264 research outputs found
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Towards the Sustainable University.
noAll universities have the capacity to embrace, embed or ignore
sustainable development. Looking across the sector and reflecting on
the past seven years and my own institutional experiences, the key
finding is that change for campus and curriculum-based sustainability is
clearly possible but unpredictable.
For many years my own institution (University of Bradford) struggled to
make progress in a number of key aspects of `campus greeningÂż including
recycling, green build, energy management, green travel, fair trade etc.
It employed its first environmental manager as recently as 2003. Up until
2007, education for sustainable development (ESD) was largely found
in one small academic department. Now, as this paper describes, it is a
central feature of the learning and teaching strategy for the university
and an overall institutional objective
A new approach to the development and maintenance of industrial sequence logic
This thesis is concerned with sequence logic as found in industrial control systems, with
the focus being on process and manufacturing control systems. At its core is the assertion
that there is a need for a better approach to the development of industrial sequence logic
to satisfy the life-cycle requirements, and that many of the ingredients required to deliver
such an approach are now available.
The needs are discussed by considering the business case for automation and
deficiencies with traditional approaches. A set of requirements is then derived for an
integrated development environment to address the business needs throughout the
control system life-cycle.
The strengths and weaknesses of relevant control system technology and standards are
reviewed and their bias towards implementation described. Mathematical models,
graphical methods and software tools are then assessed with respect to the requirements
for an integrated development environment.
A solution to the requirements, called Synect is then introduced. Synect combines a
methodology using familiar graphical notations with Petri net modelling supported by a set
of software tools. Its key features are justified with reference to the requirements. A set of
case studies forms the basis of an evaluation against business needs by comparing the
Synect methodology with current approaches. The industrial relevance and exploitation
are then briefly described.
The thesis ends with a review of the key conclusions along with contributions to
knowledge and suggestions for further research
The University as a site for transformation around sustainability
YesUniversities are increasingly being seen as key sites for transformation around sustainability. However, much of the literature in this area uses the terms transformation and transformative learning rather uncritically. Moreover, there is little extant research which has investigated the links between transformative learning theories and Education for Sustainability (EfS). This paper reports on a research project which explored academic and student perceptions of the opportunities for transformation around sustainability in two UK universities. The findings suggest that, despite shared understanding about the nature of pedagogic approaches that promote deep learning, academics are wary about promoting transformation beyond the professional sphere and students are more likely to have transformative experiences outside the formal curriculum. There are indications that although universities have significant potential as sites for transformation around sustainability, at present, this is not being achieved
Three-dimensional reconstructions of intrahepatic bile duct tubulogenesis in human liver
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During liver development, intrahepatic bile ducts are thought to arise by a unique asymmetric mode of cholangiocyte tubulogenesis characterized by a series of remodeling stages. Moreover, in liver diseases, cells lining the Canals of Hering can proliferate and generate new hepatic tissue. The aim of this study was to develop protocols for three-dimensional visualization of protein expression, hepatic portal structures and human hepatic cholangiocyte tubulogenesis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Protocols were developed to digitally visualize portal vessel branching and protein expression of hepatic cell lineage and extracellular matrix deposition markers in three dimensions. Samples from human prenatal livers ranging from 7 weeks + 2 days to 15½ weeks post conception as well as adult normal and acetaminophen intoxicated liver were used. The markers included cytokeratins (CK) 7 and 19, the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), hepatocyte paraffin 1 (HepPar1), sex determining region Y (SRY)-box 9 (SOX9), laminin, nestin, and aquaporin 1 (AQP1).</p> <p>Digital three-dimensional reconstructions using CK19 as a single marker protein disclosed a fine network of CK19 positive cells in the biliary tree in normal liver and in the extensive ductular reactions originating from intrahepatic bile ducts and branching into the parenchyma of the acetaminophen intoxicated liver. In the developing human liver, three-dimensional reconstructions using multiple marker proteins confirmed that the human intrahepatic biliary tree forms through several developmental stages involving an initial transition of primitive hepatocytes into cholangiocytes shaping the ductal plate followed by a process of maturation and remodeling where the intrahepatic biliary tree develops through an asymmetrical form of cholangiocyte tubulogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The developed protocols provide a novel and sophisticated three-dimensional visualization of vessels and protein expression in human liver during development and disease.</p
Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction in mood, breast- and endocrine-related quality of life, and well-being in stage 0 to III breast cancer : a randomized, controlled trial
