Creating a blueprint for UK competitiveness

A new model of competitiveness devised by Dr Chris Brauer at Goldsmiths, University of London in partnership with Microsoft finds that nearly half (46%) of British organisations fall into the worst performing category, posing a real threat to UK prosperity. As organisations rally from the impact of COVID-19, and prepare for Brexit, now is not the time for Britain to fall behind in the competitiveness stakes. But there is a way through. If firms make incremental changes now to attract the right skills, talent, tech and leadership, our model predicts an immediate £48 billion boost to the UK economy. But how? What must you do to transform? How can you drive sustainable growth? This new report from Microsoft, its customers, and some of the brightest minds across UK enterprise and academia, helps to answer these most vital questions

Mit welchem Wort soll ich´s benennen? Eine lexikalische und korpusbasierte Analyse deutscher Verben

Verbs either describe factual activities relating to objects (e.g. to plant) or interpersonal activities (e.g. to praise). These interpersonal verbs can be subdivided in action verbs (e.g. to hit) and state verbs (e.g. to admire). For action verbs as well as for state verbs it can be differentiated, if they induce either causal attributions to the subject (e.g. to hit, to frighten) or to the object (e.g. to punish, to admire) of the interaction. Previous linguistic and psychological research has predominantly used identical vocabularies from a small section of the whole language repertoire. Furthermore a comprehensive systematisation of Germen verbs based on the classification described above is still missing. To assess frequency estimates of these verbtypes for the whole language, an integrating analysis of different corpora of German language is conducted for the first time. Data record included more than 10 000 verbs. Frequency analyses confirm a dominance of factual activities compared to interpersonal verbs and within interpersonal verbs a dominance of action verbs. The resulting corpus can be used for representative analyses of interpersonal verbs and attributional analyses of linguistic data.Verben beschreiben entweder sachbezogene Vorgänge (z.B. anpflanzen) oder interpersonale Ereignisse (z.B. loben). Diese interpersonalen Verben können in Handlungs- (z. B. schlagen) und Zustandsverben (z.B. bewundern) unterteilt werden. Sowohl für Handlungs- als auch für Zustandsverben kann unterschieden werden, ob sie Kausalattributionen auf das Subjekt (z.B. schlagen, ängstigen) oder auf das Objekt(bestrafen, bewundern) der Interaktion auslösen. Bisherige sprachpsychologische Untersuchungen haben überwiegend identische Vokabeln aus einem kleinen Ausschnitt des Gesamtvokabulars verwendet. Auch fehlt eine umfassende Systematisierung deutscher Verben hinsichtlich der dargestellten Klassifikation. Um erstmals Häufigkeitsangaben der Verbverteilungen der gesamten Sprache zu erhalten, wird eine Analyse unterschiedlicher deutscher Verb- und Textkorpora durchgeführt, aus der ein Datensatz mit insgesamt über 10 000 Verben resultiert. Häufigkeitsanalysen belegen eine Dominanz sachbezogener im Vergleich zu interpersonalen Verben und innerhalb interpersonaler Verben eine deutliche Überzahl von Handlungsverben. Der erstellte Korpus erlaubt sprachlich repräsentative Analysen interpersonaler Verben, Aussagen zur sprachlichen Repräsentation interpersonaler Ereignisse und attributionstheoretische Analysen sprachlicher Daten

Integrated TiO2 resonators for visible photonics

We demonstrate waveguide-coupled titanium dioxide (TiO2) racetrack resonators with loaded quality factors of 2x10^4 for the visible wavelengths. The structures were fabricated in sputtered TiO2 thin films on oxidized silicon substrates using standard top-down nanofabrication techniques, and passively probed in transmission measurements using a tunable red laser. Devices based on this material could serve as integrated optical elements as well as passive platforms for coupling to visible quantum emitters.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Thermal breakage of window glass in room fires conditions - Analysis of some important parameters

