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Three essays on the economics of the dairy sector: technology adoption, the impact of covid-19, and consumer support
No full textThis thesis focuses on the economics of the dairy sector from a technology adoption perspective, impact of shocks – and how it affects dairy productivity, and consumer support to climate smart dairy technologies.The first essay focuses on the use of artificial insemination technology among smallholder farmers in Kenya. I analyse the adoption of the technology using a panel data approach – I explore the correlates of disadoption: in particular, I investigate whether smallholder farmers’ experiences influence the decision to disadopt or continue using the technology. I find that disadoption is strongly correlated to distance; farmers further away from the AI service providers are more likely to disadopt. I argue that this could be attributed to other factors embedded in distance – such as higher cost of information, trust, cost of AI associated with distance.The second paper looks at the impact of covid-19 on dairy productivity, resilience and way out of the shock among smallholder farmers in Kenya: I focus on an analysis of its effects using a repeated cross-sectional data of 245 smallholder dairy farmers. Despite a general negative impact of the pandemic – characterised by enforced curfews, and movement restrictions including complete lockdowns in some Counties in Kenya - Market closures and reductions in market operating days surprisingly has a significant positive effect on milk productivity, suggesting that the pandemic-induced constraints may have triggered an income effect that could have led to a shift in resource allocation – such as use of household labour instead of hired labour, a delay, postponement, or cancelation of in capital investment in the farm, possible change in farming practices, and adoption of cost-saving measures that could indirectly improve efficiency. This analysis highlights the complex interplay between the role of external shocks in smallholder dairy production and decision making with implications for policy interventions.The third paper shifts focus on dairy production in Kenya to the United Kingdom’s dairy sector which strives for net-zero by 2050. This implies the adoption of climate smart innovations, which improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and build carbon storage. In this paper, we assess how consumers perceive these innovations and how much they are willing to pay for milk produced using them. We distinguish between three different avenues: nature-based (which primarily increases carbon sequestration), technology-based (which primarily improves system efficiency), and emission-reduction-based (which tackles emissions at the source). We set up a laboratory experiment with two information treatments – informative posters or engaging videos (the control is a generic label only). Results suggest that while both poster and video increase knowledge, only videos increase willingness-to-pay. The participants prefer nature-based approaches, and exposure to the videos increase these preferences, while posters have no such effect.</p
Twitter-based economic uncertainty and corporate bond credit spreads
No full textTwitter, with its large subscriber base, has become a prominent platform for real-time economic debate and discussions on financial assets. This study analyzes the impact of Twitter-based Economic Uncertainty (TEU) on the corporate bond market, a major asset class characterized by institutional dominance and dealer intermediation. We find a positive and significant relationship between TEU and corporate bond credit spreads, consistent across both investment grade and non-investment grade bonds. This effect intensifies in the post-Volcker Rule era, particularly for non-investment grade bonds, suggesting that regulatory changes have amplified the market's sensitivity to social-media-driven economic uncertainty. We also examine the impact of TEU on corporate bond market liquidity and the behavior of liquidity providers during periods of heightened uncertainty, a topic that has received considerable attention in the literature. Our analysis shows that elevated TEU is associated with reduced liquidity in inter-dealer trades, suggesting that dealers become more cautious under uncertainty. Conversely, illiquidity measures based on customer trades show a negative association with TEU, implying that customer trading activity increases when economic uncertainty rises. To ensure the robustness of our findings, we utilize a residual TEU measure and control for default risk, confirming the independent and significant role of TEU in influencing both credit spreads and liquidity. These findings demonstrate the growing importance of social media as a real-time indicator of economic uncertainty, with measurable effects on pricing and liquidity dynamics in the corporate bond market.</p
Broad-line AGNs at 3.5 < z < 6: the black hole mass function and a connection with little red dots
No full textWe present a sample of 62 Hα detected broad-line active galactic nuclei (BLAGNs) at redshifts 3.5 0), independent of contributions from emission lines to the broadband photometry. We construct the black hole (BH) mass function at 3.5 < z < 6 after computing robust completeness corrections. This BH mass function shows agreement with recent JWST-based BH mass functions, though we extend these earlier results to log (MBH/M⊙) < 7. The derived BH mass function is consistent with theoretical models, indicating that the observed abundance of BHs in the early Universe may not be discrepant with physically motivated predictions. The BH mass function shape resembles a largely featureless power law, suggesting that signatures from BH seeding have been lost by redshift z ∼ 5–6. Finally, we compute the BLAGN UV luminosity function and find agreement with JWST-detected BLAGN samples from recent works, finding that BLAGN hosts constitute ≲10% of the total observed UV luminosity at all but the brightest luminosities.</p
The power of DNA-encoded chemical libraries in the battle against drug-resistant bacteria
