Public Procurement Regulation in EU and UK

The application of public procurement regulation in the UK prior to its departure from the EU was based on the judicial activism of the CJEU which has been the most influential factor in developing and honing the concepts of the public procurement acquis and in providing for clarity and certainty to its decentralised application and enforcement. The UK legal procurement framework benefited from judicial activism and has been guided by a doctrinal interpretation which attempts to fuse the underlying principles of public procurement regulation with the fundamental principles enshrined in the EU Treaties. Such fusion has been achieved by supplementing the public procurement Directives with primary EU law. Public procurement has been viewed by both EU Institutions and Member States as an instrument for growth and competitiveness

An Analysis of Middle Eastern Female Athletes Visual Self-Presentation Strategies on Instagram during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Representation of athletes through social media platforms is an essential consideration in constructing an athlete's overall media presence. Traditional media channels continue to provide an unfair advantage to male athletes and male sporting events. Female athletes, therefore, are increasingly recognising the value of social media channels in the creation of their personal brand and in their development of opportunities to obtain sponsorship and endorsement. This challenge becomes greater in different cultural contexts. This study aims to explore how female athletes from the MENA region are using Instagram as a visual self-presentation platform in the construction of their personal brand during a major sporting event – that of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games. An analysis is performed on a purposeful collection of photographs from sixteen athletes, enabling a better understanding of how athletes can develop their personal image to attract fans & sports stakeholders. Athletes from the MENA region are generally not well represented in research into personal branding, with this study contributing to the more limited range of outcomes related to MENA athletes.Goffman’s self-presentation theory (1959) is used as a framework to guide the analysis of the Instagram images. The findings indicate that female athletes in the MENA region during a major sporting event tend to share more photographs of their athletic performance and their nations as they drive more traffic to their accounts. High frequency of posting of the photographs were within the competition itself not before or after. With many of the athletes not posting photographs about their personal or social lives and do not pay enough attention to potential sponsors or businesses. The findings of the study will be relevant both to female athletes in their exploration of strategies to apply in social media contexts and to their relevant sports agencies

Marxism and the Political Economy of Abolition

This chapter examines the ways Marxist and neo-Marxist thought has contributed to abolitionist praxis. In doing so, it first explores Marx’s early writings in the 1840s, demonstrating how these were foundational to his later critique of political economy and his understandings of crime and punishment under capitalist conditions. Second, it examines analyses of political economies of punishment, suggesting that these provide one indication of the ways Marxist-inspired work has proved germane for advances in understandings of criminalisation and power. And finally, it draws on critical insights regarding the ways dominant institutions of punishment mystify the harms of capitalist power and reproduce forms of social order. Whether explicitly or implicitly, Marxism has been and is a core component abolitionist praxis, this chapter argues; and in the Marxist tradition, those working within such frameworks seek not just to interpret the world, but to change it

Modelling the Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Evolution of a Mega-Delta

River deltas provide ecosystem services that are vital to the world's population, supporting both lives and livelihoods. However, these low-lying areas face heightened vulnerability to the effects of climate change. This is intensified by local resource exploitation including sand mining and hydropower expansion that cause the lowering of riverbeds and modulate freshwater flux. These cumulative impacts, coupled with changes in input hydrological conditions and rising sea levels, have the potential to cause considerable disruptions in the flow dynamics across river deltas. Despite numerous studies into anthropogenic influences in delta evolution, a significant knowledge gap persists regarding how the combination of stressors that drive riverbed lowering influences alterations in hydraulic patterns and sediment transport capacity.Here the Lower Mekong Basin is used as an exemplar of sediment starved lowland rivers and deltas globally. Long-term hydrological data are combined with a 1D hydrodynamic numerical model and a 2D coupled hydrodynamic – sediment transport model to examine system response to rapid riverbed lowering. Assessing the relationships between riverbed lowering, water level, tidal amplitude and sediment transport across a range of spatiotemporal scales allows the quantification of the effects of riverbed lowering during a historical 20-year period and future projection.Historical data analysis and hydrodynamic model results suggest that for median freshwater flux conditions, the system's historical average riverbed lowering of approximately 3.06 m ( = 2.03 m) from 1998 to 2018 has led to simultaneous declines in average annual water levels of approximately 0.65 m ( = 0.75 m) and an increase in the average annual tidal range by approximately 0.19 m ( = 0.15 m). The reduction in water level is more pronounced landward, whereas the increased tidal range is more prominent seaward. Under anticipated Future scenario (to the year 2038), where the riverbed lowering is projected to average around 5.92 m ( = 2.84 m) compared to 1998, declines in mean water level of approximately 1.27 m ( = 1.5 m) are projected while, the maximum water level reduction landward reaches may reach 4.19 m. Simultaneously, the mean tidal range is expected to increase by approximately 0.46 m ( = 0.27m), with the maximum rise potentially reaching more than 1 m in seaward areas. Furthermore, model results indicate that riverbed lowering significantly reduces water flux from the river to its floodplain and towards the Tonle Sap Lake, one of the world’s most productive lake-wetland systems, with wide implications for food security. Hydrodynamic and sediment transport model results indicate that riverbed lowering diminishes sediment transport capacity. Specifically, simulated sand transport at the apex of the delta has decreased by approximately 30% over the nine-year period from 2013 to 2022. By 2022, simulated data at the apex of the delta indicates that sand transport is roughly 10 times lower than the observed total sand extraction volume across the entire Lower Mekong Basin. The significant disparity between sand transport capacity and sand extraction in the delta, coupled with the decrease in sediment supply due to upstream damming and natural reductions in sediment load from shifting tropical cyclones will further exacerbate the adverse effects of sand mining and sediment starvation caused by upstream river impoundment

