University of Southampton

High current superconducting cables are essential for past and future accelerator and fusion magnets. The low temperature superconducting (LTS) cables for the LHC and ITER machine owe their success to the effective minimisation of the magnetisation in the LTS wires by incorporating twisted fine filaments. In contrast, the magnetisation of REBCO tapes remains significant in assembled strands of Roebel cables and twisted stacks cables. The quantitative details the magnetisation loss have not been sufficiently elaborated due the 3D nature of the strand assembling and/or twisting. Although full 3D modelling of Roebel cables has been made, the separation of loss components is less straightforward due to the complexity of their interplay. By using simplified 1D models based on conceptual reasoning, it was shown in our previous studies that (a) Roebel cables with (2m + 1) REBCO strands of critical current Ic are essentially two side-by-side stacks of m transposed strands and each stack is effectively a single Norris' strip of ∼ m×Ic but also magnetically coupled to the other via the strong demagnetisation effect in the narrow gap in between, and (b) full decoupling into isolate tapes is only achieved in the single strand in transposition “flights” from one stack to another. Consequently, the magnetisation of Norris' strip can be extended straightforwardly for loss calculations in simple algebra forms to achieve satisfactory agreement with experimental results. On the other hand, the ac losses measured on Roebel cables with striated REBCO exhibited significant differences which are yet to be fully understood. Using qualitative arguments together with 1D analytical results as well as numerical modelling, this work show the “filaments” in a striated strand are also magnetically coupled hence behave considerably differently from a set of isolated filaments of Norris' strips. It then explains that small random misalignments among the striated strands when assembled into a Roebel cable would alter significantly magnetic coupling within the stacks and result in the ac loss behaviour observed experiments.

During reading, adults and children independently parafoveally encode letter identity and letter position information using a flexible letter position encoding mechanism. The current study examined parafoveal encoding of letter position and letter identity for dyslexic children. Eye movements were recorded during a boundary‐change paradigm. Parafoveal previews were either an identity preview (e.g., nearly), a transposed‐letter preview (e.g., enarly) or a substituted‐letter preview (e.g., acarly). Dyslexic readers showed a preview benefit for identity previews, indicating that orthographic information was encoded parafoveally. Furthermore, dyslexic readers benefitted from transposed‐letter previews more than substituted‐letters previews, demonstrating that letter identity was encoded independently to letter position during parafoveal processing. Although a transposed‐letter effect was found for dyslexic readers, they demonstrated a reduced sensitivity to detect transposed‐letters in later measures of reading, that is, go‐past times, relative to that found for typically developing readers. We conclude that dyslexic readers, with less rich and fully specified lexical representations, have a reduced sensitivity to transpositions of the first two letters of the upcoming word in preview. These findings are compatible with the view that orthographic representations of dyslexic children are not sufficiently specified.

Plain language summary Fear of being infected from COVID 19 enhances nurses willingness to comply safety measures Maintaining safe and secure environment at hospitals has always been a challenging job. Nurses working in tertiary hospitals remain more focused in patients care that they sometime do not put focus on their own safety. However, this study that collected data from Pakistani nurses working in tertiary care hospitals found that during COVID-19 and increasing number of infection cases, nurses experienced higher levels of fear of COVID 19 infection. This fear of being infected by COVID 19 viruses in nurses and nurse managers’ emphasis on safety measures enhanced nurses’ awareness about the importance safety protocols that eventually fostered nurses compliance with safety protocols. This study also proposed that in order to enhance nurses safety consciousness, practical examples of importance of safety should be introduced. Safety behaviors should be promoted through training of nurses so that safety compliance may be achieved.

In this paper, we examine the role of banks’ business models on their decisions to acquire FinTech firms and how they do so. We find that banks with diverse assets, funds, and income structures are more inclined to engage in FinTech acquisitions. Investment banks display selectivity in FinTech acquisitions while wholesale and traditional banks appear more wary, possibly because of the limited need for FinTech in their business models or the externalities in their existing business models.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the association of physical therapists’ attitudes and beliefs about low back pain treatment outcomes within a publicly funded health care system. Methods Data from a national outpatient physical therapist service provider were analyzed. Functional status data were collected at intake and discharge. The Attitudes to Back Pain Scale in Musculoskeletal Practitioners Questionnaire was used to assess physical therapists’ attitudes. Multilevel regression models were employed to examine the effects of physical therapists’ attitudes while controlling for patient and physical therapist characteristics. Results The study included 68 physical therapists and 1043 patients. The physical therapist level explained a small portion of the variance in patients’ function (2%–4%). A more biomedically oriented attitude was associated with a slightly lower patient function level (β = −.08), but patient characteristics largely influenced this effect. Other attitude factors were not significantly associated with function. Sensitivity analyses aligned with the main findings. Conclusions The study suggests that physical therapists’ attitudes have a limited impact on low back pain treatment outcomes within a publicly funded health care system. While a more biomedically oriented attitude was associated with slight negative effects, the clinical relevance is questionable. Further research in diverse settings is needed to validate and contextualize these findings. The study underscores the importance of considering patient-level factors and health care system context in interpreting practitioner effects on treatment outcomes. Impact Patient characteristics are more significant in explaining functional outcomes than physical therapists’ characteristics and attitudes. A marginally small association was observed, indicating that a more biomedically oriented attitude among physical therapists was linked to slightly lower patient functioning. Despite the observed association, the clinical relevance of physical therapists’ attitudes in low back pain treatment outcomes remains modest.

