Proactive interference occurs when older memories interfere with current information processing and retrieval. It is often explained with reference to familiarity, where the reappearance of highly familiar items from the recent past produces more disruption than older, less familiar items. However, there are other forms of familiarity beyond recency that may be important, and these were explored in a verbal recent-probes task. Participants viewed eight targets per trial and then determined whether a probe matched any of those targets. Probes matching a target from the previous trial, rather than an earlier trial, led to more errors, revealing proactive interference. However, this effect was influenced by experimental familiarity (whether stimuli were repeated or unique) and pre-experimental familiarity (whether stimuli were meaningful words or meaningless nonwords). Specifically, proactive interference was strongest for repeated nonwords, and smallest for unique nonwords, but stimulus repetition had little impact for words. In addition, the time separating trials (temporal familiarity) was unrelated to proactive interference. The present findings revealed more complex effects of familiarity than have previously been assumed. To understand proactive interference in a working memory task, it is necessary to consider the role of long-term memory via experimental and pre-experimental stimulus familiarity.

This thesis investigates the life of Victorian doctor, William Penny Brookes, the genesis of his Olympian Games, and their significance in sporting history. In 1850, Brookes set up Wenlock Olympian Class, later Society, the first formally constituted athletics club outside educational and military organisations, and was the first person to lead a committee of lower-class men in its management. Post-ancient Olympics the club’s Wenlock Olympian Games was the first known muliti-event meeting instituted for competitions in serious sports. Of significance to Brookes, the word ‘Olympian’ also embraced contests in intellect and industry, fine arts, and military disciplines. The study interrogates the evolution of Brookes’s several concepts into national Olympianism during the second half of the nineteenth century, and considers the importance he attached to physical education. A biographical methodology underpins the examination, and draws on the archive of primary evidence held by Wenlock Olympian Society, in particular Minute Books 1 and 2. These record the vast majority of his public addresses given over a period of forty five years and consequently, have enabled his spoken words to be preserved in print. Sporting scholarship largely overlooks Brookes’s work as, up until recently, Wenlock Olympian Society’s archive was inaccessible for reasons detailed in this study. Additionally, Pierre de Coubertin, credited as the originator of the open international Olympic Games, not only failed to acknowledge the old doctor’s contribution to their establishment, but promulgated his own reimagined version of Olympic history. The evidence questioned in this thesis demonstrates that Brookes was a visionary whose ideas were the catalyst used for development by others, but rarely acknowledged. Specifically, he was the first person to conceive the idea of an ancient Olympic Games revived as an open international meeting, and sought to promote the idea for others such as Coubertin, to bring to fruition

The building industry is widely believed to be a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consequently, climate change worldwide. Buildings contribute approximately 40% of global energy consumption and over 30% of total CO2 emissions. Over the past three decades, there has been progressive research interest in low-energy buildings in emerging economies. However, the issue of Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) is less discussed and less represented in literature in the context of emerging economies. The aim of this research is to develop a strategic roadmap to achieve NZEBs in Nigeria within the residential sector. Data was obtained using survey questionnaires, and expert interviews. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Inferential statistics, while the qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Based on the research findings, a strategic roadmap with timelines and milestones was developed to achieve NZEBs within the residential sector in Nigeria. The nature of this roadmap involves policy creation and implementation, regulatory frameworks, investments, and partnerships. Research findings indicate potential future research on lifecycle analysis of buildings and circular economy in Nigeria, NZEB retrofit, and NZEB technological Interventions. This study makes novel theoretical contributions by addressing the issue, context, and level of analysis gap in literature on NZEBs in emerging economies. From a practical standpoint, it provides researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, funding bodies, and the third sector with a strategic roadmap with short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies tailored to Nigeria's development needs and priorities. The implementation of the proposed roadmap can catalyse the scalable adoption of net-zero energy residential buildings, thereby reducing Nigeria's carbon footprint and supporting its sustainable development goals.

