Overconsumption in the global fashion industry: desire, power and capitalism

The global fashion industry is dealing with a litany of issues of its own making: ecological disasters, human rights abuses, carbon emissions, hazardous chemicals, overproduction, product dumping and overconsumption to name a few. Overconsumption supports the range of issues faced by the fashion industry today. Overconsumption makes growth possible in an already saturated fashion market. Few discussions to date have aimed to unpack the complicated and nuanced relationship consumers have to fashion companies, the role of power in that relationship and the impact of desire on consumer’s ability to effect change in their consumption habits. This chapter examines consumer narratives through Foucault and Barthes to understand how power and desire are employed in the shared language of fashion. Reflecting on 100 impromptu street interviews with fashion consumers in busy New York City shopping areas in Spring 2019, the relationship between fashion consumers and fashion companies and the nature of power in that relationship are probed. In better understanding the power dynamics between consumers and companies, fashion overconsumption can be unpacked and examined with the hope of finding ways to reduce the negative effects of this complicated issue

How not to deliver policies: lessons in undeliverability from the Conservative governments of 2019-2024

This article focuses on why, when and where government policies may become undeliverable. It therefore adds a distinctive dimension to the traditional analysis of policy failure, while also contributing to more solution-orientated analyses of effective policymaking. Its central argument is that ‘some policies are born undeliverable, some attain undeliverability and some have undeliverability thrust upon them’ and this is demonstrated through examination of five policy areas (‘levelling-up’, ‘a transport revolution’, ‘build and fund 40 new hospitals’, ‘take back control of borders’ and ‘fix our immigration system’). Using recent National Audit Reports and parliamentary inquiries this article offers an evidence-based focus on the twin dimensions of promises and processes as the key explanatory variables in understanding policy undeliverability. For British politics this argument regarding undeliverability has major implications as Keir Starmer seeks to pilot a new approach to mission-orientated policy making

Using a sober curious framework to explore barriers and facilitators to helping sexual minority women reduce alcohol-related harms: Protocol for a descriptive study

Background:Globally, women consume less alcohol than men, but alcohol consumption among women has declined less in recent years than among men. Drinking rates and alcohol-related harms vary substantially across population groups of women, and sexual minority women (eg, lesbian, bisexual, and queer) are at notably high risk. An emerging body of literature suggests that in addition to minority stress (eg, stigma, discrimination), drinking norms and drinking cultures likely influence sexual minority women’s drinking. Almost no research has explored these factors as possible targets of interventions. Sober curiosity is a rapidly growing wellness movement that may be particularly salient for sexual minority women. It encourages individuals to be “curious” about the reasons they choose to drink and alcohol’s effects on their life and health.Objective:The aims of this research are to (1) explore the perspectives of the drinking social worlds of sexual minority women, their awareness of the sober curious movement, perceptions of their own and their peers’ drinking and desire to drink less, and perceived barriers and facilitations to changing their drinking behaviors and (2) identify key elements of an alcohol reduction intervention tailored for sexual minority women.Methods:We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on alcohol interventions with sexual minority women. The handful of studies we found paid scant attention to drinking cultures, normative beliefs, or other key elements of sober curiosity. To address the study aims, we are conducting 2 descriptive studies with adult (>18 years) sexual minority women using mixed methods. One includes focus group interviews (n=24-36) and a national survey (n=100-120) with sexual minority women in Scotland. The other includes in-depth interviews (n=18-20) with sexual minority women in the United States. Data from the 2 countries and 3 sources will be analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods to identify patterns and relationships across data to validate or corroborate findings.Results:Each of the studies received ethics approval in August 2023 and is currently open for recruitment. We anticipate completing data collection in spring 2025. The results of qualitative analyses will be summarized as themes, and results of survey data analyses will be summarized in tables. Findings will be presented to 2 panels of international experts who will assist in identifying critical elements of an alcohol reduction intervention tailored to the unique needs of sexual minority women.Conclusions:With the assistance of the expert panels, we will use Acceptability, Practicability, Effectiveness, Affordability, Side-Effects, and Equity criteria to inform the development of a tailored intervention building on tenants of sober curiosity to assist sexual minority women in reducing harmful drinking

Carbon-dioxide corrosion in stainless steel (304L) pipes

This research comprehensively addresses challenges associated with carbon dioxide (CO2) corrosion in 304L stainless steel pipes, particularly under high temperatures and elevated CO2 partial pressures. Utilizing advanced simulation techniques with COMSOL Multiphysics, the corrosion behavior of 304L stainless steel is systematically investigated. Critical factors influencing corrosion rates, including operating temperature, reference temperature, initial electrolyte potential, and CO2 partial pressure, are identified. The study proposes practical mitigation strategies, such as employing more resistant materials like duplex stainless steel and applying protective coatings on inner pipe surfaces. The second study focuses on simulating and analyzing CO2 corrosion in 304L stainless steel pipes, aiming to address research gaps. The results facilitate the design and operation of systems utilizing 304L stainless steel in CO2 environments more effectively. Implementing measures to reduce PCO2 can diminish the corrosion rate, extending the system's lifespan

Shape-change in keyboard interaction: exploring the future of input devices through prototyping