Recently, use of 6000 series aluminium alloys in braced frame structures has been increased due to their superior structural properties. Fracturing of braces as a result of low-cycle fatigue has a major impact on nonlinear behaviour of structures under earthquake loading. Therefore, modelling low-cycle fatigue life, i.e., number of reversals to failure, is important to understanding braced-frame structural performance. To date, there are no readily available methods for predicting the low-cycle fatigue behaviour of 6000 series aluminium alloys. This research study aims to provide structural engineers with a computationally efficient approach to assess aluminium alloy structures in the context of potential low cycle fatigue. For this purpose, 18 low-cycle high amplitude fatigue tests (up to ± 6% strain amplitude) were conducted to establish strain − life relationships for 6082-T6, 6063-T6 and 6060-T5 aluminium alloys. The obtained experimental results were then used to calibrate a low-cycle fatigue life model to capture the fracture behaviour of the studied materials. The comparison of experimental results and predicted fatigue behaviour shows the capability of the proposed model to predict to a high degree of precision the onset of fracture and the overall low-cycle fatigue behaviour of material.

Corporations have been increasingly prioritizing corporate social innovation (CSI). It has potential for creating long‐term business value and promoting sustainable social development. CSI possesses immense value due to its exceptional ability to tackle complex and pressing social issues. Despite over a decade of research on CSI, there is limited understanding about drivers of CSI from the perspective of organizational resources. The current study utilized the resource‐based view of the firm (RBV) to investigate the impact of organizational resources (such as alliance networks, innovative culture, and intellectual human capital) on CSI. This was done by examining the mediation of dynamic capabilities (exploitation and exploration). The data obtained from Malaysian public limited companies was examined using PLS‐SEM and fsQCA. The results revealed that alliance networks and innovative culture play a crucial role to drive CSI. The fsQCA analysis discovered four sufficient configurations that foster CSI. In addition to the theoretical contributions, the findings have significant implications for corporate leaders seeking CSI initiatives, as well as policy makers within governmental bodies.

Sport‐based prison interventions may particularly benefit women, a vulnerable population within the penal system. However, evidence of their impact is mainly based on men's experiences. This study qualitatively examines the experiences of 11 women enrolled on the Twinning Project, a football‐based prison programme designed to reduce recidivism and enhance employability. Thematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews revealed positive outcomes for participants, such as improved self‐perceptions and intentions to help others. However, the prospective long‐term impact of vocational qualifications was less evident. Barriers to engagement were identified in parts of the programme's structure and delivery, women's health issues, and participants' perceived lack of control over post‐release outcomes. Enablers included support from peers and staff, the appeal of football itself, and the absence of criminal identities. The findings highlight the Twinning Project's potential to benefit women prisoners and underscore the need for sports programs to accommodate gender‐specific experiences in prison.

Electrically assisted forming (EAF) is a reliable method of reducing the deformation resistance of metallic materials and enhancing their formability. In this study, the mechanical properties and microstructure of Al0.5CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) under electrically assisted compression (EAC) were investigated. The results showed that the flow stress decreased with increasing current density in the EAC. Specifically, the flow curves exhibited S-shaped softening at a higher current density, which was dominated by the non-uniform distribution of the Joule heating temperature during EAC. When the flow stress was fixed at 500 MPa and 80 A·mm−2, compressible deformation amounts of 63.7% were observed at a strain rate of 1 s−1, indicating full compression of Al0.5CoCrFeNi HEA at low-stress levels. Based on the microstructure, the flowability of Al0.5CoCrFeNi HEA was improved during EAC, and the flow direction shifted from 45°to the horizontal direction. The current density, which influences the Joule heating temperature and strain rate, synergistically affects the stacking fault energy (SFE) and critical resolved shear stress (CRSS), which affect the tendency for twinning behavior. Thererfore, deformation nanoscale twins (DTs) were observed, indicating a shift in the deformation mechanisms from dislocation slip domination to a mixed pattern of dislocation slip and twinning. This study confirmed the deformability of Al0.5CoCrFeNi HEA during EAC and provided an experimental foundation and theoretical support for the formation of HEAs.

