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High-Gain Metasurface in Polyimide On-Chip Antenna Based on CRLH-TL for Sub-Terahertz Integrated Circuits
Get PDFThis paper presents a novel on-chip antenna using standard CMOS-technology based on metasurface implemented on two-layers polyimide substrates with a thickness of 500 μm. The aluminium ground-plane with thickness of 3 μm is sandwiched between the two-layers. Concentric dielectric-rings are etched in the ground-plane under the radiation patches implemented on the top-layer. The radiation patches comprise concentric metal-rings that are arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix. The antennas are excited by coupling electromagnetic energy through the gaps of the concentric dielectric-rings in the ground-plane using a microstrip feedline created on the bottom polyimide-layer. The open-ended feedline is split in three-branches that are aligned under the radiation elements to couple the maximum energy. In this structure, the concentric metal-rings essentially act as series left-handed capacitances CL that extend the effective aperture area of the antenna without affecting its dimensions, and the concentric dielectric rings etched in the ground-plane act as shunt left-handed inductors LL, which suppress the surface-waves and reduce the substrates losses that leads to improved bandwidth and radiation properties. The overall structure behaves like a metasurface that is shown to exhibit a very large bandwidth of 0.350–0.385 THz with an average radiation gain and efficiency of 8.15dBi and 65.71%, respectively. It has dimensions of 6 × 6 × 1 mm3 that makes it suitable for on-chip implementation
Evaluating the use of Shariah compliance and the use of Islamic financial products in promoting financial inclusion : a case study of Nigeria
Get PDFFinancial inclusion is considered a driver for inclusive economic development, through promoting investment,
entrepreneurship, employment, education and healthcare. Therefore, it can reduce income inequality and
poverty, and empower women in order to achieve inclusive economic development. Yet, 31%, or 1.7 billion, of
the global adult population are financially excluded, six percent of which cited religious reasons for their
exclusion. However, Islamic finance, which has recently gained prominent acceptance across the globe, is
considered a viable method to promote financial inclusion, especially amongst developing economies, such as
Nigeria. Despite this development, the impact of compliance with Islamic finance principles and the use of
Islamic finance products on enhancing access to formal financial services remains unexplored in the Nigerian
context.
Therefore, this study seeks to investigate compliance with Islamic finance principles, the use of Islamic finance
products, and its impact on promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria. To do so, the study explored the theoretical
background of Islamic finance and its relationship with financial inclusion; the determinants of financial
inclusion, the influence of individual perceptions on the use of Islamic finance products, and the impact of
Islamic finance in enhancing financial inclusion in Nigeria. The study employed both qualitative and
quantitative methods and used both primary and secondary data. Statistical analysis was employed using
STATA and EViews to examine the determinants of financial inclusion, the influence of individual perceptions
on using Islamic finance products, and the impact of Islamic finance on promoting financial inclusion. The
perceptions of experts, regulators and operators are measured through the qualitative analysis of semi-structured
interviews.
Findings of the study suggested that Islamic finance has a positive relationship with financial inclusion, which
was noted through both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The empirical investigations conducted in the
study revealed that the determinants of financial inclusion (gender, age, income and educational attainment)
influence financial inclusion. This means the greater the age, income, and educational attainment alongside
being a male increases the likelihood of financial inclusion. In the use of Islamic finance products (IFPs) three
of the variables suggested similar influences, except for educational attainment, which indicated that the higher
the educational attainment of an individual, the lower their likelihood of using Islamic finance products. In
accordance with the conceptual model of the study, the perceptions amongst adults generally indicated an
influence on their use of Islamic finance products. The exception was perceived government benefits, which
have a negative influence on the use of Islamic finance products, whilst the result revealed that there is
substantial compliance to Shariah principles by both regulators and operators. The findings further revealed
that Islamic finance products have no significant impact on financial inclusion in Nigeria.
This thesis has contributed both theoretically and empirically to the literature of financial inclusion by
examining the determinants for using Islamic finance products and the impact of Islamic finance on promoting
financial inclusion in Nigeria. This was achieved by quantitatively measuring and qualitatively considering the
impact of Islamic finance on financial inclusion through the perceptions of individuals and stakeholders and
their use of Islamic finance, as proxied by Islamic banking deposits in Nigeria. Therefore, the study contributed
to the policy direction on financial inclusion and Islamic finance in Nigeria
Prevalence, nature and predictors of omitted medication doses in mental health hospitals: A multi-centre study.
