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The purification of mesoscopic graphene flakes via eddy current separation
Get PDFThe exceptional properties of graphene are highly sensitive to impurities, which restrict its applications. Nearly all large-scale production methods fail to sufficiently control the impurities introduced during manufacturing. Given the significant differences in electrical conductivity between graphene and non-graphene impurities, we explored the application of eddy current separation for the purification process of graphene. Through numerical simulations and parametric study, our research investigates the eddy current forces, torques, and motion dynamics experienced by graphene flakes of different layers in an alternating magnetic field. The findings demonstrate that eddy current forces can overcome liquid-phase resistance, enabling controlled directional movement of graphene flakes. At a magnetic field frequency of 45 kHz, graphene flakes with fewer layers show enhanced settling velocities and quicker response times, suggesting a potential for statistically significant separation of graphene from impurities under the influence of the alternating magnetic field. This initial study supports the feasibility of integrating eddy current separation technology into the graphene purification process, providing valuable insights for future research in this field
Safeguarding Children and Young People from Gambling Harms: A Scoping Review of the Grey Literature
Get PDFPurpose of Review This scoping review aims to assess the range and efectiveness of interventions in the UK or relevant to
the UK context designed to prevent or reduce gambling-related harms among children and young people (CYP) aged up to
25 years based on grey literature. Grey literature captures practical strategies and innovations not documented in academic
literature, ofering a comprehensive understanding of existing interventions.
Recent Findings The review identifed fourteen organisations ofering interventions primarily focused on prevention and
treatment. Educational interventions, delivered through workshops, online courses, and digital resources, were most prevalent.
Innovative approaches, such as interactive web-based games, showed higher engagement levels among CYP. However, most
interventions lacked rigorous evaluation data, especially concerning CYP’s developmental needs.
Summary The review indicates the importance of multi-systemic approaches involving various stakeholders to mitigate
gambling-related harms. It highlights the need for tailored, evidence-based strategies addressing CYP’s vulnerabilities,
incorporating robust evaluation methods. Future research should include diverse linguistic and cultural contexts to ensure
comprehensive protection for CYP from gambling-related harm
Self-annealing behaviour of an Mg-Dy alloy processed by high-pressure torsion
No full textAn investigation was conducted to evaluate the microstructure, texture and microhardness of an Mg-0.4Dy (wt.%) alloy processed by high-pression torsion (HPT) for 15 turns and then self-annealed at ambient temperature for six years. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and Vickers microhardness were carried out near the centre, mid-radius and edge of each disc. The results show that self-annealing leads to a slight increase in the average grain size from 0.7 to 1 µm. The basal texture was retained at the centres and edges of the discs while the C1-fiber vanished near the mid-radius of the self-annealed disc. The value of the microhardness remained constant along the radii of the discs but the dislocation density, originating from the geometrically necessary dislocations (GND), increased significantly after self-annealing due to the development of sub-grain boundaries with misorientations of 2°< θ <5°. Based on these results, it is concluded that self-annealing of the HPT-processed Mg-0.4Dy alloy is controlled by a recovery process
Value co-destruction behavior in peer-to-peer accommodation: evidence of dark triad, moral disengagement, and host incivility
No full textDrawing on value co-destruction literature, moral disengagement, social exchange and trait activation theories, this study investigates the role of dark triad traits, moral disengagement, and host incivility on peer-to-peer accommodation guests’ value co-destruction behavior. Data was collected from 428 Indian Airbnb customers and analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling. Results show that among dark triad traits, only psychopathy directly influences value co-destruction behavior. However, all three dark traits lead to value co-destruction behavior through moral disengagement. Host incivility positively influences value co-destruction behavior and also moderates the relationship between psychopathy and value co-destruction behavior. The study offers a comprehensive understanding of the antecedents of guests’ value co-destruction behavior in peer-to-peer accommodation. The findings suggest that P2P accommodation managers need to instill moral accountability among guests and foster civil behaviors among hosts to prevent value co-destruction
The ichnology of White Sands (New Mexico): Linear traces and human footprints, evidence of transport technology?
Get PDFA travois is crafted from one or more wooden poles and is one of the simplest prehistoric vehicles. Although these devices likely played vital roles in the lives of ancient peoples, they have low preservation potential in the archaeological record. Here we report linear features associated with human footprints, some of which are dated to ∼22,000 years old, preserved in fine-grained sediments at White Sands National Park (New Mexico, USA). Using a range of examples, we identify three morphological types of trace in late Pleistocene sediments. Type I features occur as single, or bifurcating, narrow (depth > width) grooves which extend in planform from 2 to 50 m in length and trace either straight, gently curved or more irregular lines. They are associated with human footprints, which are truncated longitudinally by the groove and are not associated with other animal tracks. Type II examples are broader (width > depth) and form shallow runnels that typically have straight planforms and may truncate human footprints to one side. Type III examples consist of two parallel, equidistant grooves between 250 and 350 mm apart. They trace gently curving lines that can extend for 30+ m. Human footprints are associated with these features and may occur between, and to the side of, the parallel grooves. We review a range of possible interpretations including both human and non-human explanations and conclude that the most parsimonious explanation is that they represent drag marks formed by travois consisting of a single pole or crossed poles pulled by humans, presumably during the transport of resources. As such this unique footprint record may represent one of the earliest pieces of evidence for the use of transport technology
The Positive Cycle of Breastfeeding-Mental Health Outcomes of Breastfeeding Mothers Following Birth Trauma.