This full-day studio explores the intersection of shape-changing technology and keyboard interaction. We invite HCI researchers, interaction designers, and accessibility specialists to prototype and reflect on the future of input devices. Participants will be introduced to key concepts in shape-changing interfaces and methodologies before engaging in hands-on, sustainable prototyping activities, using ideation tools and quick-build materials to explore how shape-changing interfaces can reshape the way we interact with keyboards. The studio will foster a collaborative environment where participants from diverse disciplines can experiment with non-expert prototyping methods and reflect on the role of keyboards in tangible interaction design

A comprehensive review on the machining process: unconventional as an alternative to conventional machining

Cutting/machining has been an integral part of human civilization since the beginning of the Stone Age. With time the cutting tools have evolved but the methods of cutting/machining remain the same. Thus, typical machining techniques lack several characteristics, such as material compatibility, difficulty in working with, inability to manufacture varied sizes and shapes, and so on. Thus, there have been introduced unconventional machining processes that can be used to cut various composite materials, make them easier to operate and machine complex shapes, etc. This chapter focuses on why unconventional machining processes can be an expedient alternative to conventional machining.</p

Systematic review of evidence for conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse in younger women

IntroductionTreatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is poorly understood in younger women as the majority of prolapse research is conducted in the older population. There is an urgent need to evaluate conservative POP treatments for management in younger women due to high surgical complications and reoperation rates.MethodsSystematic review of the literature following PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO. Included studies were of conservative treatments in women younger than 51 years old.ResultsFrom 416 retrieved studies, nine were included in the analysis. Two of three studies found pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) significantly benefited patient reported outcome measures (PROM) compared to educational material. One of three studies found significant improvement in PROM using biofeedback in addition to PFMT versus PFMT alone. Electrical stimulation with PFMT versus PFMT alone (one study) showed significant additional benefit of the combined treatment. Biofeedback and electrical stimulation in combination with PFMT versus PFMT alone (one study) was found to provide significant additional benefits. One compared pessary use to no intervention but stopped early due to slow recruitment.ConclusionPFMT improves patient reported outcomes in younger women with POP. Electrical stimulation and biofeedback are useful adjuncts to PFMT. The gap in research investigating the effect of pessaries in younger women warrants further study.<br/

A novel flow channel inspired by classical mathematical function: enhancing output performance and low-grade heat recovery efficiency of thermal regeneration ammonia-based flow battery

Thermal Regeneration Ammonia-based Flow Battery (TRAFB) faces significant challenges in enhancing its output performance and low-grade waste heat recovery efficiency due to limitations in mass transfer and an incomplete understanding of the mass transfer mechanism. To address these issues, this study innovatively introduces a novel sinusoidal wave flow channel (SWFC), which is inspired by the classic mathematical function. The impact of the SWFC on TRAFB performance is thoroughly discussed and compared in detail with the conventional straight flow channel (SFC). Most importantly, this work unveils for the first time the distribution mechanism of the three mass transfer modes in TRAFB, which are convection, diffusion, and electrophoretic mass transfer. The main findings reveal that the mass transfer performance of TRAFB is primarily governed by convection and diffusion, with electrophoretic mass transfer playing a minimal role, and there is a threshold of current density beyond which the dominant mass transfer mechanism transitions from convection to diffusion. The unique design of the SWFC, which induces the Venturi effect, significantly enhances the overall mass transfer performance of the TRAFB due to the distinct local acceleration, achieving a remarkable enhancement in flux of up to 118.48 times. By optimizing the amplitude and period, the battery's output performance can be further enhanced, with the maximum peak power achieved by the SWFC with an amplitude of 0.8 mm and a period of 0.5π, which is 95.63 % over the SFC. Notably, the SWFC also excels in improving the thermoelectric conversion efficiency, particularly at high current densities, achieving an enhancement of up to 9.81 times.</p

Diabetic foot ulcer photography study: a study within a trial to assess the reliability of two-dimensional (2D) photography for the assessment of ulcer healing in patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers-protocol paper

BACKGROUND: The primary endpoint in diabetes-related foot ulcer (DFU) trials is often time to healing, defined as complete re-epithelialisation with absence of drainage, requiring clinical expert assessment as the gold standard. Central blinded photograph review for confirmation of healing is increasingly being undertaken for internal validity. The Diabetic Foot Ulcer Photography study aims to determine the agreement between blinded independent review panel members for assessing ulcer healing status in patients with DFUs.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Photographs of ulcers clinically assessed as healed or not healed across 300 participants recruited to one of two randomised controlled trials (MIDFUT and CODIFI2), will be independently reviewed by a central blinded panel consisting of four clinicians with expertise in ulcer healing assessment. Staff at recruiting sites will take photographs using a standardised camera and protocol. Photographs will be reviewed at three levels of magnification: raw image, image standardised to a measurement scale included in the photograph and standardised image with magnification permitted. Reviewers will assess the healing status and their confidence level in making a healing judgement, with reasons reported for a low confidence rating. Analysis at each level of magnification will estimate inter- and intra-rater reliability on the assessments of healing of photographs with the clinical assessment (primary) and confidence rating using multivariable logistic mixed models. Analysis of the learning curve for the assessment of healing and confidence rating will use exponential and two-phase models.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval has been granted by the National Research Ethics Service Committees (MIDFUT 17/YH/0055; CODIFI2 18-WS-0235). All participants will provide a written informed consent for photography before recruited onto the respective study. Photographs will be transferred to the trials' coordinating centre via a secure file transfer service and saved in a restricted access folder on a secure server. Results will be disseminated via publications in scientific journals and conference presentations.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: MIDFUT (ISRCTN64926597) and CODIFI2 (ISRCTN74929588).</p