Assessing perceptions of pedestrian-focused intervention in a car-dependent European island

Apart from the numerous social, economic, and environmental impacts of car dependence, the time people spend sitting in motorised vehicles has been identified as a sedentary behaviour that can negatively impact people's physical and psychological health. The climate breakdown and the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to expose the fragility and vulnerability of the urban environment and the imminent need for response, management, and radical re-thinking through innovation, especially within the transport sector. The incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic has also reiterated the need for urban centres to re-establish a sense of community, extend the benefits reaped from reduced motorised transport usage and boost small/medium-size businesses through the provision of active travel spaces. This paper investigates the role of pedestrian-focused intervention to encourage walking rather than car use for short-distance trips, within the context of the car-dependent small island state of Malta. The research includes the use of semi-structured interviews with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a virtual platform for citizen participation. The platform is an interactive space for participants to identify barriers that discourage walking and explore and evaluate options that encourage walking as a mode of transport. A discussion of preliminary findings sheds light on the impact of pedestrian interventions that encourage active travel and contribute policy-relevant outcomes based on the perceptions and direct feedback from citizens and stakeholders alike. © 2023 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.

Emergency transition to remote learning: DoIt@Home Lab in engineering

PurposeThe interruption of on-campus teaching and learning, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forced universities around the globe to rethink their pedagogical models and adopt innovative strategies and approaches that enabled continuity of learning. Engineering schools and faculties were faced with the challenge of how to continue to engage students with the practical component of coursework, especially in terms of lab work and experimentation, which are mandatory requirements for degree awards.Design/methodology/approachThis study documents how the Faculty of Engineering in a university in Oman engaged students with the practical component of their course during the pandemic by launching the remote DoIt@Home Lab. The DoIt@Home Lab approach included the design and development of video recorded labs, virtual labs, simulation exercises and DoIt@Home experiments which were provided to students as teaching tools and guides to conducting home experiments remotely.FindingsThis study presents the DoIt@Home Lab approach introduced to Year 2 Chemistry for engineering students. Students' grades improved by 11% over the previous year when the course was delivered face-to-face. Failure rates dropped by 8% while the number of students earning a 3.25 grade point average (GPA) or higher increased by 18%.Originality/valueThe DoIt@Home Lab for engineering courses could enhance students' learning experience and create an effective remote learning environment. While the DoIt@Home Lab was created to supplement on-campus activity in the event of a temporary disruption, it can also be used to supplement regular face-to-face program delivery.

Watching me watching you: Training and assessment in a virtual world.

Virtual education isn't new. Teaching has been delivered remotely for many years, although it came to prominence with the enforced move to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technologies provide tools that are integral to our everyday lives, and training and assessment are no different. Stepping back from the obligatory remote delivery of practical skills training, now we have the opportunity to review and evaluate our own learning (as educators) about the value of resources for training delivery. Combining sound educational principles with the available technologies, we can use remotely delivered learning to enhance our teaching and to increase access to learning, without hindrance because of distance or the type of facility. Remote connections allow expertise and best practice to become suddenly available to a wider cohort of researchers, rapidly spreading new ideas about refinement of in vivo procedures and supporting colleagues to learn and develop. We currently use only a few of the technological tools available, and there is much to learn from other disciplines where virtual and augmented reality are assisting surgeons, aircraft pilots and others daily. By harnessing remote and assisted technologies in teaching, we can also develop the mindset and ability of the biomedical community to use them to augment, or even to replace, animal studies in future and to democratise training globally.

