Solubility behaviour, crystallisation kinetics and pour point : a comparison of linear alkane and triacyl glyceride solute/solvent mixtures

Mixtures of either a hydrocarbon wax in a hydrocarbon solvent or a long chain triacyl glyceride (TAG) in a TAG solvent show complex solubility boundary temperature hysteresis and precipitated crystal network formation leading to gelation. For these industrially-important systems, we show how the equilibrium solubility and its hysteresis, crystallisation kinetics and pour point temperature vary with solute concentration for representative examples of both hydrocarbon (n-tetracosane (C24) solute in n-heptane (C7) solvent) and TAG (tristearin (SSS) solute in tricaprylin (CCC) solvent) mixtures. The behaviour is modelled with good accuracy; thereby providing a useful aid to formulation and process optimisation

Variability of Data in High Throughput Experimentation for Catalyst Studies in Fuel Processing

The use of high throughout and combinatorial experimentation is becoming commonplace in catalytic research. The benefits of parallel experiments are not only limited to reducing the time-to-market, but also give an opportunity to study processes in more depth, by generating more data. To investigate the complete parameter space, multiple experiments must be performed and the variability between these experiments must be quantifiable. In this project, the reproducibility and variance in high throughput catalyst preparation and parallel testing were determined. High-performance equipment was used in a catalyst development program for fuel processing, the production of fuel cell-grade hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels. Four studies, involving water-gas shift conversion and high-temperature steam methane reforming, were performed to determine the reproducibility of the workflow from automated catalyst preparation to parallel activity testing. Statistical analyses showed the standard deviation in catalytic activities as determined by conversion, to be less than 6% of the average value. 

Improving young people’s health and wellbeing through a school health research network: reflections on school-researcher engagement at the national level

The School Health Research Network is a policy-practice-research partnership established in Wales in 2013. The Network aims to: provide health and wellbeing data for national, regional and local stakeholders, including schools; co-produce school-based health improvement research for Wales; and build capacity for evidence-informed practice in the school health community. School-focused engagement activities include providing member schools with bespoke Student Health and Wellbeing Reports, hosting school health webinars, producing school-friendly research briefings, and holding annual events for schools. The Network’s model for co-producing research with schools is described and its impacts on schools is explored. These include more efficient recruitment of schools to research projects, school involvement in intervention development, schools beginning to embed evidence-informed practice by using their Reports and other Network resources, and securing funding to evaluate innovative health and wellbeing practices identified by schools. Drawing on the Trans-disciplinary Action Research (TDAR) literature, the article reflects on how TDAR principles have underpinned Network progress. The concept of reciprocity in the co-production literature and its relevance to engagement with schools is also explored, along with the Network’s contribution to our understanding of how we can build sustainable co-production at large scale in order to generate national level action and benefit

A grounded theory of psychological resilience in Olympic champions

Objective: Although it is well-established that the ability to manage stress is a prerequisite of sporting excellence, the construct of psychological resilience has yet to be systematically examined in athletic performers. The study reported here sought to explore and explain the relationship between psychological resilience and optimal sport performance. Design and Method: Twelve Olympic champions (8 men and 4 women) from a range of sports were interviewed regarding their experiences of withstanding pressure during their sporting careers. A grounded theory approach was employed throughout the data collection and analysis, and interview transcripts were analyzed using open, axial and selective coding. Methodological rigor was established by incorporating various verification strategies into the research process, and the resultant grounded theory was also judged using the quality criteria of fit, work, relevance, and modifiability. Results and Conclusions: Results indicate that numerous psychological factors (relating to a positive personality, motivation, confidence, focus, and perceived social support) protect the world’s best athletes from the potential negative effect of stressors by influencing their challenge appraisal and meta-cognitions. These processes promote facilitative responses that precede optimal sport performance. The emergent theory provides sport psychologists, coaches and national sport organizations with an understanding of the role of resilience in athletes’ lives and the attainment of optimal sport performance

Multiple markers of cortical morphology reveal evidence of supragranular thinning in schizophrenia.

