm installation, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art. The analysis goes beyond simply describing the current landscape by critically examining the complexities involved in floating offshore wind farm installation. It identifies critical research areas for advancing floating wind technology towards broader adoption and greater efficiency. The findings underscore the critical need for standardised foundation designs, advanced installation methods, and robust collaboration between academia and industry. By fostering such collaboration, for example, by creating research consortiums or knowledge-sharing platforms, the floating wind industry can accelerate advancements and unlock its full potential as a clean and sustainable energy source

Iridium-catalysed C(sp3)−H activation and hydrogen isotope exchange via nitrogen-based carbonyl directing groups

Growing interest in improved structural diversity within the pharmaceutical industry has led to a focus on more sp 3-rich drug frameworks. Meanwhile, spiralling pharmaceutical research and development costs continue to require expedited adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity studies, which are heavily reliant on the use of molecules incorporating deuterium and tritium. Herein, we report an iridium catalyzed C(sp 3)−H activation and hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) methodology capable of utilizing pharmaceutically ubiquitous nitrogen-based carbonyl directing groups. High levels of deuterium incorporation (>80% in 37 of the examples) are demonstrated across a range of substrates (5-, 6-, and 7-membered lactams, cyclic carbamates and ureas, acyclic amides), with tolerance of a range of common functional groups (aryl, alkoxy, halogen, ester, alcohol, sulfonamide) and predictable regioselectivity. The applicability of this methodology was demonstrated with up to 98% deuterium incorporation observed in a range of challenging bioactive molecules such as Nefiracetam, Praziquantel, and Unifiram. Density functional theory has provided mechanistic insight into the C−H activation and HIE at both the expected site of incorporation and an unexpected aryl labelling via a 7-membered metallocyclic intermediate

Functionalising silk hydrogels with hetero- and homotypic nanoparticles

Despite many reports detailing silk hydrogels, the development of composite silk hydrogels with homotypic and heterotypic silk nanoparticles and their impact on material mechanics and biology have remained largely unexplored. We hypothesise that the inclusion of nanoparticles into silk-based hydrogels enables the formation of homotropic and heterotropic material assemblies. The aim was to explore how well these systems allow tuning of mechanics and cell adhesion to ultimately control the cell–material interface. We utilised nonporous silica nanoparticles as a standard reference and compared them to nanoparticles derived from Bombyx mori silk and Antheraea mylitta (tasar) silk (approximately 100–150 nm in size). Initially, physically cross-linked B. mori silk hydrogels were prepared containing silica, B. mori silk nanoparticles, or tasar silk nanoparticles at concentrations of either 0.05% or 0.5% (w/v). The initial modulus (stiffness) of these nanoparticle-functionalised silk hydrogels was similar. Stress relaxation was substantially faster for nanoparticle-modified silk hydrogels than for unmodified control hydrogels. Increasing the concentrations of B. mori silk and silica nanoparticles slowed stress relaxation, while the opposite trend was observed for hydrogels modified with tasar nanoparticles. Cell attachment was similar for all hydrogels, but proliferation during the initial 24 h was significantly improved with the nanoparticle-modified hydrogels. Overall, this study demonstrates the manufacture and utilisation of homotropic and heterotropic silk hydrogels

Strengthening quality care in professional alternative child and youth care in group homes through continuing professional development

Between February 2021 and December 2022, a large-scale project developed the ‘curriculum for the dual practice-oriented continuing professional development for professionals in professional alternative child and youth care in group homes’ in Austria (FICE Austria, 2023). The project was initiated by FICE Austria. Sixteen experts from 20 organisations across Austria took part in developing the curriculum. It aims to further the development of the quality of care in professional alternative child and youth care settings in Austria. Existing and recognised training courses can only qualify professionals for alternative child and youth care settings to an extremely limited extent. This article presents the need for development and presents the cornerstones of the curriculum

Ideological capacities in consumer communities : an exploration of the "presenteers" tribe

Purpose: This study aims to explore how a postmodern tribe enacts and re-interprets ideologies as a part of consumers’ collective experience, to enhance our understanding of consumer communities in conjunction with ideological capacities. Design/methodology/approach: The community of “presenteers” is conceptualized as a self-organized tribe with heterogeneous components that generate capacities to act. Netnographic observation was conducted on 18 presenteer accounts and lasted around six months. Real-time data were collected by taking screenshots of the posts and stories that these users created and publicly shared. Data were analysed by adopting assemblage theory, combining inductive and deductive approaches. Firstly, a qualitative visual-textual content analysis of the tribe’s defining components was conducted. Then, the process continued with the thematic analysis of the ideological underpinnings of the tribe’s enactments. Findings: Findings shed light on the ways in which consumer communities interpret the entanglement of religious, political, and cultural ideologies in shaping their experiences. In the case of the presenteers tribe, findings reflect a novel ideological interplay between neo-Ottomanism, post-feminism and consumerism. Research limitations/implications: The study offers a deep dive into a unique tribe that is being organized around the consumer-created practice of “presenteering” and investigates consumer communalization in alignment with the ideological turn in culture-oriented interpretative research on consumers, consumption, and markets. This exploration helps to bridge the research on the communalization of consumers with the recent discussions of ideology in the postmodern market. Originality/value: The study offers a deep dive into a unique tribe that is being organized around the consumer-created practice of “presenteering” and investigates consumer communalization in alignment with the ideological turn in culture-oriented interpretative research on consumers, consumption, and markets. This exploration helps to bridge the research on the communalization of consumers with the recent discussions of ideology in the postmodern market

How nurturing is our children's house? Glasgow's multi-agency model of care

Within Glasgow, nurture is embedded within education services (Kearney & March, 2017). This article will explore the application of this approach into children’s houses (CHs) across the city through the ‘How Nurturing is our Children’s House (HNIOCH)’ programme

Feel what you feel : effects of Reiki on young people in secure and residential childcare?