When theory meets praxis – enhancing heritage management through practice-led research at Great Zimbabwe World Heritage property

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to outline and reflect on the new research agenda for the Great Zimbabwe World Heritage property. This research agenda was jointly developed by academics and practitioners from Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) respectively. This Research-Practice Team was put together for the Heritage Place Lab (HPL), a pilot project of the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership programme. Design/methodology/approach: A series of steps were undertaken to come up with research priorities and a new research agenda that are presented in this paper. The HPL project involved online workshops, due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, that were held between September 2021 and April 2022. The HPL methodology involved six assignments that were based on the Enhancing Our Heritage Toolkit 2.0 (EOH) which was being designed by UNESCO and its Advisory Bodies. This toolkit encouraged the team to establish site-specific management issues and research needs. The toolkit helped the team to have a detailed appreciation of the site's Outstanding Universal Value as well as other heritage values of national and local importance. The toolkit also involved the mapping of site attributes and multiple actors as well as the analysis of governance and legal frameworks. The toolkit also required the team to identify factors affecting the heritage property. Findings: The Research-Practice Team highlighted challenges that resulted from the legacy of ill-informed research activities and conservation efforts at the World Heritage property. It became more apparent that the site managers were prioritizing the physical fabric of the site at the expense of the spiritual aspects. Lack of coordination among the actors was also undermining the governance structure. Four thematic strands which included local values and intangible cultural heritage elements;heritage governance;climate change and environmental sustainability and incorporation of local knowledge systems were identified for further research. Originality/value: The paper is an outcome of collaborative efforts that were done by academics and practitioners. Researchers and site managers at Great Zimbabwe had hitherto worked in silos. The majority of previous and ongoing research on the World Heritage property falls short of addressing the dire management challenges. The paper is an attempt to broaden the scope in terms of the management of the site. In the past focus has been on the monumental aspects of the site with specific reference to the dry-stone walled structures. However, in this instance, the Research-Practice Team has integrated new interests such as the intangible aspects of Great Zimbabwe, spirituality and community beneficiation. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Assessing perceptions of pedestrian-focused intervention in a car-dependent European island

Apart from the numerous social, economic, and environmental impacts of car dependence, the time people spend sitting in motorised vehicles has been identified as a sedentary behaviour that can negatively impact people's physical and psychological health. The climate breakdown and the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to expose the fragility and vulnerability of the urban environment and the imminent need for response, management, and radical re-thinking through innovation, especially within the transport sector. The incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic has also reiterated the need for urban centres to re-establish a sense of community, extend the benefits reaped from reduced motorised transport usage and boost small/medium-size businesses through the provision of active travel spaces. This paper investigates the role of pedestrian-focused intervention to encourage walking rather than car use for short-distance trips, within the context of the car-dependent small island state of Malta. The research includes the use of semi-structured interviews with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a virtual platform for citizen participation. The platform is an interactive space for participants to identify barriers that discourage walking and explore and evaluate options that encourage walking as a mode of transport. A discussion of preliminary findings sheds light on the impact of pedestrian interventions that encourage active travel and contribute policy-relevant outcomes based on the perceptions and direct feedback from citizens and stakeholders alike. © 2023 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.

Work in progress: Hybrid lab for engineering learning

This paper describes the implementation of a hybrid platform for experimental activities in engineering courses. The proposed platform can be used as a remote or face-to-face laboratory;it may also be ideal for the new normal after the Covid 19 pandemic. The proposal has the purpose to help engineering teachers to build this hybrid laboratory without specialized knowledge, requiring little time for its implementation and practically no economic investment. To validate the proposal, the process to build the course of a hybrid laboratory for Control System course is described in this paper, which is expected to have experimental activities within the university and from home. After the implementation, the full functionality of the laboratory will be carried out both in its remote and face-to-face format. © 2023 IEEE.

Analytical and biomedical applications of microfluidics in traditional Chinese medicine research

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has significant benefits in the prevention and treatment of diseases due to its unique theoretical system and research techniques. However, there are still key issues to be resolved in the full interpretation and use of TCM, such as vague active compounds and mechanism of action. Therefore, it is promising to promote the research on TCM through innovative strategies and advanced cutting-edge technologies. Microfluidic chips have provided controllable unique platforms for biomedical applications in TCM research with flexible composition and large-scale integration. In this review, the analysis and biomedical applications of microfluidics in the field of TCM are highlighted, including quality control of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), delivery of CHMs, evaluation of pharmacological activity as well as disease diagnosis. Finally, potential challenges and prospects of existing microfluidic technologies in the inheritance and innovation of TCM are discussed.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Development of a Lymphoid Organ-Chip to Evaluate Covid Vaccine Boosting Strategies

