A vulnerability-based approach to human-mobility reduction for countering COVID-19 transmission in London while considering local air quality

© 2020 Elsevier B.V. An ecologic analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between air pollution, and COVID-19 cases and fatality rates in London. The analysis demonstrated a strong correlation (R2 > 0.7) between increment in air pollution and an increase in the risk of COVID-19 transmission within London boroughs. Particularly, strong correlations (R2 > 0.72) between the risk of COVID-19 fatality and nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter pollution concentrations were found. Although this study assumed the same level of air pollution across a particular London borough, it demonstrates the possibility to employ air pollution as an indicator to rapidly identify the city's vulnerable regions. Such an approach can inform the decisions to suspend or reduce the operation of different public transport modes within a city. The methodology and learnings from the study can thus aid in public transport's response to COVID-19 outbreak by adopting different levels of human-mobility reduction strategies based on the vulnerability of a given region

Preparing Students for a Digitized Future

Through this study, a vehicle to enhance existing education curricula was demonstrated, by exposing students to research-informed educational activities and to experience the key digital systems used in different industrial sectors. Digital skills are in high demand across the globe, with over a million digitally skilled people required by 2022 in the UK alone. With digital skills being vital to a country’s economy, there is a need to develop the higher education sector to prepare students for a digitised future - a key area of future graduate skills. The overall aim of the project was to train students in cutting-edge digital technologies through two separate week-long boot camps, targeting undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts. To this end, an educational project primed by research-informed teaching was successfully organised at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with the industry, to directly enhance the student’s personal development in the digital field, the findings of which are reported in this paper. Researchers and practitioners presented practical applications of various digital technologies during the boot camps

A rational framework for post-flood road network condition recovery

Heavy-precipitation events can lead to widespread flooding and prolonged inundation of road pavement, which in turn would weaken its structural performance and accelerate its deterioration. A major challenge for road authorities is to prepare a suitable and swift recovery programme to restore the road network in the event of flood-related disruptions. Furthermore, widespread damage caused by flooding and other competing needs for recovery resources imposes additional constraints. The situation is exacerbated by the uncertainty and complexity of the post-flood situation. To address this challenge, a methodology for the formulation of a strategic post-flood pavement recovery programme based on life-cycle analysis is proposed in this paper. The resultant road conditions associated with the choice of work standards, the timing of implementation and funding constraints were evaluated in a case study, and a cost-effective recovery programme was formulated. The case study also demonstrated the use of output data to assist road authorities in strategic decision making. This study serves as a guide for road administration to develop a post-disaster recovery programme and provides insights for further research into post-disaster management of infrastructure systems. </jats:p

Recurrent Intracranial Haemangiopericytoma compatible to Synovial Sarcoma

A rare case of intracranial haemangiopericytoma with a thrice recurrence, treated by gross total removal and local irradiation is presented. Histological examination of the tumour specimen showed haemangiopericytoma (WHO grading III). The tumour has not recurred for 15 months after third operation and 30 sessions of radiotherapy, although the effectiveness of radiation for haemangiopericytoma is unclear