202 research outputs found
Perceptions, preferences and barriers: A qualitative study of greenspace and under-representation in Leeds, UK
1. Greenspaces facilitate well-being benefits for humans in several ways including through cognitive restoration, physical exercise and social interaction. However, some groups are under-represented in greenspaces, including women, older people, those with health conditions, people with lower socioeconomic status and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and so are less likely to accrue these benefits. /
2. Using thematic analysis and semi-structured interviews with 40 individuals from under-represented groups in Leeds, UK, we explore (1) a range of perceived barriers to greenspace access, (2) how spending time in greenspace contributes to well-being for these groups, (3) the perceived positive and negative aspects of greenspace, (4) what impact COVID-19 had on access to greenspace and (5) how greenspaces could be improved. /
3. We also highlight inter-group differences and how some barriers disproportionately affect some of the groups in this study. Safety concerns were particularly important for women and people with low incomes, which included problems with anti-social behaviour (e.g. incivilities and disorder). Cultural barriers were also evident with ethnic minority participants often citing concerns about dogs and issues with visibility and prejudice. Participants desired physical improvements to the quality of greenspaces, along with easier access and transport options, changes in policy regarding dogs and increased security and park wardens to limit anti-social behaviour. /
4. We argue that to increase visitation for under-represented groups, upgrades in the physical environment must be coupled with harnessing community involvement and co-design. Some group differences and tensions in greenspaces, and problems with anti-social behaviours and safety concerns might be limited by more considerate planning and incorporating research findings that address these tensions through intergroup contact
Extensive and Intimate Association of the Cytoskeleton with Forming Silica in Diatoms: Control over Patterning on the Meso- and Micro-Scale
BACKGROUND: The diatom cell wall, called the frustule, is predominantly made out of silica, in many cases with highly ordered nano- and micro-scale features. Frustules are built intracellularly inside a special compartment, the silica deposition vesicle, or SDV. Molecules such as proteins (silaffins and silacidins) and long chain polyamines have been isolated from the silica and shown to be involved in the control of the silica polymerization. However, we are still unable to explain or reproduce in vitro the complexity of structures formed by diatoms. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDING: In this study, using fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, we were able to compare and correlate microtubules and microfilaments with silica structure formed in diversely structured diatom species. The high degree of correlation between silica structure and actin indicates that actin is a major element in the control of the silica morphogenesis at the meso and microscale. Microtubules appear to be involved in the spatial positioning on the mesoscale and strengthening of the SDV. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results reveal the importance of top down control over positioning of and within the SDV during diatom wall formation and open a new perspective for the study of the mechanism of frustule patterning as well as for the understanding of the control of membrane dynamics by the cytoskeleton
Perceptions, preferences and barriers: A qualitative study of greenspace and under-representation in Leeds, UK
AbstractGreenspaces facilitate well‐being benefits for humans in several ways including through cognitive restoration, physical exercise and social interaction. However, some groups are under‐represented in greenspaces, including women, older people, those with health conditions, people with lower socioeconomic status and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and so are less likely to accrue these benefits.Using thematic analysis and semi‐structured interviews with 40 individuals from under‐represented groups in Leeds, UK, we explore (1) a range of perceived barriers to greenspace access, (2) how spending time in greenspace contributes to well‐being for these groups, (3) the perceived positive and negative aspects of greenspace, (4) what impact COVID‐19 had on access to greenspace and (5) how greenspaces could be improved.We also highlight inter‐group differences and how some barriers disproportionately affect some of the groups in this study. Safety concerns were particularly important for women and people with low incomes, which included problems with anti‐social behaviour (e.g. incivilities and disorder). Cultural barriers were also evident with ethnic minority participants often citing concerns about dogs and issues with visibility and prejudice. Participants desired physical improvements to the quality of greenspaces, along with easier access and transport options, changes in policy regarding dogs and increased security and park wardens to limit anti‐social behaviour.We argue that to increase visitation for under‐represented groups, upgrades in the physical environment must be coupled with harnessing community involvement and co‐design. Some group differences and tensions in greenspaces, and problems with anti‐social behaviours and safety concerns might be limited by more considerate planning and incorporating research findings that address these tensions through intergroup contact.Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.</jats:p
Simultaneous integrated boost of biopsy proven, MRI defined dominant intra-prostatic lesions to 95 Gray with IMRT: early results of a phase I NCI study
The effectiveness of interventions to change six health behaviours: a review of reviews
Background: Several World Health Organisation reports over recent years have highlighted the high incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer. Contributory factors include unhealthy diets, alcohol and tobacco use and sedentary lifestyles. This paper reports the findings of a review of reviews of behavioural change interventions to reduce unhealthy behaviours or promote healthy behaviours. We included six different health-related behaviours in the review: healthy eating, physical exercise, smoking, alcohol misuse, sexual risk taking (in young people) and illicit drug use. We excluded reviews which focussed on pharmacological treatments or those which required intensive treatments (e. g. for drug or alcohol dependency).