Background: Secondary lymphoid organs provide the adequate microenvironment for the development of antigen (Ag)-specific immune responses. The tight collaboration between CD4+ T cells and B cells in germinal centers is crucial to shape B cell fate and optimize antibody maturation. Dissecting these immune interactions remains challenging in humans, and animal models do not always recapitulate human physiology. To address this issue, we developed an in vitro 3D model of a human lymphoid organ. The model relies on a microfluidic device, enabling primary human cells to self-organize in an extracellular matrix (ECM) under continuous fluid perfusion. We applied this Lymphoid Organ-Chip (LO chip) system to the analysis of B cell recall responses to SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Method(s): We used a two-channel microfluidic Chip S1 from Emulate, where the top channel is perfused with antigen (spike protein or SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine), while the bottom channel contains PBMC (n = 14 independent donors) seeded at high-density in a collagen-based ECM. Immune cell division and cluster formation were monitored by confocal imaging, plasmablast differentiation and spike-specific B cell amplification by flow cytometry, antibody secretion by a cell-based binding assay (S-flow). Result(s): Chip perfusion with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for 6 days resulted in the induction CD38hiCD27hi plasmablast maturation compared to an irrelevant BSA protein (P< 0.0001). Using fluorescent spike as a probe, we observed a strong amplification of spike-specific B cell (from 3.7 to 140-fold increase). In line with this rapid memory B cell response, spike-specific antibodies production could be detected as early as day 6 of culture. Spike perfusion also induced CD4+ T cell activation (CD38+ ICOS+), which correlated with the level of B cell maturation. The magnitude of specific B cell amplification in the LO chip was higher than in 2D and 3D static cultures at day 6, showing the added value of 3D perfused culture for the induction of recall responses. Interestingly, the perfusion of mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines also led to strong B cell maturation and specific B cell amplification, indicating that mRNA-derived spike could be expressed and efficiently presented in the LO chip. Conclusion(s): We developed a versatile Lymphoid Organ-Chip model suitable for the rapid evaluation of B cell recall responses. The model is responsive to protein and mRNA-encoded antigens, highlighting its potential in the evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine boosting strategies.

Online physics laboratory course: United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework perspective from Walailak University, Thailand

This paper describes a case study of an online physics laboratory course implemented for 254 engineering students at Walailak University in Thailand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The laboratory sequence was designed based on the United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework and covered eight experiments on fundamental concepts of motion, electricity, waves, and fluid mechanics. The experiments were conducted at students' homes using physics education technology simulations, Tracker for video analysis, smartphones, and home-based apparatuses. During the experiments, students shared their progress with classmates and lecturers through screen sharing, which facilitated exchanges of ideas and difficulties. The paper discusses the successful implementation of the online laboratory course and the challenges encountered, such as student engagement, resource limitations, and practical skill development. The insights gained from this case study may be useful for online laboratory education beyond the pandemic. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Distance Education is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Interpretive analysis of online teaching labs constructed using moodle during the pandemic period.

The Algerian Ministry of Higher Education announced the closure of universities and switched to distance teaching due to the strong and rapid spread of COVID-19. The pandemic that forced this change created many obstacles to pedagogy. In fact, many related issues had to be resolved and other alternative teaching strategies examined. This article defines a strategy that ensures the pedagogical continuity of laboratory practical work of computer graphics course in a COVID- 19 context. It also includes data analysis of student satisfaction questionnaire on the lab work strategy quality. As a result of this research, the success rates in the graphics design course reached 91,79% and students' grades ranged from 4.33/20 to 18.17/20. This result is consistent with the combined-type graphical representation of COLLES. Guidelines and best practices are provided for performing online learning labs, including the university's online learning platform as well as different teaching scenarios, tutoring and peer assessment techniques. Computer science instructors can use this innovative strategy to develop content-specific courses, establish recommended skills, and deploy technology to improve their teaching methods.