In a compartment fire, the breakage and possible fallout of a window glass has a significant impact on the fire dynamics. The thermal breakage of glass depends on various parameters such as glass type, edge shading, edges conditions and constraints on the glass. The purpose of the present study is to investigate some of the key parameters affecting the thermal breakage of window glass in fire conditions using a recently developed and validated computer tool. Fallout is not within the scope of this study. Different boundary conditions of the glass pane (unconstrained and constrained) subjected to fire radiant heat are investigated. The analysis shows that to prevent glass thermal breakage, it is important to provide enough spacing between the frame and glass pane to accommodate the thermal expansion, and constraints on the glass structure should be avoided. The zones where the glass is likely to crack first are shown. The study also quantifies the effects of glass edge conditions on its thermal breakage in fire conditions; such analysis has not been reported in the literature due to its complexity and the statistical nature of edge flaws. The results show that an ordinary float glass mostly used in windows, with the “as-cut” edge condition would break later and is stronger than a ground edge or polished edge glass for the scenarios investigated. The study demonstrates how a predictive tool could be employed for a better understanding of thermal breakage of window glass in fires and for design guidance

The Universal Initial Mass Function In The XUV Disk of M83

We report deep Subaru Halpha observations of the XUV disk of M83. These new observations enable the first complete census of very young stellar clusters over the entire XUV disk. Combining Subaru and GALEX data with a stellar population synthesis model, we find that (1) the standard, but stochastically-sampled, initial mass function (IMF) is preferred over the truncated IMF, because there are low mass stellar clusters (10^{2-3}Msun) that host massive O-type stars; that (2) the standard Salpeter IMF and a simple aging effect explain the counts of FUV-bright and Halpha-bright clusters with masses >10^3Msun; and that (3) the Halpha to FUV flux ratio over the XUV disk supports the standard IMF. The Subaru Prime Focus Camera (Suprime-Cam) covers a large area even outside the XUV disk -- far beyond the detection limit of the HI gas. This enables us to statistically separate the stellar clusters in the disk from background contamination. The new data, model, and previous spectroscopic studies provide overall consistent results with respect to the internal dust extinction (Av~0.1 mag) and low metallicity (~0.2Zsun) using the dust extinction curve of SMC.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Risco nutricional de pacientes com COVID-19 internados em uma unidade de terapia intensiva de referência em Joinville/SC