Purpose To assess the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for mood, breast- and endocrine-specific quality of life, and well-being after hospital treatment in women with stage 0 to III breast cancer. Patients and Methods A randomized, wait-listed, controlled trial was carried out in 229 women after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for breast cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to the 8-week MBSR program or standard care. Profile of Mood States (POMS; primary outcome), Functional Assessment of Cancer TherapyâBreast (FACT-B), Functional Assessment of Cancer TherapyâEndocrine Symptoms (FACT-ES) scales and the WHO five-item well-being questionnaire (WHO-5) evaluated mood, quality of life, and well-being at weeks 0, 8, and 12. For each outcome measure, a repeated-measures analysis of variance model, which incorporated week 0 measurements as a covariate, was used to compare treatment groups at 8 and 12 weeks. Results There were statistically significant improvements in outcome in the experimental group compared with control group at both 8 and 12 weeks (except as indicated) for POMS total mood disturbance (and its subscales of anxiety, depression [8 weeks only], anger [12 weeks only], vigor, fatigue, and confusion [8 weeks only]), FACT-B, FACT-ES, (and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy subscales of physical, social [8 weeks only], emotional, and functional well-being), and WHO-5. Conclusion MSBR improved mood, breast- and endocrine-related quality of life, and well-being more effectively than standard care in women with stage 0 to III breast cancer, and these results persisted at three months. To our knowledge, this study provided novel evidence that MBSR can help alleviate long-term emotional and physical adverse effects of medical treatments, including endocrine treatments. MBSR is recommended to support survivors of breast cancer
Systemic building blocks for creating and capturing value from circular economy
The idea of a circular economy has generated widespread academic, policy and business interest for its potential to address economic, ecological and societal concerns posed by current production and consumption systems. The growth in the number of academic publications reflects a period of critique, clarification and validation leading to research challenges, questions and a call for real world evidence of how the ideas translate into practice, evidence of outcomes and operational effectiveness. Whilst there has been extensive research into the classifications of circular business models, these are rarely linked to a discussion of actual circular value realisation within real world settings. In this paper we draw on three illustrative examples used within a global executive education programme to reflect on the locus of circular value creation and capture. Specifically, we explore the role and interplay of four configurable âbuilding blocksâ: circular design, business models, reverse network management and system enablers, as a potentially useful heuristic to describe how businesses are realising value from their circular economy practices. These cases illustrate that the success of large scale value creation and capture derives from the iteration of multiple, boundary spanning activities emerging over time in varying configurations. There is now a need to move from classification and description to quantification and testing of how value is created and captured from circular economy in different contexts. Circular economy validation requires rapid growth in building a credible research evidence base of successful case examples
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The big green lab project
YesBeverley Lucas and her colleagues give us a big green welcome to the Ecoversity of Bradford
In 2005, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) stated that âthe greatest contribution a university can make to sustainable development is through the education of their graduatesâ. The University of Bradford took up the gauntlet, embedding sustainable development in all areas of its campus whilst also transforming the curriculum across the university to educate for sustainable development. This led to them coining themselves an ecoversity.The authors would like to thank the National HE STEM Programme for funding this project
Health care professionalsâ experience, understanding and perception of need of advanced cancer patients with cachexia and their families: The benefits of a dedicated clinic.
BACKGROUND: Cachexia is defined as the on-going loss of skeletal muscle mass that cannot be fully reversed by conventional nutritional support. It is found in up to 80% of patients with advanced cancer and has profound psycho-social consequences for patients and their families. Previous studies demonstrate that many healthcare professionals receive little formal education in cachexia management leading them to feel that they have limited understanding of the syndrome and cannot intervene effectively. This study aims to examine the value of a dedicated cachexia clinic and its influence on staff understanding and practice. METHODS: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted. The study employed semi-structured interviews with a range of healthcare professionals responsible for designing and delivering cancer care in a large teaching hospital in Australia. This hospital had a dedicated cachexia clinic. RESULTS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 healthcare professionals and senior managers. Four themes were identified: formal and informal education; knowledge and understanding; truth telling in cachexia and palliative care; and, a multi-disciplinary approach. Findings show that improved knowledge and understanding across a staff body can lead to enhanced staff confidence and a willingness to address cancer cachexia and its consequences with patients and their families. CONCLUSION: Comparisons with similar previous research demonstrate the advantages of providing a structure for staff to gain knowledge about cachexia and how this can contribute to feelings of improved understanding and confidence necessary to respond to the challenge of cachexia
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