In vivo structural neuroimaging can reliably identify changes to cortical morphology and its regional variation but cannot yet relate these changes to specific cortical layers. We propose, however, that by synthesizing principles of cortical organization, including relative contributions of different layers to sulcal and gyral thickness, regional patterns of variation in thickness of different layers across the cortical sheet and profiles of layer variation across functional hierarchies, it is possible to develop indirect morphological measures as markers of more specific cytoarchitectural changes. We developed four indirect measures sensitive to changes specifically occurring in supragranular cortical layers, and applied these to test the hypothesis that supragranular layers are disproportionately affected in schizophrenia. Our findings from the four different measures converge to indicate a predominance of supragranular thinning in schizophrenia, independent of medication and illness duration. We propose that these indirect measures offer novel ways of identifying layer-specific cortical changes, offering complementary in vivo observations to existing post-mortem studies.KW is supported by the University of Cambridge MB/PhD Programme and, together with KJW, by the Wellcome Trust. IMG by a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (RNAG/260), and LR and PCF by the Bernard Wolfe Health Neuroscience Fund and Wellcome Trust

Predictors of physical activity and sedentary behaviours among 11-16 year olds: Multilevel analysis of the 2013 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Wales

Background The present study investigated associations between individual- and school-level predictors and young people’s self-reported physical activity (total activity and moderate-to-vigorous activity) and sedentary behaviours. Methods Individual-level data provided by the 2013/14 cross-sectional survey ‘Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Wales’ were linked to school-level data within the ‘HBSC School Environment Questionnaire’. The final sample comprised 7,376 young people aged 11-16 years across 67 schools. Multilevel modelling was used to examine predictors of total physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behaviours (screen-based behaviours). Results Taking more physical activity (less than 5 days vs. 5 or more days per week), engaging in higher levels of MVPA (less than 4 hours vs. 4 or more hours per week) and reporting 2 or less hours of sedentary time were predicted by several individual level variables. Active travel to school positively predicted high levels of physical activity, however, gender stratified models revealed active travel as a predictor amongst girls only (OR:1.25 (95 % CI:1.05 - 1.49)). No school-level factors were shown to predict physical activity levels, however, a lower school socio-economic status was associated with a higher level of MVPA (OR:1.02 (95 % CI:1.01 - 1.03)) and a lower risk of sedentary behaviour (OR:0.97 (95 % CI:0.96 – 0.99)). A shorter lunch break (OR:1.33 (95 % CI:1.11 - 1.49)) and greater provision of facilities (OR:1.02 (95 % CI:1.00 - 1.05)) were associated with increased sedentary activity. Gender stratified models revealed that PE lesson duration (OR:1.18 (95 % CI:1.01 - 1.37)) and the provision of sports facilities (OR:1.03 (95 % CI:1.00 - 1.06)) were predictors of boy’s sedentary behaviours only. Conclusion Shorter lunch breaks were associated with increased sedentary time. Therefore, while further research is needed to better understand the causal nature of this association, extending lunch breaks could have a positive impact on sedentary behaviour through the provision of more time for physical activity. The findings also suggest that active travel could offer a mechanism for increasing physical activity levels particularly amongst girls. Particularly, the design and evaluation of interventions to promote physical activity during school hours should employ a comprehensive approach, including a focus on school policies and behaviours both in and out of school hours. Keywords Physical activity – Sedentary behaviour – Active travel – School – Policy – Environmen

Media and human capital development: Can video game playing make you smarter?