Get PDFOBJECTIVE:Limited evidence concerning the burden and predictors of omitted medication doses within mental health hospitals could severely limit improvement efforts in this specialist setting. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, nature and predictors of omitted medication doses affecting hospital inpatients in two English National Health Service (NHS) mental health trusts. METHODS:Over 6 data collection days trained pharmacy teams screened inpatient prescription charts for scheduled and omitted medication doses within 27 adult and elderly wards across 9 psychiatric hospitals. Data were collected for inpatients admitted up to two weeks prior to each data collection day. Omitted doses were classified as 'time critical' and 'preventable' based on established criteria. Omitted dose frequencies were presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Multilevel logistic regression analyses determined the predictors of omitted dose occurrence, with omission risks presented as adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI. RESULTS:18,664 scheduled medication doses were screened for 444 inpatients and 2,717 omissions were identified, resulting in a rate of 14.6% (95% CI 14.1-15.1). The rate of 'time critical' omitted doses was 19.3% (95% CI 16.3-22.6%). 'Preventable' omitted doses comprised one third of all omissions (34.5%, 930/2694). Logistic regression analysis revealed that medicines affecting the central nervous system were 55% less likely to be omitted compared to all other medication classes (9.9% vs. 18.8%, OR 0.45 (0.40-0.52)) and that scheduled doses administered using non-oral routes were more likely to be omitted compared the oral route (inhaled OR 3.47 (2.64-4.57), topical 2.71 (2.11-3.46), 'other' 2.15 (1.19-3.90)). 'Preventable' dose omissions were more than twice as likely to occur for 'time critical' medications than non-time critical medications (50.4% vs. 33.8%, OR 2.24 (1.22-4.11)). CONCLUSIONS:Omitted medication doses occur commonly in mental health hospitals with 'preventable' omissions a key contributor to this burden. Important targets for remedial intervention have been identified
From support worker to district nurse team manager: a narrative
No full textAs the general population ages, so too does the nursing workforce. A recent Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI) report (2019a) stated that 1 in 10 qualified district nurse positions have been lost in the past 10 years—without a trained workforce to replace those who retire. Workforce planning is central to ensure safe and effective care in the community setting. This article aims to provide a narrative account of one student who started her career at the University of Bolton as a trainee assistant practitioner and over time achieved her present position as a district nurse team manager. The account will include her journey from support worker to assistant practitioner, studying at the University of Bolton as a trainee assistant practitioner on a ‘work, earn and learn’ programme. It details the support she received from mentors in the trust, alongside her onward journey to registered nurse and specialist nurse practitioner qualifications
Positive psychology: social connectivity and its role within mental health nursing
Get PDFThis is the sixth article in a series that explores the meaning of positive psychology and the importance of applying the latest related research findings for the wellbeing of the mental health workforce. It will focus on the positive psychology interventions to increase social connectivity as a vital idea for ‘happiness’, while experiencing their uplifting effect through contemporary use in the field of mental health nursing. It will explain what the term means and report on neurological changes that occur when it is practiced. Finally, it emphasises the importance of effective social connectivity in how the application can benefit the client, the individual and the organisation. The practical tasks provided in the boxes throughout the article will help the reader identify what social connectivity means for them and understand how to further develop its transferability through evidence-based, user-friendly exercises
The impact of coronavirus in education : some personal perspectives
Get PDFThis is the accepted version of the article by Joanne Smith, Associate Teaching Professor, Divisional Lead for Health, Community and Early Years, and Patricia Donovan, Practice Trainer, both at Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Bolton. Published in British Journal of Healthcare Assistants,© 2020 MA Healthcare Ltd. The published article can be found at the link above
Remarkable Lives : Robert Wright in conversation with Jerome Carson.
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Rob Wright.
Using a Case Study approach, Rob gives a short account of his background and is then interviewed by Jerome.
Rob’s is an amazing account of surviving a harrowing upbringing, which fortunately few of us reading this piece will have had to endure.
Rob’s story perfectly illustrates why first-person accounts are so powerful. It is hard to imagine a statistical paper having the same impact as this description of one person’s lived experience.
Suicide is the greatest danger for anyone with a long-term mental health problem. Rob has faced this decision many times and has courageously battled on.
Rachel’s simple, yet profound mantra, of “someone to love, something to do, somewhere to live,” is vital for all of our wellbeing. As Rob also points out, you still need money to put into the electric meter!
Some people have tough upbringings and some have cruel upbringings. Rob had both. His survival is a testament to the uncrushable nature of the human spirit
Project Delivery Methods Impact on efficient delivery of road construction projects in Malawi.
Get PDFThis study will contribute to the body of knowledge by developing a broad-based theory in the form of a holistic framework for optimising the selection and use of project delivery methods (PDM) in developing countries like Malawi. Most industries in recent times have turned to improving their processes to achieve efficiency and the road construction industry has been no exception with particular emphasis being drawn on the use and selection of PDMs. However the impact and the importance of PDMs in developing countries like Malawi has been ignored with current literature revealing a lack of in depth understanding of this subject. This study attempts fill this knowledge gap and address the following research problem: ‘How can the selection and use of PDMs be optimized to improve delivery of major road construction projects in Malawi?’
This research study adopted an interpretivist paradigm and a qualitative research methodology. Data was collected using case study research strategy. Multiple case studies were conducted on the key implementing agencies in all major cities in Malawi. The studied organisations included Roads Authority, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba City Assemblies. The empirical data was analysed using thematic analysis approach.
The findings of the study show that there are six key elements that have an effect on the selection and use of PDMs in the Malawi road construction industry (MRCI); project management capacity, internal organisational influence, external organisational influence, operational structures and strategies, industry characteristics and ethical behaviour. For each key element the challenges and the proposed strategies have been described. Consequently the RK PDM-MRCI Framework has been developed based on the key elements, the framework has been constructed by integrating the findings of this study with the current literature on PDMs. The framework describes the interrelationships between the different key elements and how they each have an impact on the optimised selection and use of PDMs in the MRCI