Purpose To assess differences in safety and efficacy between 24 and 18 Fr pneumatic balloon dilators for percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) of renal stones between 10 and 20 mm. Methods Patients were randomized to dilatation with a 24 Fr (Group A) versus 18 Fr (Group B) Ultraxx pneumatic dilator (Cook Medical®). In all procedures percutaneous puncture was performed under ultrasound guidance. In both groups the Holmium: YAG Cyber Ho laser generator was used (Quanta System®). Stone-free rate (SFR) and postoperative complications were assessed. Results 42 and 44 patients were assigned to Groups A and B, respectively. Preoperative features were comparable. Mean stone size was 17.8 vs. 16.6 mm in Group A vs. B (p = 0.21). SFR was 95.2% in Group A and 95.4% in Group B (p = 0.19). Postoperative gross haematuria was observed in 5 vs. 2 cases in Group A vs. B (p = 0.04). Mean haemoglobin drop at first postoperative day (POD) was higher in Group A (2.4 vs. 1.1 mg/dl, p = 0.04), while comparable at third POD. Blood transfusion was required in 2 cases in Group A and 1 case in Group B. No patients required embolization. No significant difference was observed in terms of postoperative pain and urinary infection. Conclusions 24 and 18 Fr pneumatic dilators are both effective to access renal cavity during PCNL for the treatment of renal stones between 10 and 20 mm. Gross haematuria rate and mean haemoglobin decrease at first POD were significantly higher with 24 Fr dilator, but with no differences in the need for blood transfusions and renal embolization.

The paper presents a complete theory for a new method for the determination of the thermal diffusivity of a bulk solid in the form of a cylinder using a pulse of energy of finite duration delivered on one face and the subsequent temperature rise detected on a parallel face. It is an important feature of the method that the departure from equilibrium in the solid sample is small so that the temperature rise is no more than a few degrees Kelvin. The energy pulse may be of any temporal distribution and the detection of the temperature rise can be conducted at any point on the opposing face of the sample. The theory explicitly accounts for heat losses at all the surfaces of the sample and enables absolute measurement of the thermal diffusivity of the sample. A prototype instrument is described to realize this theory in which the heating pulse is generated by an array of light emitting diodes in a circular configuration which is then guided by a light pipe so that a uniform distribution is ensured across the flat face of the solid sample being tested. The instrument is designed for operation over the temperature range from ambient to 1300 K but, in the current proof of principle, measurements are conducted at room temperature on a sample of Pyroceram™ 9606.¹ In this case, the detection is performed with a micro-thermocouple at the center of the sample. Several different rectangular heating pulse durations are employed to show that the theory provides an appropriate description of the experiment. The potential for future applications of the technique is demonstrated.

We investigate how CEO overconfidence affect firms’ voluntary reporting of COVID‐19 exposure using text‐based measures of firm‐level COVID‐19 pandemic exposure reports. Our analysis of 3038 firm‐quarter earnings conference calls in 2020 reveals that overconfident CEOs express a less pessimistic tone, compared to non‐overconfident CEOs when discussing their firms’ exposure to the pandemic, and these results hold under various robustness checks. Additionally, a more pronounced negative pandemic exposure sentiment predicts weaker subsequent operating performance among non‐overconfident and overconfident CEOs alike. While increased negative sentiment leads to worse stock performance among firms with non‐overconfident CEOs, this predictive power is significantly weakened for overconfident CEOs. Our findings provide insights into how CEO overconfidence can affect firms’ disclosure behavior during a crisis and contribute to the literature on CEO overconfidence and pandemic‐related disclosures.

In The World for Sale, financial journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy put the spotlight on the fascinating world of billionaire commodity trading firms. These swashbuckling entities play an important role in international trade, connecting resource-rich countries with financial centers, while wielding the power to reshape political landscapes worldwide. The book delivers a comprehensive historical analysis of commodity traders and their rise to power through audacious deals across the globe, from wheat and corn sales to the Soviet Union during the Cold War, to orchestrating oil shipments amid the Libyan and Kuwaiti conflicts. As a resource-focused exploration of the inner workings of the world economy, this work offers a detailed look at this low-profile yet immensely impactful industry, and its far-reaching effects on prices, politics, and globalization.