Classification of nucleic acid amplification on ISFET arrays using spectrogram-based neural networks.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a significant research gap in the field of molecular diagnostics. This has brought forth the need for AI-based edge solutions that can provide quick diagnostic results whilst maintaining data privacy, security and high standards of sensitivity and specificity. This paper presents a novel proof-of-concept method to detect nucleic acid amplification using ISFET sensors and deep learning. This enables the detection of DNA and RNA on a low-cost and portable lab-on-chip platform for identifying infectious diseases and cancer biomarkers. We show that by using spectrograms to transform the signal to the time-frequency domain, image processing techniques can be applied to achieve the reliable classification of the detected chemical signals. Transformation to spectrograms is beneficial as it makes the data compatible with 2D convolutional neural networks and helps gain significant performance improvement over neural networks trained on the time domain data. The trained network achieves an accuracy of 84% with a size of 30kB making it suitable for deployment on edge devices. This facilitates a new wave of intelligent lab-on-chip platforms that combine microfluidics, CMOS-based chemical sensing arrays and AI-based edge solutions for more intelligent and rapid molecular diagnostics.

Particularities of Physics Laboratory Work Conducting at the Technical University during Distance Learning

The training of an engineer at a technical university involves not only the mastering the theoretical knowledge by students, but also the acquisition of the ability to conduct the experimental research. The performance of laboratory work is the basis of such skills. Necessary social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to switch to a distant form for all kinds of classes, including physics labs.Conducting laboratory physics classes in synchronous distance learning mode requires the availability of computer programs that adequately model real laboratory equipment, materials for preparing and monitoring students' readiness to perform laboratory research, as well as methodic for conducting online laboratory classes.In this article we analyze the types of labs, the requirements for computer models of real physics labs and justify the use of the HTML5 and Java Script language to create virtual laboratories (VL) in physics for first-year students of all technical specialties studying under the bachelor's training program at the National Technical University of Ukraine 'Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute >>. The expert evaluation showed the correspondence of the created VL to real prototypes. It is important for bringing the students' perception of virtual objects closer to the perception of real ones. We also briefly describes the procedure for developing VL, created didactic materials (methodological guidelines, videos, test items) and the methodology laboratory classes in synchronous distance learning mode.The use of the created VL and the developed methodology for conducting online laboratory exercises made it possible to overcome successfully the difficulties of organizing the educational process during the forced transition of students to distance learning.

Nanopore single-molecule analysis of biomarkers: Providing possible clues to disease diagnosis

Biomarker detection has attracted increasing interest in recent years due to the minimally or non-invasive sampling process. Single entity analysis of biomarkers is expected to provide real-time and accurate biological information for early disease diagnosis and prognosis, which is critical to the effective disease treatment and is also important in personalized medicine. As an innovative single entity analysis method, nanopore sensing is a pioneering single-molecule detection technique that is widely used in analytical bioanalytical fields. In this review, we overview the recent progress of nanopore biomarker detection as new approaches to disease diagnosis. In highlighted studies, nanopore was focusing on detecting biomarkers of different categories of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, such as pandemic COVID-19, AIDS, cancers, neurologic diseases, etc. Various sensitive and selective nanopore detecting strategies for different types of biomarkers are summarized. In addition, the challenges, opportunities, and direction for future development of nanopore-based biomarker sensors are also discussed.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Covid-19 Mppt Algorithm Application to Solar Energy Conversion System