According to the literature, video game playing can improve such cognitive skills as problem solving, abstract reasoning, and spatial logic. I test this hypothesis using the data from the Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The endogeneity of video game playing is addressed by using panel data methods and controlling for an extensive list of child and family characteristics. To address the measurement error in video game playing, I instrument children's weekday time use with their weekend time use. After taking into account the endogeneity and measurement error, video game playing is found to positively affect children's problem solving ability. The effect of video game playing on problem solving ability is comparable to the effect of educational activities

From Shops to Bins: A Case Study of Consumer Attitudes and Behaviours Towards Plastics in a UK Coastal City

UNLABELLED: Understanding the use behaviours of plastic items within households is important to enable informed policy development, particularly with the emerging and developing global plastic treaty. A survey of 400 permanent residents in Portsmouth aimed to identify the general trends in single-use plastic product (SUPP) use and disposal, and their personal motivations and barriers to reducing and recycling plastic. This included identifying common influencers of attitudes such as environmental values, situational characteristics, psychological factors and the individual demographic characteristics of residents. Key factors in consumer behaviour were found to be product availability, affordability and convenience. Often, less conveniently recycled plastics more frequently end up in landfill such as films, shopping bags and personal care items. The age of respondents was found to be the most significantly associated demographic with SUPP consumption, reuse and recycling behaviours. Other demographic variables such as a resident\u27s location within the city, income and vehicle ownership were potential drivers influencing individual attitudes and their incentives towards reducing and recycling their plastic waste. The findings from this study brought to light the importance of effective local plastic governance. This study also identified consumer perceptions and behaviours that could contribute to future holistic plastic policy recommendations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-022-01261-5

Self-monitoring blood pressure in hypertension, patient and provider perspectives: A systematic review and thematic synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the qualitative evidence for patient and clinician perspectives on self-measurement of blood pressure (SMBP) in the management of hypertension focussing on: how SMBP was discussed in consultations; the motivation for patients to start self-monitoring; how both patients and clinicians used SMBP to promote behaviour change; perceived barriers and facilitators to SMBP use by patients and clinicians. METHODS: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cinahl, Web of Science, SocAbs were searched for empirical qualitative studies that met the review objectives. Reporting of included studies was assessed using the COREQ framework. All relevant data from results/findings sections of included reports were extracted, coded inductively using thematic analysis, and overarching themes across studies were abstracted. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in the synthesis involving 358 patients and 91 clinicians. Three major themes are presented: interpretation, attribution and action; convenience and reassurance v anxiety and uncertainty; and patient autonomy and empowerment improve patient-clinician alliance. CONCLUSIONS: SMBP was successful facilitating the interaction in consultations about hypertension, bridging a potential gap in the traditional patient-clinician relationship. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Uncertainty could be reduced by providing information specifically about how to interpret SMBP, what variation is acceptable, adjustment for home-clinic difference, and for patients what they should be concerned about and how to act

Do stronger school smoking policies make a difference? Analysis of the health behaviour in school-aged children survey

Background: Associations of the strength of school smoking policies with cigarette, e-cigarette and cannabis use in Wales were examined. Methods: Nationally representative cross-sectional survey of pupils aged 11–16 years (N=7376) in Wales. Senior management team members from 67 schools completed questionnaires about school smoking policies, substance use education and tobacco cessation initiatives. Multi-level, logistic regression analyses investigated self-reported cigarette, e-cigarette and cannabis use, for all students and those aged 15–16 years. Results: Prevalence of current smoking, e-cigarette use and cannabis use in the past month were 5.3%, 11.5% and 2.9%, respectively. Of schools that provided details about smoking policies (66/67), 39.4% were strong (written policy applied to everyone in all locations), 43.9% were moderate (written policy not applied to everyone in all locations) and 16.7% had no written policy. There was no evidence of an association of school smoking policies with pupils’ tobacco or e-cigarette use. However, students from schools with a moderate policy [OR = 0.47; 95% (confidence interval) CI: 0.26–0.84] were less likely to have used cannabis in the past month compared to schools with no written policy. This trend was stronger for students aged 15–16 years (moderate policy: OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.22–0.80; strong policy: OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.23–0.87). Conclusions: School smoking policies may exert less influence on young people’s smoking behaviours than they did during times of higher adolescent smoking prevalence. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the potential influence of school smoking policies on cannabis use and mechanisms explaining this associatio