Fifty Years of Bangladesh Parliament: A Critical Evaluation

This book critically examines the constitutional position and contribution of the Bangladesh Parliament during the fifty years of its existence (1973-2023). Examining the institution through a “Westminster” lens, the book unearths how and why it behaves in an (un)Westminster, rather say the "Eastminster”, way. This book is the first of its kind attempting a separation of powers and checks and balances inspired analysis of the Parliament vis-à-vis Bangladesh's government, judiciary, and the people. It explains how its internal democracy deficit arising from the country's undemocratic political parties deny the Bangladesh Parliament, its rightful place within the country's constitutional design

Time Below Range and Its Influence on Hypoglycemia Awareness and Severe Hypoglycemia: Insights From the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists Study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the relationship between time below range (TBR), impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH), and severe hypoglycemia (SH). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from individuals with diabetes using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists audit. Hypoglycemia awareness was assessed via the Gold score (≥4 denoting IAH), and SH was defined as hypoglycemia requiring third-party assistance. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between TBR percentage (<70 mg/dL; 3.9 mmol/L) at first follow-up and follow-up Gold score and SH incidence. The Youden J index identified optimal TBR percentage cutoffs for detecting IAH and SH. RESULTS: The study included 15,777 participants, with follow-up TBR and SH data available for 5,029. The median TBR percentage was 4% (interquartile range 2-6.6%), with 42% meeting the recommended TBR of ≤4%. Adjusted for age, sex, and BMI, TBR was significantly associated with SH (P < 0.001) and IAH (P = 0.005). Optimal TBR cutoffs for identifying IAH and SH were 3.35% and 3.95%, yielding negative predictive value (NPV) values of 85% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the international consensus recommending a TBR of <4% in type 1 diabetes, with high NPV values suggesting the utility of TBR in screening for SH

The impact of impact: an invitation to philosophise

This position paper argues for the introduction of a philosophy of research impact, as an invitation to think deeply about the implications of the impact agenda. It delves into the transformative influence of prioritising the end-product of the research journey over the entire knowledge production process. We argue that the prevalence of research impact assessment in Western research ecosystems has reshaped various facets of research, extending from funding proposals to the overarching goals of research agendas, assessment regimes and promotion structures. Through self-reflective analysis, this position paper critically assesses the consequences of this paradigm shift. Utilising perspectives from the UK, Poland, Sweden, and Finland, we explore tensions, conflicts, opportunities, and viabilities arising from such a shift in the teleological purpose of research. This selection of countries offers a spectrum, ranging from early adopters of impact assessment regimes to those where such evaluation is largely absent as of now, and its intermediaries. Moreover, our examination extends across different disciplinary foci, including allied health, business and management studies, earth science, human geography, and history. Our findings suggest a discernible alteration in the fundamental logic of research, where the focus shifts from checks and balances geared towards the advancement of knowledge, towards other supposedly more important goals. Here research is merely cast as an instrumental means to achieve broader societal, political, economic, environmental (etc.) goals. Additionally, we observe that as the formalisation of research impact evaluation intensifies, there are diminishing degrees of freedom for scholars to challenge contemporary power structures and to think innovatively within their research ecosystem