Alternative energy alternatives to traditional energy sources like coal and fossil fuels include solar PV and wind energy conversion systems. The solar and wind energy conversion system's maximum power may be obtained by activating the converters. There are several MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) regulating methods for solar and wind energy conversion systems. For solar PV energy conversion systems, this study suggests two MPPT controlling techniques: Covid-19 MPPT and FLC-based MPPT. The two MPPT methods that are suggested are put into practise using MATLAB. The first Covid-19 approach that has been developed combines aspects of hill climbing and progressive conductance methods. Calculate the direction of the perturbation for the PV modules' operation using the incremental conductance approach. The method of ascending hills is straightforward and involves fewer variables. When dI/dV equals the incremental conductance, the Maximum Power Point (MPP) is attained using the incremental conductance approach. In the hill climbing approach, the MPP is determined by comparing the power in the present and the past. Both incremental conductance and change of power are taken into account in the proposed Covid-19 MPPT regulating approach to obtain the MPP. With this hybrid approach, solar PV generates the most electricity possible under all conditions of temperature and irradiance. As a result, the planned Covid-19 technique moves forward as intended and swiftly reaches the MPP.Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.

Trust and citizen participation in community-based monitoring system: An experimental evidence from Bangladesh

We utilize the unique setting of a public procurement project in Bangladesh to understand the relationship between trust and citizen engagement in social accountability mechanisms. In this model of civic engagement, in each project site, a citizen-monitoring group is formed to oversee the quality of implementation and report any irregularities to the authorities. We investigate whether the level of trust in the community affects the performance of their citizen-monitoring group and/or the interactions resulting from the participation in the monitoring task affects the level of trust of the monitoring group members. We measure trust using both a simplified trust game and a survey. Our finding is inconclusive to the question of whether the trust level in the community affects the performance of the citizen-monitoring group. While we find no such indication from the trust games, the data on generalized trust from the survey show a positive effect of trust on monitoring group activity. We find stronger support for the hypothesis that participation in the monitoring group affects the level of trust. According to our findings, the effect has been negative in this case. An additional aspect of our study is carrying out a simplified design that allows us to collect behavioral data effectively from a population that lacks general and technological literacy and to implement the experiment remotely under extraordinary circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Online and FREE access to plasma physics experiments

Remote controlled laboratories had a great push during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, they were already out there but lacking in visibility. This external trigger pushed the academy to face a global challenge to start offering remote experiments more consistently and maturely. Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) has been offering several remote experiments since 2000 but with the need for an update due to technological aging. As such, the framework for remote experiments in education (FREE) was created based on new web technologies. In addition to the most diverse experiments that had already been developed, FREE includes two experiments that aimed at advanced-level physics students: the Langmuir probe and the electromagnetic (EM) cavity. Both allow users to configure the various parameters and to access the results in real time or check back later. All this access is done using a browser (on a PC or mobile phone) without the need to install additional software. The results of an experimental execution are stored in a database and are downloadable, allowing users to do various analyses and to determine the corresponding plasma density and temperature. In this paper, we will introduce how FREE was used in the implementation of both experiments and give an insight into their didactic approach, such as: (i) how to perform an experimental execution, (ii) the typical data set obtained with, and (iii) the corresponding analysis necessary for the user to retrieve information from it. © 2023 Pedro A. Mendes Rossa et al., published by Sciendo.

Intellectual property rights in outer space: How can pharmaceutical companies protect COVID-19 vaccine and immunotherapy developments aboard the ISS US national laboratory?

Believing that space pharmaceuticals might be the key to winning the battle against COVID-19, global pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca and Sanofi Pasteur are currently collaborating with the International Space Station National Laboratory (ISS-NL) on research projects aiming to develop vaccine-and-immunotherapy products. The present legal regime for outer space, however, does not provide clear guidelines on safeguarding intellectual property rights (IPRs), due to the difficulties of reconciling the territorial nature of patent law and the nonterritorial nature of space law. Responding to such a legal gap, this research paper argues how pharmaceutical companies can protect such medical innovations by taking into consideration the international principles of space law addressing IPRs and extraterrestrial jurisdiction, as well as the legal regime of the ISS-NL. With the exception of the possibility of the barriers between the two areas of law not being insurmountable, the proposed COVID-19 TRIPS Waiver furthermore impacts space pharmaceuticals' IPRs and commercialization, which leads to the identification of some advantageous forms of agreements, including the Joint Endeavor Agreement, the Space Act Agreement, as well as the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, for pharmaceutical companies defined as agreement partners with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.