Get PDFBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It is established that both birth and infant feeding experiences can impact maternal mental health, but little is known about how the two might interact. Potentially, a positive breastfeeding experience might help to mitigate feelings associated with birth trauma, but conversely, a difficult feeding experience might further compound birth trauma. The aim of this study was therefore to explore how mothers' experiences of breastfeeding following birth trauma might impact their mental health. METHODS: To explore this, mothers were invited to complete an online survey about their experiences of birth and breastfeeding and how they felt these affected their wellbeing. There were 501 responses, with 159 (32%) describing their birth experience as traumatic and therefore included in this analysis. A thematic analysis approach was used to explore themes around breastfeeding experiences and the impact on wellbeing. RESULTS: Mothers who described positive breastfeeding experiences felt that breastfeeding helped them to bond with their baby post birth trauma and that this protected their mental health. Conversely, mothers who had a difficult experience described how pain, exhaustion, and low milk supply further negatively impacted their wellbeing. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show the importance of enhanced support for breastfeeding mothers who have experienced birth trauma, as feeding experiences can potentially help heal or compound challenging memories, thoughts, and emotions around birth
CORRECTION: Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to methanol integrated with the oxidative coupling of thiols for S-X (X = S, C) bond formation over an Fe3O4/BiVO4 composite
Get PDFCorrection for ‘Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to methanol integrated with the oxidative coupling of thiols for S–X (X = S, C) bond formation over an Fe3O4/BiVO4 composite’ by Nitish Saini et al., Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2024, 8, 1750–1760, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SE01651J.
The authors regret the omission of one of the affiliations of the author, Suman L. Jain, from the original manuscript. The corrected list of authors and affiliations for this paper is as shown here.
The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers
Mapping the landscape of employer value propositions in Asian hotels through online job postings analysis
Get PDFThis study explores how Asian hotels leverage job postings, an often-overlooked branding channel, to communicate Employer Value Propositions (EVPs) as an employer branding tactic. Analyzing 4603 job postings from Indeed, a prominent job search website, the research categorizes EVPs into Economic, Functional, and Psychological types (E−, F-, P-EVPs) and reveals their frequency of communication across five key Asian cities. The findings indicate that approximately three-quarters of job postings convey at least one type of EVP, with F-EVPs and P-EVPs being more prevalent than E-EVPs. Chain hotels demonstrate a higher frequency of EVP communication compared to independent hotels, with no discernible differences between non-managerial and managerial positions. These findings offer valuable resources for hotels to assess their EVP strategies through benchmarking and identifying areas for improvement. It also pioneers the application of signaling theory to job advertisements, contributing to the theoretical fields of employer branding, talent management, and recruitment research
The health system in Nepal's unique federalisation experiment.
Get PDFNepal’s introduction of its federal system in the 2015 Constitution changed the way society, including its health system, was organised. It meant that political changes and health systems changes occurred in parallel. Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen explores the impact of federalisation on Nepal’s health system as part of an interdisciplinary mixed-methods study* called ‘The Impact of Federalisation on Nepal’s Health System: A longitudinal Analysis’.
First, implementing a new federal system is a slow, resource intensive process. While building new federal structures is important, challenging the status quo through strategic “unlearning and undoing” of old tendencies is also essential, as this creates spaces for new approaches that are more in line with federalism. This requires attention to emotional and political spheres, and not just structural or technical ones.
Federalisation, generally, brought decision making, resources and service delivery closer to the people, yet the process remains challenging and incomplete. Importantly, at the same time as federalism was being introduced, Nepal’s health system had to respond to COVID-19, making it difficult to disentangle the effects of the pandemic from those of federalisation. The health system is also part of a broader, complex, and interdependent set of socio-political, economic, legal, and cultural systems.
We found that the impact of federalisation varied across the six WHO building blocks and pre-existing conditions, e.g. wealthier regions often benefit disproportionately, exacerbating inequities in health. Our study further highlighted: (a) the importance of leadership and governance, combined with financing mechanisms; (b) insufficient planning and misalignment between central and local levels resulting in inefficiencies; (c) weak health information systems hinder the ability to measure long-term effects. Overall, unlocking the full potential of federalism will require political will and commitment at all three levels of government.
• Funded by the UK Health Systems Research Initiative (Grant ref MR/T023554/1). Prof. van Teijlingen is part of the Nepal Federal Health System Team, see: https://www.nepalfederalhealthsystem.com/
Visual Search in People with Macular Degeneration: A Virtual Reality Eye-Tracking Study
No full textThis study is the first to explore the usability of a commercial off the shelf (COTS) VR headset for people with macular degeneration (MD) in the context of visual search. Fourteen participants were recruited; 9 fully sighted and 5 with sight loss due to MD. Firstly, a visual grid search task was presented where participants were asked to identify and discriminate virtual objects and shapes. Secondly, affective audio-visual videos were presented in VR to assess participants processing of affective information. The experimental procedure involved both a physical visual acuity Snellen test and a VR Snellen test conducted within a custom virtual environment. Most participants with macular degeneration (MD) reported increased visibility in VR. They were able to discriminate positive affective content and detect objects and shapes appearing at various locations across their entire field of view. Overall performance was linked to the level of visual impairment and whether it affected one or both eyes. Importantly, all participants successfully used the off-the-shelf VR headset. These findings provide preliminary insights into the usability of VR technologies for users with MD