Action research was used to examine the potential of Reiki as a valid treatment in support of trauma recovery for young people in residential and secure care in Scotland. An explanation of Reiki is provided along with an outline of the general presentation of young people in placement in these settings. Attention is given to the preparation and risk assessment of the treatment trial in terms of safety and trauma-informed practice. Nineteen young people self-selected to participate. The relationship between the Reiki experience and the number of incidents in the care setting is considered, alongside self-report feedback and behavioural observations. Overall participants were more relaxed, and Reiki had a positive effect on wellbeing. Limitations of Reiki for this client group are noted

A probabilistic approach to modelling ultrasonic shear wave propagation in locally anisotropic heterogeneous media

This article considers the propagation of a high-frequency time harmonic, elastic wave in a spatially heterogeneous, randomly layered material. The material is locally anisotropic, and the material properties change from one layer to the next by a random rotation of the associated slowness surface in the plane of wave propagation. The layer thicknesses and this rotation follow a stochastic (Markovian) process. This situation is found in ultrasonic wave propagation in polycrystalline materials; for example, in the ultrasonic non-destructive testing of welds and additively manufactured metallic components. This work focuses on monochromatic shear waves propagating in a two-dimensional plane. Using the differences in length scales between the ultrasound wavelength, the mean layer size, and the wave propagation distance, a small parameter is identified in the stochastic differential equation that emerges. Its infinitesimal generator leads to a Fokker-Planck equation via limit theorems involving this small parameter. A weak form of the Fokker-Planck equation is derived and then solved via a finite element package. The numerical solution to the Fokker-Planck equation is used to compute statistical moments of the power transmission coefficient. Finally, a parametric study on the effect of the degree of anisotropy (asphericity of the slowness surface) of the material on the transmitted energy is performed

Measurement-based harmonic analysis of electric vehicle smart charging

Smart charging of electric vehicles (EVs) is becoming a standard application for managing peak demand, deferring network reinforcements, and minimizing charging costs. While the existing literature primarily focuses on scheduling algorithms and strategies to improve voltage profiles, it has largely overlooked the investigation of harmonic emissions. This paper presents, for the first time, high-quality data on harmonic emission profiling of smart charging applied to three different mainstream EVs using both three- and single-phase AC charging

Economic commentary [March 2024]

Poor but improving: economy slowly recovers in line with expectations Economic data in early 2024 is showing that the economy is likely to be recovering hesitantly as expected, following the contractions in growth in the final part of 2023. This comes in the latest economic assessment from the Fraser of Allander Institute at Strathclyde University. The Institute’s quarterly Economic Commentary, which includes an assessment of all the latest key data on the UK and Scottish economies, is published today. In the Deloitte-sponsored Economic Commentary, the University of Strathclyde researchers have set out their latest forecasts for the Scottish Economy. The economists are forecasting growth of 0.6% in 2024, 1.1% in 2025 and 1.2% in 2026. These forecasts are unchanged from the previous assessment. Bright spots for the UK as a whole can be seen in the inflation data, with the latest showing that Consumer Price Inflation fell to 3.4% in February, adding to hopes that interest rate cuts are likely to be coming over the course of 2024. January GDP data for the UK also shows growth after a poor end to 2024. In Scotland, consumer sentiment has risen 4.8 points over the last quarter and 23 points over the year, indicating a significant improvement in sentiment across Scotland. However, most indicators remain in negative territory (i.e. more people being negative than positive about their circumstances) reflecting the challenging economic and financial pressures facing households. The latest assessment from the Fraser of Allander includes a real-time earnings tracker, a focus on the implications of the changes to the national minimum wage being introduced in April 2024, and an analysis of the major public policy priorities for citizens in Scotland. These include health care and the NHS, inequality & poverty, housing and cost of living. Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Institute, said “The mixed bag of economic news we are seeing for both Scotland and the UK at the moment could give reasons for either pessimism or optimism. “On the one hand, the economy returning to growth in January and inflation falling faster than expected support our view that we will return to growth in 2024 overall. On the other hand, this growth is fragile and may be blown off course by events, particularly given geopolitical uncertainty this year. “Our report chimes with other data released today by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, which also shows businesses displaying confidence and resilience in the face of challenges.” Douglas Farish, Head of Tax for Scotland at Deloitte, said “Although it’s encouraging that Scotland avoided a technical recession in the latter half of last year, this quarter’s Economic Commentary still paints an ambivalent view of the nation’s current economic position, with overall growth lacklustre in 2023.” “The cost-of-living crisis continues to take a toll on household finances, and our latest State of the State report found that 60 per cent of the Scottish public believe the crisis will get worse still, albeit dropping from 75 per cent last year.“ The Institute’s quarterly commentary also includes analysis of implications of the UK Budget on 6th March for Scotland, including the second National Insurance cut, the impact of the overall tax burden, and the impact of UK Government spending decisions on the Scottish Government’s Budget. João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Institute, said: “The lack of significant changes on resource and capital departmental spending further confirms the tough fiscal environment for the Scottish Government, and this will become apparent again when Deputy First Minister Shona Robison presents the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) on 30 May. “The 2023 MTFS had a £2.4 billion shortfall in funding built in for 2025-26, and with so much of the £1.5 billion shortfall in 2024-25 being filled by delaying projects, more difficult decisions are likely to be on the way. “This is not to say that the Scottish Government will not receive any additional spending consequentials from the UK Budget on 6th March. £295m in Barnett consequentials was generated for 2024-25 from the chancellor’s announcements.