The emergence of a global ubiquitous computing environment in which each of us routinely interacts with many thousands of interconnected computers embedded into the everyday world around us will transform the ways in which we work, travel, learn, entertain ourselves and socialise. Ubiquitous computing will be the engine that drives our future digital economy, stimulating new forms of digital business and transforming existing ones.However, ubiquitous computing also carries considerable risks in terms of societal acceptance and a lack of established models of innovation and wealth creation, so that unlocking its potential is far from straightforward. In order to ensure that the UK reaps the benefits of ubiquitous computing while avoiding its risks, we must address three fundamental challenges. First, we need to pursue a new technical research agenda for the widespread adoption of ubiquitous computing. Second, we must understand and design for an increasingly diverse population of users. Third, we need to establish new paths to innovation in digital business. Meeting these challenges requires a new generation of researchers with interdisciplinary skills in the technical and human centred aspects of ubiquitous computing and transferable skills in research, innovation and societal impact.Our doctoral training centre for Ubiquitous Computing in the Digital Economy will develop a cohort of interdisciplinary researchers who have been exposed to new research methods and paradigms within a creative and adventurous culture so as to provide the future leadership in research and knowledge transfer that is necessary to secure the transformative potential of ubiquitous computing for the UK digital economy. To achieve this we will work across traditional research boundaries; encourage students to adopt an end-to-end perspective on innovation; promote creativity and adventure in research; and place engagement with society, industry and key stakeholders at the core of our programme.Our proposal brings together a unique pool of researchers with extensive expertise in the technologies of ubiquitous and location based computing, user-centred design, societal understanding, and research and training in innovation and leadership. It also involves a wide spectrum of industry partners from across the value chain for ubiquitous computing, spanning positioning, communications, devices, middleware, databases, design, and our two driving market sectors of the creative industries and transportation.Our training programme is based on the approach of personalised pathways that develop individual students' interdisciplinary and transferable skills, and that produce a personal portfolio to showcase the skills and experience gained alongside the more traditional PhD thesis. It includes a flexible taught programme that emphasises student-led seminars, short-fat modules, training projects and e-learning as delivery mechanisms that are suited to PhD training; an industrial internship scheme under which students spend three months working at an industrial partner; and a PhD research project that builds on a proposal developed during the first year of training and that is supported by multiple supervisors from different disciplines with industry involvement. Our DTC will foster a community of researchers through a dedicated shared space, a programme of community building events, training for supervisors and well as students, funding for a student society, and an alumni programme.

With a drive for the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, there is a need to develop novel, lightweight, manufacturing materials which are also sustainable and energy efficient to make. Fibre reinforced thermoplastic tape (FRTT) is an emerging composite material which offers significant advantages over its thermoset counterpart: it can be processed out of autoclave, reducing energy consumption; its remelt and remould properties make it easier to recycle; it is highly adaptable and flexible, meaning specific forms can be made for specific parts which reduces waste and manufacture cost; and it can be stored at room temperature, removing the need for low temperature storage. The strength and durability of FRTT has led to increasing usage in sectors where lightweight components are vital to reduce carbon emissions. In aerospace, FRTT has been used for small aeroplane parts and substructures including clips and brackets, and thermoplastic composites are already used to make leading edges of wings, horizontal tailplanes, rudders and elevators. In automotive, thermoplastic composites are of interest to manufacture door panels, wheel components, and bulkheads; and in the renewable energy sector for the manufacture of pressure vessels for hydrogen storage, and their potential use as elements of turbine blades for offshore wind. FRTT is a growing area. With a forecasted market increase of 184% for semi-finished products (only part of the overall market for FRTT), it is important the UK positions itself as a frontrunner for FRTT research and development. Sustainability is a key driver in this area, but the complex interactions between fibres, polymers, and processing makes it a scientific challenge. This Cell will provide the UK's academic and industrial research communities with access to the equipment necessary to address these challenges and strengthen our competitiveness in this field. Equipment within the Cell will include a flexible, modular, dual-impregnation thermoplastic tapeline, to support research across a full range of fibres (carbon, glass, kevlar, metal, optical, natural), impregnation methods (polymer melt or powder), and thermoplastic materials, due to its melt temperature capability. The integrated inline tape analysis system will assess tape quality in real time, and make data available online for researchers to evaluate the processes. Slitting capabilities within the Cell will also mean FRTT can be slit accurately and quickly for further research and composite applications. This equipment is of a significantly higher specification than any other tapeline currently available for academic or industrial research. This equipment will enable research into: - sustainable composite raw materials (fibres and polymers); - manufacturing from sustainable, natural fibre, or naturally sourced materials (jute, kenaf, sisal, and hemp); - incorporation of sensors or optical fibres to develop smart tapes or the addition of nanomaterials to enhance electrical or thermal conductivity of the tapes; - manufacturing process optimisation, including agile responsiveness, life cycle and materials flow analyses; - the use of data and digital technologies for finite element analysis modelling; - applications for FRTT, including in aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, and medical sectors. We have evidenced strong support and user interest for this equipment from both academic and industry communities, and additional in kind support from 10 project partners who will be part of our strategic advisory board. The equipment will be situated at the world-leading Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), in one of Europe's most important Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering clusters. We have the capability to bring together both regional contacts and national connections to maximise research using the equipment, and ensure strong value for money on this EPSRC investment

Muscle wasting (also known as atrophy) occurs in many different diseases, for example in diabetes and cancer, and also when patients are immobilised following accidents or surgery. The loss of muscle that occurs in these cases is one of the major factors affecting recovery time, or indeed whether or not the patients do fully recover. In addition, as we get older, muscle wasting also occurs, which is one factor that can lead to loss of mobility. In order to develop drugs and therapies to help control muscle wasting, and to increase the quality of life for people affected by muscle wasting, we need a much better understanding of the changes which occur in muscle cells. In particular, we need to know what happens to the proteins which make up the muscle, and allow it to function properly. This application aims to work out the most important changes which occur in human muscle proteins during muscle wasting, which should allow us to develop better treatments for these conditions in the future.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

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