Preliminary report on a Viking warrior grave at War Memorial Park, Islandbridge

The discovery of a Viking sword and spearhead was reported to the National Museum of Ireland in 2007. The artefacts were found accidentally when a trench for electrical cables was being dug at the War Memorial Park in Islandbridge, Dublin. A rescue excavation was undertaken in order to recover any other artefacts that may have been damaged during the ground works. A disturbed inhumation and three copper-alloy objects were found in the course of the excavation. This report is a preliminary summary of the findings of the excavation. It is suggested that the finds together represent the grave of a Scandinavian warrior. The results of isotope analysis on teeth found during the excavation are also presented

A multiscale model for the rupture of linear polymers in strong flows

Abstract Polymer-containing solutions used across research and industry are commonly exposed to mechanically harsh fluid processes, for example shear and extensional forces during flow through porous media or rapid micro-dispensing of biopharmaceutical molecules. These forces are strong enough to break the covalent bonds in the polymer backbone. As this scission phenomenon can change the functional and fluid-flow properties as well as introduce reactive radicals into the solution, it must be understood and controlled. Experiments and models to-date have only provided partial or qualitative insights into this behaviour. Here we build a link between the molecular-scale degradation models and the macro-scale laminar flow of dilute solutions in any given geometry. A free-draining bead-rod model is used to investigate rupture events at the molecular scale. It is shown by uniaxial extension simulations of an ensemble of chains that scission can be conveniently described at the macroscopic scale as a first order reaction whose rate is a function of the conformation tensor of the macromolecules and the velocity gradient of the flow. This approach is implemented in the finite volume code OpenFOAM by elaborating an appropriate constitutive equation for the conformation tensor. The macroscopic model is run and analysed for ultra-dilute solutions of poly(methyl methacrylate) in ethyl acetate and polyethylene oxide in water, using the geometry of an abrupt contraction flow and neglecting any viscoelastic effect. This multi-scale approach bridges the gap between phenomenological observations of mechanically-induced chemical degradation in large scale applications and the rich field of molecular-scale models of macromolecules under flow.King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST

Methodological “Learning-by-Doing” for Action Design Research

This study shares the direct experiences of designing and implementing methodological “learning-by-doing” for Action Design Research (ADR) within a 5-credit module that condenses the realities of completing a full ADR project without compromising the rigour of the approach. The module is described in detail, along with the specifics of its implementation over two years and the key learnings from doing so. Adopting a confessional writing approach, documented experiences from those involved (both designers and students) provide a rich data source, analysed using autonomous and communicative reflexivity. The underlying contribution of this paper is that it provides insights into the learning of ADR, the doing of ADR, and the outcomes of a technique that simultaneously combines both. As a result, ADR educators and researchers can draw on these insights to further their teaching, learning, and research endeavours. Finally, key insights such as forced pragmatism and the challenge of problematisation add to our understanding of conducting ADR while avoiding issues such as methodological slurring

Urachal endometrioma: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We discuss a rare presentation of an unusual case of endometrioma.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 40-year-old Caucasian woman presented with subacute abdominal pain and a suprapubic mass. A final diagnosis was made after the mass was resected and histopathology confirmed an endometrioma originating from an urachal remnant. Select imaging studies and histopathology are presented in this case report.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>While endometriomata are well known to arise from abdominal scars, the condition described in this case report is a rare example of an endometrioma arising from the urachus. A review of the pathological complications of the urachus is also included.</p

Going with the Flow : Tunable Flow-Induced Polymer Mechanochemistry

Mechanical forces can drive chemical transformations in polymers, directing reactions along otherwise inaccessible pathways, providing exciting possibilities for developing smart, responsive materials. The state-of-the-art test for solution-based polymer mechanochemistry development is ultrasonication. However, this does not accurately model the forces that will be applied during device fabrication using processes such as 3D printing or spray coating. Here, a step is taken toward predictably translating mechanochemistry from molecular design to manufacturing by demonstrating a highly controlled nozzle flow setup in which the shear forces being delivered are precisely tuned. The results show that solvent viscosity, fluid strain rate, and the nature of the breaking bond can be individually studied. Importantly, it is shown that the influence of each is different to that suggested by ultrasonication (altered quantity of chain breakage and critical polymer chain length). Significant development is presented in the understanding of polymer bond breakage during manufacturing flows to help guide design of active components that trigger on demand. Using an anthracene-based mechanophore, the triggering of a fluorescence turn-on is demonstrated through careful selection of the flow parameters. This work opens the avenue for programmed chemical transformations during inline manufacturing processes leading to tunable, heterogeneous final products from a single source material. © 2020 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei

Doing ESRC Data Better:A study for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Ensuring open data and open science in changing times remains a priority for publicly funded social science research in the UK. Understanding the changing landscape is key to achieving this and implementing it through appropriate policies and practices

Doing ESRC Data Better:A study for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Ensuring open data and open science in changing times remains a priority for publicly funded social science research in the UK. Understanding the changing landscape is key to achieving this and implementing it through appropriate policies and practices

The influence of adiposity on the interactions between strength, physical function and cognition among older adults in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study

Background Being overweight or obese may be associated with lower physical and cognitive function, but in late-adulthood (≥ 65 years) evidence is mixed. This study aimed to investigate how being overweight or obese affected interactions between muscle strength, function and cognition in Australians aged ≥ 50 years, and whether interactions varied according to age (i.e. ≥ 50–65 vs > 65 years). Methods This study included 2368 adults [mean (standard deviation) age: 63 (7) years; 56% female] from the 2011/2012 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) follow-up. Physical function was assessed via timed up-and-go (TUG) and muscle strength from knee extensor strength (KES). Cognition was assessed using Mini-Mental-State Exam (MMSE), Spot-the-Word (STW), California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) and Symbol–Digit-Modalities Test (SDMT). Beta binomial regression was used to evaluate how being overweight or obese influenced strength, physical and cognitive function associations. Results Being overweight or obese did not affect strength-cognition associations regardless of sex or age. With slower physical function; obese females showed better STW (odds ratio [OR] 95% CI]: 1.070 [1.016, 1.127], P = 0.011); obese men better MMSE (OR [95% CI]: 1.157 [1.012, 1.322], P = 0.033); and obese men aged > 65 better CVLT (OR [95% CI]: 1.122 [1.035, 1.217], P = 0.019) and MMSE (OR [95% CI]: 1.233 [1.049, 1.449], P = 0.017) compared to normal weight participants. Conclusion Slower physical function was associated with better performance in some cognitive domains in obese, but not in non-obese adults aged ≥ 50 years. These findings suggest some benefits of obesity to aspects of cognition when physical function is slower, but longitudinal follow-up studies are needed

A single-component photorheological fluid with light-responsive viscosity.

Viscoelastic fluids whose rheological properties are tunable with light have the potential to deliver significant impact in fields relying on a change in flow behavior, such as in-use tuning of combined efficient heat-transfer and drag-reduction agents, microfluidic flow and controlled encapsulation and release. However, simple, single-component systems must be developed to allow integration with these applications. Here, we report a single-component viscoelastic fluid, capable of a dramatic light-sensitive rheological response, from a neutral azobenzene photosurfactant, 4-hexyl-4'butyloxymonotetraethylene glycol (C6AzoOC4E4) in water. From cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and rheology measurements, we observe that the photosurfactant forms an entangled network of wormlike micelles in water, with a high viscosity (28 Pa s) and viscoelastic behaviour. UV irradiation of the surfactant solution creates a less dense micellar network, with some vesicle formation. As a result, the solution viscosity is reduced by four orders of magnitude (to 1.2 × 10-3 Pa s). This process is reversible and the high and low viscosity states can be cycled several times, through alternating UV and blue light irradiation

How does moving public engagement with research online change audience diversity? Comparing inclusion indicators for 2019 & 2020 European Researchers' night events

Taking place annually in more than 400 cities, European Researchers’ Night is a pan- European synchronized event that aims to bring researchers closer to the public. In this paper audience profiles are compared from events in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, face-to-face events reached an estimated 1.6 million attendees, while in 2020, events shifted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reached an estimated 2.3 million attendees. Focusing on social inclusion metrics, survey data is analyzed across two national contexts (Ireland and Malta) in 2019 (n = 656) and 2020 (n = 506). The results from this exploratory, descriptive study shed light on how moving public engagement with research online shifted audience profiles. Based on prior research about the digital divide in access and use of online media, hypotheses were proposed that online European Researchers’ Night events would attract audiences with higher educational attainment levels and greater self-reported, subjective economic well-being. While changes were observed from 2019 to 2020, results for each hypothesis show a mixed picture. The first hypothesis was upheld for the highest education levels but failed for the lowest levels suggesting that the pivot to online events simultaneously attracted participants with no formal education and those with postgraduate qualifications, while attracting less of those with undergraduate or lower levels of education. The second hypothesis was not upheld, with online European Researchers’ Night events attracting audiences with slightly higher levels of economic well-being compared to face-to-face events. The findings of this study indicate that European Researchers’ Night events present a clear opportunity to measure the effects of the digital divide in relation to public engagement with research across Europe.peer-reviewe