Recent studies have highlighted an overall consumers’ trend towards less processed and the use of natural antimicrobials for food preservation. There are no studies however on the effect of spices on foodborne pathogens in fermented milk. in this study, the antimicrobial effect of spices and essential oils when combined with milk fermentation acids and/or with each other on food-borne pathogens was evaluated with the aim to find new ways to preserve traditional fermented milk using natural products. It is often assumed that acidic foods such as fermented milk products are intrinsically safe due to their low pH (high acidity), however there are evidences that pathogens do survive in these products. To establish the status of microbial risks associated with the traditional African milk fermentation, the microbiological quality of typical African traditional fermented milk was assessed. The results showed that the traditional fermented milk products indeed have low pH (2.9-3.6) but contained a rich microbial diversity (22 different types of microorganisms according to colony types and Gram stains and biochemical reactions). Irrespective of the country or region collected from, the fermented milk products were dominated by lactic acid bacteria (35%). Yeasts and moulds comprised of 9% with high cell counts (107-1010 CFU mL-1) Pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus and other species were common (11%) comprising of 103-106 CFUmL-1, above the recommended safe levels. The impact of fermentation temperature on lactic acid and the test bacteria (E. fergusonii, S. Typhimurium, S. aureus or L. monocytogenes) was observed when milk was fermented at the traditional (25-30oC) or industrial (43oC) temperatures with the test bacteria. The pH of the fermented milk declined from the initial 6.68 (±1) to pH 4.1-4.4 at 43oC and to pH 5.4-5.6 at 25oC after 24h of fermentation. This was reflected in the viable cell counts of the test bacteria which was lower in the samples with the test bacteria in milk fermented at 43oC (106-7 CFUmL-1) than in milk fermented at 25oC (108 CFU mL-1). Growth of LAB were not affected as the cultures increased from 106 to above 109 CFUmL-1 the levels required for milk fermentation. The antimicrobial activities of whole unground spices (clove buds, cinnamon bark, cardamom, cumin, black pepper, and red pepper) were assessed individually at 1-4% (w/v) the levels traditional farmers add in fermenting milk, and incubated at 25, 30, 37 or 43oC for 24h and stored for 144h. The test bacteria increased to from 105 to 108 CFUmL-1 after 24h of fermentation and each LAB bacterium increased from 106 to 109 CFUmL-1 indicating that the quantity of the spice added was not enough to restrict growth of the tested bacteria. An antimicrobial study was carried out with the methanol extracts of clove buds (CL), cinnamon bark (CNN) or black pepper and their essential oils (eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and piperine) individually at the concentrations ranging from 0-1% at a double increment in combination with lactic fermentation milk against E. fergusonii, S. Typhimurium, S. aureus or L. monocytogenes. The milk was incorporated with 1% (v/v) of Lactobacillus delbrueckii (approx. 106 CFUmL-1 each) and incubated at 25 or at 43 °C for 24 h and subsequently, the fermented milk was stored at 25°C for 144 h. (pre-fermentation contamination). Another set was contaminated post fermentation of the milk. Results showed that cell counts of Gram-negative bacteria (E. fergusonii and S. Typhimurium) in milk fermented with clove extracts were approx. 107 CFUmL-1 1-log unit higher than those observed in samples containing Gram positive bacteria (S. aureus or L. monocytogenes) suggesting that G+ve bacteria were more affected by the spice extracts. When CL, CNN, or BP were applied singly or in combination with each other at concentrations based on their minimum inhibitory concentrations as follows: BP alone; ¼BP + ¾CL/CNN; ½BP + ½ CL/CNN; ¾ BP + ¼CL/CNN; CL/CNN alone. results showed that during fermentation for 24h at 25°C all the test bacteria grew to a similar level (approx. 109 CFUmL-1) in samples with the combination of these essential oils, the test bacterium grew to a lower number of 106-107 CFUmL-1 only. During fermentation at 43°C, the test pathogens did not maintain their contamination levels during fermentation as they declined by approximately 2-3 log units depending on the concentrations of the spices. During subsequent storage at 25°C for 5 days resulted in undetectable levels of the bacteria in all the samples treated with the EOs and that were not recovered after 24 h of storage in samples containing CL combined with CNN or BP at different combinations. EOs showed stronger antimicrobial activities in fractional combination (Most combinations ¼Eu + ¾Ci; ½Pi + ½ Eu/Ci; ¾ BP + ¼Eu/Ci showed synergistic or additive interactions) of the essential oils. the combinations led to the total demise of the test bacteria within 4-12h of incubation. The inhibition was stronger against S. aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium and lower against E. fergusonii, a Gram-negative bacterium. The starter cultures were less affected by the concentration of the spice extract applied (0-0.125%) although the cell counts were lower in sampled containing 0.5-1% clove or eugenol extract (107 CFUmL-1) compared to the other concentrations (108 CFUmL-1) after 24h of fermentation. A mixture of spice EOs could be applied to successfully extend the shelf-life of fermented milk products. The combination of spices together with organic acids that are produced in fermenting milk by lactic acid bacteria, albeit in low amounts, may lead to a synergistic effect that renders pathogens susceptible to the combined action of organic acids. This study showed that when spice extracts were combined or incorporated with lactic milk fermentation and other inhibitory factors (low pH and high temperature) safe and good quality traditional fermented milk is maintained. Moreover, the strong aroma of the spice extracts can also be reduced to an acceptable level. Further work is needed to explore the use of combination of active constituents of clove, cinnamon, or black pepper.