Objective: To assess nutritional risk in critically ill patients with COVID-19 using the mNUTRIC score nutritional screening tool. Methods: This is a retrospective study, with a total sample of 60 patients admitted to the respiratory ICU of a public hospital in Joinville, Santa Catarina, including patients of both sexes, aged ≥18 years, diagnosed through the RT test. - Positive PCR, under invasive mechanical ventilation and nutritional support via an exclusive enteral tube. Clinical characteristics and anthropometric information were obtained from electronic medical records and nutrition records. Results: Samples of 60 critically ill COVID-19 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 62.5 ± 24.5 years. Based on the mNUTRIC score at ICU admission, a high nutritional risk (≥5 points) was observed in 58% of patients, while a low nutritional risk (<5 points). ICU mortality was higher in the high nutritional risk group than in the low nutritional risk group. Conclusion: The mNUTRIC score proved to be a useful and practical tool with regard to the screening of patients with COVID-19 undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit, and may be relevant in predicting the prognosis for critically ill patients. It was also observed that patients with ARDS, overweight and obesity are associated with lower mortality, which can be considered a protective factor, making the obesity paradox evident.Objetivo: evaluar el riesgo nutricional en pacientes críticos con COVID-19 utilizando la herramienta de detección nutricional mNUTRIC score. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo, con una muestra total de 60 pacientes internados en la UTI respiratoria de un hospital público de Joinville, Santa Catarina, incluidos pacientes de ambos sexos, con edad ≥18 años, diagnosticados a través de la prueba RT - PCR positiva , bajo ventilación mecánica invasiva y soporte nutricional a través de una sonda enteral exclusiva. Las características clínicas y la información antropométrica se obtuvieron de la historia clínica electrónica y del registro nutricional. Resultados: Se incluyó en el estudio una muestra de 60 pacientes críticos con COVID-19, con una edad media de 62,5 ± 24,5 años. Según la puntuación mNUTRIC al ingreso en la UCI, se observó un riesgo nutricional alto (≥5 puntos) en el 58 % de los pacientes, mientras que un riesgo nutricional bajo (<5 puntos). La mortalidad en la UCI fue mayor en el grupo de alto riesgo nutricional que en el grupo de bajo riesgo nutricional. Conclusión: El puntaje mNUTRIC demostró ser una herramienta útil y práctica con respecto al tamizaje de pacientes con COVID-19 en tratamiento en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, y puede ser relevante en la predicción del pronóstico de pacientes críticos. También se observó que los pacientes con SDRA, sobrepeso y obesidad se asocian a una menor mortalidad, lo que puede considerarse un factor protector, evidenciándose la paradoja de la obesidad.Objetivo: Avaliar o risco nutricional em pacientes graves e críticos com COVID-19 utilizando a ferramenta de triagem nutricional mNUTRIC escore. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo, com uma amostra total de 60 pacientes internados na UTI respiratória em um hospital público em Joinville, Santa Catarina, foram inclusos pacientes de ambos os sexos, com idade ≥18 anos, diagnosticada através do teste RT - PCR positivo, sob ventilação mecânica invasiva e em suporte nutricional via sonda enteral exclusiva. As características clínicas e informações antropométricas foram obtidas de prontuários eletrônicos e registros da nutrição. Resultados: Uma amostra de 60 pacientes com COVID-19 criticamente doentes foram incluídos no estudo, com média e idade entre 62,5 ± 24,5 anos. Com base no escore mNUTRIC da admissão na UTI, um alto risco nutricional (≥5 pontos)  foi observado em 58% dos pacientes, enquanto um baixo risco nutricional (<5 pontos). A mortalidade na UTI foi maior no grupo de alto risco nutricional do que no grupo de baixo risco nutricional. Conclusão: A mNUTRIC escore se mostrou uma ferramenta útil e prática no que diz respeito à triagem de pacientes com COVID-19 em tratamento na unidade de terapia intensiva, podendo ser relevante na previsão de prognóstico para pacientes criticamente doentes. Também foi observado que pacientes com SDRA, o sobrepeso e a obesidade estão associadas a menor mortalidade, o que pode ser considerado como fator de proteção, ficando evidente o paradoxo da obesidade. Palavras-chave: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. COVID-19. Escore NUTRIC modificado. Risco nutricional

Comparison of a nurse initiated insulin infusion protocol for intensive insulin therapy between adult surgical trauma, medical and coronary care intensive care patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sustained hyperglycemia is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. The specific aim was to determine if a nurse initiated insulin infusion protocol (IIP) was effective in maintaining blood glucose values (BG) within a target goal of 100–150 mg/dL across different intensive care units (ICUs) and to describe glycemic control during the 48 hours after protocol discontinuation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A descriptive, retrospective review of 366 patients having 28,192 blood glucose values in three intensive care units, Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU), Medical (MICU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU) in a quaternary care hospital was conducted. Patients were > 15 years of age, admitted to STICU (n = 162), MICU (n = 110) or CCU (n = 94) over 8 months; October 2003-June 2004 and who had an initial blood glucose level > 150 mg/dL. We summarized the effectiveness and safety of a nurse initiated IIP, and compared these endpoints among STICU, MICU and CCU patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median blood glucose values (mg/dL) at initiation of insulin infusion protocol were lower in STICU (188; IQR, 162–217) than in MICU, (201; IQR, 170–268) and CCU (227; IQR, 178–313); <it>p </it>< 0.0001. Mean time to achieving a target glucose level (100–150 mg/dL) was similar between the three units: 4.6 hours in STICU, 4.7 hours in MICU and 4.9 hours in CCU (<it>p </it>= 0.27). Hypoglycemia (BG < 60 mg/dL) occurred in 7% of STICU, 5% of MICU, and 5% of CCU patients (<it>p </it>= 0.85). Protocol violations were uncommon in all three ICUs. Mean blood glucose 48 hours following IIP discontinuation was significantly different for each population: 142 mg/dL in STICU, 167 mg/dL in MICU, and 160 mg/dL in CCU (<it>p </it>< 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The safety and effectiveness of nurse initiated IIP was similar across different ICUs in our hospital. Marked variability in glucose control after the protocol discontinuation suggests the need for further research regarding glucose control in patients transitioning out of the ICU.</p