Methods: The Cochrane Library, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) and several Ovid databases were searched for systematic reviews of interventions for the six behaviours (updated search 2008). Two reviewers applied the inclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the quality of the reviews. The results were discussed in a narrative synthesis.
Results: We included 103 reviews published between 1995 and 2008. The focus of interventions varied, but those targeting specific individuals were generally designed to change an existing behaviour (e. g. cigarette smoking, alcohol misuse), whilst those aimed at the general population or groups such as school children were designed to promote positive behaviours (e. g. healthy eating). Almost 50% (n = 48) of the reviews focussed on smoking (either prevention or cessation). Interventions that were most effective across a range of health behaviours included physician advice or individual counselling, and workplace- and school-based activities. Mass media campaigns and legislative interventions also showed small to moderate effects in changing health behaviours. Generally, the evidence related to short-term effects rather than sustained/longer-term impact and there was a relative lack of evidence on how best to address inequalities.
Conclusions: Despite limitations of the review of reviews approach, it is encouraging that there are interventions that are effective in achieving behavioural change. Further emphasis in both primary studies and secondary analysis (e.g. systematic reviews) should be placed on assessing the differential effectiveness of interventions across different population subgroups to ensure that health inequalities are addressed.</p
Magnetic Moment Collapse-Driven Mott Transition in MnO
The metal-insulator transition in correlated electron systems, where electron
states transform from itinerant to localized, has been one of the central
themes of condensed matter physics for more than half a century. The
persistence of this question has been a consequence both of the intricacy of
the fundamental issues and the growing recognition of the complexities that
arise in real materials, even when strong repulsive interactions play the
primary role. The initial concept of Mott was based on the relative importance
of kinetic hopping (measured by the bandwidth) and on-site repulsion of
electrons. Real materials, however, have many additional degrees of freedom
that, as is recently attracting note, give rise to a rich variety of scenarios
for a ``Mott transition.'' Here we report results for the classic correlated
insulator MnO which reproduce a simultaneous moment collapse, volume collapse,
and metallization transition near the observed pressure, and identify the
mechanism as collapse of the magnetic moment due to increase of crystal field
splitting, rather than to variation in the bandwidth.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figur
Gravitational Waves from Gravitational Collapse
Gravitational wave emission from the gravitational collapse of massive stars
has been studied for more than three decades. Current state of the art
numerical investigations of collapse include those that use progenitors with
realistic angular momentum profiles, properly treat microphysics issues,
account for general relativity, and examine non--axisymmetric effects in three
dimensions. Such simulations predict that gravitational waves from various
phenomena associated with gravitational collapse could be detectable with
advanced ground--based and future space--based interferometric observatories.Comment: 68 pages including 13 figures; revised version accepted for
publication in Living Reviews in Relativity (http://www.livingreviews.org
Learning environment associated with use of mixed mode delivery model among secondary business studies students in Singapore
At many teacher education institutes around the world, preservice teachers are empowered to use pedagogical tools and strategies that engage their students. We used a modified version of the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES) to evaluate the effectiveness of a pedagogical model known as the Mixed Mode Delivery (MMD) model in terms of the CLES’s five scales of personal relevance, uncertainty, critical voice, shared control and negotiation. Comparisons were made between 2,216 secondary school students taught by the preservice teachers in an MMD group and 991 students in a control group in terms of the relative magnitudes of the gap between the actual and preferred learning environment in students’ school classrooms. The findings supported the positive impact of using MMD in terms of students’ perceptions of their classroom environments for all CLES scales