This pilot study is part of a larger “Decolonization of Digital Learning Spaces” project, which aims to develop research tools for communities that are remote and/or excluded geographically, politically, economically, socially, culturally, and linguistically. The project’s ultimate goal is to work alongside these communities to design their own digital learning tools, networks, and online educational environments by accessing and leveraging their knowledge and skills. Testing the single-criterion card sorting method is the first step toward this goal. Card sorting is an easy, enjoyable, and cost-effective method for data collection and analysis, particularly for researchers working in remote areas with limited access to electricity or the Internet. The pilot explored singlecriterion card sorting as a method to elicit knowledge from two diverse cultural and linguistic groups engaged in learning activities within their communities. These groups were from a Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community in Canada (engaged in a bowmaking workshop) and a rural Kabyle community in Algeria (engaged in a traditional cooking lesson). Despite low participant numbers, distinct patterns emerged, indicating the method's effectiveness. The results, though anticipated, were non-random, demonstrating the potential of card sorting in producing patterns indicative of how individuals and/or communities categorize their world(s). Kabyle sortings focused on ingredients, highlighting older individuals as teachers passing along knowledge, while the DHH sortings emphasized face-to-face contact and hand movements in communication. The findings, though modest, established relationships, provided insights into the research context and offered logistical understanding, paving the way for further work with DHH and Kabyle communities towards the design of digital learning spaces.

This study analysed the acknowledgment of ChatGPT in 1,759 academic publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science up to August 2024. Around 80% of acknowledgments were related to text editing and proofreading, while only 5.3% mentioned ChatGPT for non-editorial research support, such as data analysis or programming. A small portion (3.5%) of researchers acknowledged ChatGPT for drafting sections of manuscripts. About two-thirds of corresponding authors who acknowledged ChatGPT were from non-English-speaking countries, and 75% of the publications with ChatGPT acknowledgments were published within January to August 2024. These findings suggest that ChatGPT was primarily acknowledged for language enhancement rather than more complex research applications, although some researchers may not have found it necessary to mention its use in their publications, highlighting the need for transparency from journals and publishers.

This research investigates the individual and combined use of Moringa oleifera (MO) Lam., biochar, and sand to remove turbidity, pathogens, and heavy metals from drinking water. Contaminated water was synthetically prepared using kaolin, standard nickel/lead solutions, and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The optimal dose of MO seed protein, extracted in 1 M NaCl solution, was determined using a jar test flocculator. MO treatment reduced water turbidity from 200 to 4 NTU and achieved a 1–2 log reduction in E. coli from an initial count of 1×105 CFU/ml. Nevertheless, no significant reduction in nickel and lead concentrations was noted. Subsequently, the MO-treated water was passed through a biochar column supported on a sand bed, revealing clear water with 1 NTU turbidity and no trace of E. coli counts being detected. The sequential process of using biochar and sand reduced nickel and lead by 97.5 % and 99.3 %, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the treated water met WHO and UK standards for safe drinking water. All experiments were performed in duplicates (n=2; P < 0.05). The scalability and economic feasibility of the project, the mechanism of removal of contaminants by MO and biochar, and the study's limitations are also discussed.

This article revisits the role of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). It investigates, in particular, the institutional quality of the host countries, the number of cases brought for resolution, plus a more nuanced formulation of numbers of BITs, focusing on developing host countries. The analysis looks at more recent developments in BITs and incorporates economic freedom as a proxy of institutional quality of the host countries and considers the number of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in the BITs. We assume a non-linear relationship between BIT and FDI. Models are run using feasible generalized least squares (FGLS). Our new findings reveal that there is an optimum level of BITs in attracting FDI (higher and lower numbers do worse), constituting a re-appraisal of past analyses. Previous ISDS cases show a significant negative relationship with FDI. Economic Freedom has a strong positive and significant relationship with FDI/GDP, as previously found. 

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Innovations have improved outcomes in advanced prostate cancer (PC). Nonetheless, we continue to lack high-level evidence on a variety of topics that greatly impact daily practice. The 2024 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) surveyed experts on key questions in clinical management in order to supplement evidence-based guidelines. Here we present voting results for questions from APCCC 2024. METHODS: Before the conference, a panel of 120 international PC experts used a modified Delphi process to develop 183 multiple-choice consensus questions on eight different topics. Before the conference, these questions were administered via a web-based survey to the voting panel members ("panellists"). KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Consensus was a priori defined as ≥75% agreement, with strong consensus defined as ≥90% agreement. The voting results show varying degrees of consensus, as discussed in this article and detailed in the Supplementary material. These findings do not include a formal literature review or meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The voting results can help physicians and patients navigate controversial areas of clinical management for which high-level evidence is scant or conflicting. The findings can also help funders and policymakers in prioritising areas for future research. Diagnostic and treatment decisions should always be individualised on the basis of patient and cancer characteristics, and should incorporate current and emerging clinical evidence, guidelines, and logistic and economic factors. Enrolment in clinical trials is always strongly encouraged. Importantly, APCCC 2024 once again identified important gaps (areas of nonconsensus) that merit evaluation in specifically designed trials.

A book of abstracts from the MTCON'24 conference.