Interventions to improve the quality of life in patients living with endocrine conditions A

IntroductionPatients living with chronic endocrine conditions experience a burden of disease which affects their quality of life compared to healthy controls. In people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, this may be due to micro or macrovascular complications, as well as the negative emotions associated with living with diabetes. In individuals with adrenal insufficiency, the reduced quality of life may be due to failure to mimic the circadian rhythm during glucocorticoid replacement. Interventions to improve the management of these endocrine conditions can have an impact on the specific disease related distress. This would in turn affect the quality of life in these individuals. The first study assessed the impact of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) on glycaemic control and diabetes distress in a predominantly type 1 diabetes population with psychosocial issues. The effect of this technology on diabetes distress in people living with type 2 diabetes but not yet on insulin has been evaluated in the second study. In the final study, we compared the effect of prednisolone to hydrocortisone on the quality of life in patients with adrenal insufficiency.Methods:The first study was a retrospective analysis of baseline and follow-up data from the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) nationwide audit of people with diabetes who initiated the isCGM for psychosocial reasons in the United Kingdom. In the second study, a randomized controlled trial, the effect of use of Free Style Libre 2 over 12 weeks on glycaemic control and diabetes distress in patients with type 2 diabetes was assessed. The final study was an observational study that compared the cardiovascular risk and quality of life of patients with adrenal insufficiency, at the start and 4 months after switching from hydrocortisone to prednisolone.ResultsIn the first study, with the initiation of isCGM, after a mean follow-up period of 6.9 months, there was a significant reduction in Diabetes Distress Scale score; 4 at baseline vs. 2.5 at follow up (P0.05). Data from the modified SF-36 quality of life questionnaire showed significant increase in the energy scores and scores relating to the participants’ general health (p=0.003 and p=0.019 respectively), indicating an improvement in the quality of life.Conclusion:Analysis of real-world data of people with T1DM using isCGM initiated for psychosocial reasons shows a significant improvement in diabetes related distress, glycaemic control and hospital admissions due to hyperglycaemia/diabetic ketoacidosis. The use of isCGM in T2DM patients on non-insulin therapy showed promise in improving glycaemic control, as evidenced by increased time in range. There was, however, no significant reduction in HbA1c or impact on diabetes distress. The use of prednisolone was associated with a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, weight and BMI. Prednisolone did not affect the lipid profile, signifying no increase in cardiovascular risk. Patients felt more energetic and had higher general health scores. These findings suggest that low dose prednisolone may be a better glucocorticoid option than hydrocortisone. In this thesis, we have shown that the disease specific interventions had an overall positive impact on the management of individuals living with diabetes and adrenal insufficiency. This generally resulted in improvement in the quality of life as evidenced by the disease related distress. Interventions also had an impact on the individuals’ biochemical health as shown by various outcome measures

Automated identification of hedgerows and hedgerow gaps using deep learning Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation

Hedgerows are a key component of the UK landscape that form boundaries, borders and limits of land whilst providing vital landscape-scale ecological connectivity for a range of organisms. They are diverse habitats in the agricultural landscape providing a range of ecosystem services. Poorly managed hedgerows often present with gaps, reducing their ecological connectivity, resulting in fragmented habitats. However, hedgerow gap frequency and spatial distributions are often unquantified at the landscape-scale. Here we present a novel methodology based on deep learning (DL) that is coupled with high-resolution aerial imagery. We demonstrate how this provides a route towards a rapid, adaptable, accurate assessment of hedgerow and gap abundance at such scales, with minimal training data. We present the training and development of a DL model using the U-Net architecture to automatically identify hedgerows across the East Riding of Yorkshire (ERY) in the UK and demonstrate the ability of the model to estimate hedgerow gap types, lengths and their locations. Our method was both time efficient and accurate, processing an area of 2479 km2 in 32 h with an overall accuracy of 92.4%. The substantive results allow us to estimate that in the ERY alone, there were 3982 ± 302 km of hedgerows and 2865 ± 217 km of hedgerow gaps (with 339 km classified as for access). Our approach and study show that hedgerows and gaps can be extracted from true colour aerial imagery without the requirement of elevation data and can produce meaningful results that lead to the identification of prioritisation areas for hedgerow gap infilling, replanting and restoration. Such replanting could significantly contribute towards national tree planting goals and meeting net zero targets in a changing climate