Computational investigation of diesel nozzle internal flow during the complete injection event
[EN] Currently, diesel engines are calibrated using more and more complex multiple injection strategies. Under these conditions, the characteristics of the flow exiting the fuel injector are strongly affected by the transient interaction between the needle, the sac volume and the orifices, which are not yet clear. In the current paper, a methodology combining a 1D injector model and 3D-CFD simulations is proposed. First, the characteristics of the nozzle flow have been experimentally assessed in transient conditions by means of injection rate and momentum flux measurements. Later, the 3D-CFD modeling approach has been validated at steady-state fixed lift conditions. Finally, a previously developed 1D injector model has been used to extract the needle lift profiles and transient pressure boundary conditions used for the full-transient 3D-CFD simulations, using adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) strategies to be able to simulate the complete injection rate starting from 1 mu m lift.This work was partly sponsored by "Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad'', of the Spanish Government, in the frame of the Project "Estudio de la interaccion chorro-pared en condiciones realistas de motor'', Reference TRA2015-67679-c2-1-R. The authors would like also to thank the computer resources, technical expertise and assistance provided by Universidad de Valencia in the use of the supercomputer "Tirant''. Mr. Jaramillo's Thesis is funded by "Conselleria d'Educacio, Cultura i Esports'' of Generalitat Valenciana in the frame of the program "Programa VALI + D para investigadores en formacion, Reference ACIF/2015/040.Salvador, FJ.; De La Morena, J.; Bracho Leon, G.; Jaramillo-Císcar, D. (2018). Computational investigation of diesel nozzle internal flow during the complete injection event. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering. 40(3):153-167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-018-1074-zS153167403Hall CAS, Lambert JG, Balogh SB (2014) EROI of different fuels and the implications for society. Energy Policy 64:141–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.05.049Lujan JM, Tormos B, Salvador FJ, Gargar K (2009) Comparative analysis of a DI diesel engine fuelled with biodiesel blends during the European MVEG-A cycle: preliminary study (I). Biomass Bioenergy 33:941–947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.02.004Pickett LM, Siebers DL (2004) Soot in diesel fuel jets: effects of ambient temperature, ambient density, and injection pressure. Combust Flame 138:114–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2004.04.006Dec JE (1997) A Conceptual Model of DI Diesel Combustion Based on Laser-Sheet Imaging. SAE Tech. Pap. 970873Wang X, Huang Z, Zhang W et al (2011) Effects of ultra-high injection pressure and micro-hole nozzle on flame structure and soot formation of impinging diesel spray. Appl Energy 88:1620–1628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.11.035Sayin C, Gumus M, Canakci M (2013) Influence of injector hole number on the performance and emissions of a di diesel engine fueled with biodiesel-diesel fuel blends. Appl Therm Eng 61:121–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.07.038Mohan B, Yang W, Chou SK (2013) Fuel injection strategies for performance improvement and emissions reduction in compression ignition engines—A review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 28:664–676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.051Payri R, Salvador FJ, Gimeno J, De la Morena J (2011) Influence of injector technology on injection and combustion development, Part 1: hydraulic characterization. Appl Energy 88:1068–1074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.10.012Park SW, Kim JW, Lee CS (2006) Effect of injector type on fuel-air mixture formation of high-speed diesel sprays. Proc Inst Mech Eng D 220:647–659. https://doi.org/10.1243/09544070D20304Moon S, Komada K, Sato K et al (2015) Ultrafast X-ray study of multi-hole GDI injector sprays: effects of nozzle hole length and number on initial spray formation. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 68:68–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2015.03.027Powell CF, Kastengren AL, Liu Z, Fezzaa K (2010) The effects of diesel injector needle motion on spray structure. J Eng Gas Turbines Power 133:12802. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4001073Huang W, Moon S, Ohsawa K (2016) Near-nozzle dynamics of diesel spray under varied needle lifts and its prediction using analytical model. Fuel 180:292–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2016.04.042Sun Z-Y, Li G-X, Chen C et al (2015) Numerical investigation on effects of nozzle’s geometric parameters on the flow and the cavitation characteristics within injector’s nozzle for a high-pressure common-rail DI diesel engine. Energy Convers Manag 89:843–861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.10.047Devassy BM, Habchi C, Daniel E (2015) Atomization modelling of liquid jets using a two-surface density approach. At Sprays 25:47–80Moon S, Gao Y, Park S et al (2015) Effect of the number and position of nozzle holes on in- and near-nozzle dynamic characteristics of diesel injection. Fuel 150:112–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.01.097Payri R, Salvador FJ, Carreres M, De la Morena J (2016) Fuel temperature influence on the performance of a last generation common-rail diesel ballistic injector. Part II: 1D model development, validation and analysis. Energy Convers Manag 114:376–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.02.043Plamondon E, Seers P (2014) Development of a simplified dynamic model for a piezoelectric injector using multiple injection strategies with biodiesel/diesel-fuel blends. Appl Energy 131:411–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.06.039Postrioti L, Malaguti S, Bosi M et al (2014) Experimental and numerical characterization of a direct solenoid actuation injector for diesel engine applications. Fuel 118:316–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.11.001Desantes JM, Salvador FJ, Lopez JJ, De la Morena J (2011) Study of mass and momentum transfer in diesel sprays based on X-ray mass distribution measurements and on a theoretical derivation. Exp Fluids 50:233–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-010-0919-8De la Morena J, Neroorkar K, Plazas AH et al (2013) Numerical analysis of the influence of diesel nozzle design on internal flow characteristics for 2-valve diesel engine application. At Sprays 23:97–118. https://doi.org/10.1615/AtomizSpr.2013006361Duke DJ, Schmidt DP, Neroorkar K et al (2013) High-resolution large eddy simulations of cavitating gasoline-ethanol blends. Int J Engine Res 14:578–589. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468087413501824Mitroglou N, McLorn M, Gavaises M et al (2014) Instantaneous and ensemble average cavitation structures in diesel micro-channel flow orifices. Fuel 116:736–742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.08.060Wang X, Li K, Su W (2012) Experimental and numerical investigations on internal flow characteristics of diesel nozzle under real fuel injection conditions. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 42:204–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2012.04.022Sou A, Pratama RH (2016) Effects of asymmetric inflow on cavitation in fuel injector and discharged liquid jet. At Sprays 26:939–959. https://doi.org/10.1615/AtomizSpr.2015013501Xue Q, Battistoni M, Powell CF et al (2015) An Eulerian CFD model and X-ray radiography for coupled nozzle flow and spray in internal combustion engines. Int J Multiph Flow 70:77–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2014.11.012Castilla R, Gamez-Montero PJ, Ertrk N et al (2010) Numerical simulation of turbulent flow in the suction chamber of a gearpump using deforming mesh and mesh replacement. Int J Mech Sci 52:1334–1342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2010.06.009Parlak Z, Engin T (2012) Time-dependent CFD and quasi-static analysis of magnetorheological fluid dampers with experimental validation. Int J Mech Sci 64:22–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2012.08.006Chiatti G, Chiavola O, Palmieri F (2009) Spray modeling for diesel engine performance analysis. SAE Tech Pap 2009-01-0835. https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-0835Marcer R, Audiffren C, Viel A, et al (2010) Coupling 1D system AMESim and 3D CFD EOLE models for diesel injection simulation Renault. In: ILASS—Eur. 2010, 23rd Annu. Conf. Liq. At. Spray Syst., pp 1–10Desantes JM, Salvador FJ, Carreres M, Martínez-López J (2014) Large-eddy simulation analysis of the influence of the needle lift on the cavitation in diesel injector nozzles. Proc Inst Mech Eng D 229:407–423. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954407014542627Battistoni M, Xue Q, Som S (2016) Large-eddy simulation (LES) of spray transients: start and end of injection phenomena. Oil Gas Sci Technol 71:24. https://doi.org/10.2516/ogst/2015024CONVERGE is a trade mark of convergent science. https://convergecfd.comMacian V, Bermúdez V, Payri R, Gimeno J (2003) New technique for determination of internal geometry of a diesel nozzle with the use of silicone methodology. Exp Tech 27:39–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1567.2003.tb00107.xDabiri S, Sirignano WA, Joseph DD (2007) Cavitation in an orifice flow. Phys Fluids 19:72112. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2750655Mohan B, Yang W, Chou SK (2014) Cavitation in injector nozzle holes—a parametric study. Eng Appl Comput Fluid Mech 8:70–81Salvador FJ, Hoyas S, Novella R, Martinez-Lopez J (2011) Numerical simulation and extended validation of two-phase compressible flow in diesel injector nozzles. Proc Inst Mech Eng D 225:545–563. https://doi.org/10.1177/09544070JAUTO1569Som S, Longman DE, Ramirez AI, Aggarwal S (2012) Influence of nozzle orifice geometry and fuel properties on flow and cavitation characteristics of a diesel injector. In: Fuel Inject. Automot. Eng., pp 112–126Desantes JM, Salvador FJ, Carreres M, Jaramillo D (2015) Experimental characterization of the thermodynamic properties of diesel fuels over a wide range of pressures and temperatures. SAE Int J Fuels Lubr 8:2015-01-0951. https://doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-0951Bosch W (1966) The fuel rate indicator: a new measuring instrument for display of the characteristics of individual injection. SAE Pap. 660749Payri R, Salvador FJ, Gimeno J, Bracho G (2008) A new methodology for correcting the signal cumulative phenomenon on injection rate measurements. Exp Tech 32:46–49. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1567.2007.00188.xPayri F, Payri R, Salvador FJ, Martínez-López J (2011) A contribution to the understanding of cavitation effects in diesel injector nozzles through a combined experimental and computational investigation. Comput Fluids 58:88–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compfluid.2012.01.005Lichtarowicz AK, Duggins RK, Markland E (1965) Discharge coefficients for incompressible non-cavitating flow through long orifices. J Mech Eng Sci 7:210–219. https://doi.org/10.1243/JMES_JOUR_1965_007_029_02Lopez JJ, Salvador FJ, De la Garza OA, Arrègle J (2012) Characterization of the pressure losses in a common rail diesel injector. Proc Inst Mech Eng D 226:1697–1706. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954407012447020Salvador FJ, Carreres M, Jaramillo D, Martínez-López J (2015) Comparison of microsac and VCO diesel injector nozzles in terms of internal nozzle flow characteristics. Energy Convers Manag 103:284–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.05.062LMS (2010) Imagine.Lab AMESim v.10. User’s manualPayri R, Salvador FJ, Martí-Aldaraví P, Martínez-López J (2012) Using one-dimensional modeling to analyze the influence of the use of biodiesels on the dynamic behavior of solenoid-operated injectors in common rail systems: detailed injection system model. Energy Convers Manag 54:90–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2011.10.00
Landscape history, time lags and drivers of change : urban natural grassland remnants in Potchefstroom, South Africa
The history of the landscape directly affects biotic assemblages, resulting in time lags in species response to disturbances. In highly fragmented environments, this phenomenon often causes extinction debts. However, few studies have been carried out in urban settings. To determine if there are time lags in the response of temperate natural grasslands to urbanization. Does it differ for indigenous species and for species indicative of disturbance and between woody and open grasslands? Do these time lags change over time? What are the potential landscape factors driving these changes? What are the corresponding vegetation changes? In 1995 and 2012 vegetation sampling was carried out in 43 urban grassland sites. We calculated six urbanization and landscape measures in a 500 m buffer area surrounding each site for 1938, 1961, 1970, 1994, 1999, 2006, and 2010. We used generalized linear models and model selection to determine which time period best predicted the contemporary species richness patterns. Woody grasslands showed time lags of 20-40 years. Contemporary open grassland communities were, generally, associated with more contemporary landscapes. Altitude and road network density of natural areas were the most frequent predictors of species richness. The importance of the predictors changed between the different models. Species richness, specifically, indigenous herbaceous species, declined from 1995 to 2012. The history of urbanization affects contemporary urban vegetation assemblages. This indicates potential extinction debts, which have important consequences for biodiversity conservation planning and sustainable future scenarios.Peer reviewe
- …