No full textDrug-resistant bacteria are increasingly posing an imminent existential threat, as many bacteria have developed resistance mechanisms that render most antibiotics ineffective. In the meantime, the number of newly approved antibiotics or new clinical antibacterial drug candidates is sharply declining. A key challenge is finding effective pharmacophores that can penetrate and accumulate inside bacterial cells. DNA-encoded chemical libraries (DECLs) play vital roles in accelerating hit identification and screening against various bacterial protein targets. In this review, we highlight the pivotal role of DECLs in accelerating the identification of new pharmacophores and hit compounds against drug-resistant bacteria. This review focuses on the protein targets, where DECLs have directly contributed to the rapid identification of new inhibitors. In addition, this review explores the methods used to screen DECLs against various bacterial targets and discusses the current outlook and perspectives on the role of DECLs in tackling antimicrobial resistance.</p
[Commentary] Navigating decarbonization at Shoreham Port Industrial Cluster
No full textPorts are critical infrastructure and major sources of emissions and air pollutants. Many ports are beginning to set decarbonization goals, but there is little practical guidance on how to achieve them. In this Viewpoint, members of a team working to decarbonize Shoreham Port in the United Kingdom discuss their approach, experiences and challenges, and outline lessons that can be transferred to other ports and industrial clusters.</p
Student satisfaction of a dementia education intervention: a cross-sectional study of the Time for Dementia programme
No full textBackground: Over the last decade there has been a recognition of the need for better dementia education for undergraduate healthcare professionals. Time for Dementia is an innovative educational programme in the UK whereby students learn about the condition directly from a two-year longitudinal contact with a person living with dementia and their families. There is evidence that such programmes have positive outcomes for students in terms of improved attitudes and knowledge, however, students' evaluations of these programmes are scarce. Objectives: To understand the satisfaction of the students taking part in Time for Dementia and their perceptions of the programme. Methods: A cross-sectional survey, with Likert responses, was completed to assess overall levels of satisfaction for students enrolled in Time for Dementia. 1,225 students consented and completed the satisfaction survey at five universities in England. Factors that might predict satisfaction were explored using multiple regression analysis. A qualitative framework thematic analysis explored the best aspects of the programme and possible improvements, as recorded by student responses to open text questions. Results: 78% of students agreed or strongly agreed that Time for Dementia had increased their knowledge of psychosocial issues, and 69% enjoyed the programme. The multiple regression analysis found satisfaction was statistically significantly higher for students who completed more visits; took part after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; were of Black or Asian ethnicities (compared to White British/European); and were relatively older. The themes related to the best aspects of the programme were that Time for Dementia provides relational learning, understanding the impact of dementia on family and thinking psychosocially. Improvements include preferred programme structure, the need for clarity of expectations and addressing barriers to learning. Conclusions: This study supports the value of Time for Dementia as assessed by students. Key considerations to ensure satisfaction include the fidelity of programme experience and clear expectations.</p
Marketing life insurance at the base of the pyramid: information asymmetry and institutional intermediation.
No full textPurposeThe study examines how market intermediaries engage in institutional work in addressing information asymmetries in the marketing of life insurance at the base of the pyramid (BoP).Design/methodology/approachThe research employs a case study methodology to analyse the marketing and uptake of life insurance in the South African BoP market and the effects that intermediaries have on product uptake in this marketplace.FindingsInformation asymmetries are apparent at the level of the consumer and insurer, resulting in funeral policies being pushed at the expense of comprehensive assessments of consumer needs. Large insurers have a limited understanding of this BoP market and therefore rely on intermediaries to advise on such knowledge gaps. Intermediaries have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and therefore inclusive product innovation is stifled. The result is that consumers at the BoP lack agency and become dependent on the intermediaries, often being sold products unsuitable to their needs.Research limitations/implicationsIt enhances understanding of how market actors operate in emerging markets and advances discussions on market development, consumer agency and financial inclusion – especially within dualistic environments where end consumers frequently have limited agency. It carries implications for how global firms tailor their market engagement strategies in BoP contexts across regions with differing institutional logics and cultural frameworks.Originality/valueIt provides insight into the motivations and intentionality of various stakeholders in this market. It contributes towards an understanding of institutional work and maintenance within the BoP marketing. It indicates why the institutional status quo persists and the incentives for intermediaries to engage in institutional maintenance often at the expense of the principles – consumers and insurers in this case.</p
FARE-KE: Framework for Affordable, Reliable Kinesthetic Evaluation
No full textOver the past decade, there has been a marked increase in accessible and user-friendly design tools and hardware platforms for haptic device development. This democratisation has enabled individuals from diverse expertise and academic backgrounds to participate in haptic design and prototyping. However, despite significant progress in design capabilities, the field of haptic device characterisation has not experienced comparable advancement in accessible methodologies and tools.This thesis chronicles the development of the Framework for Affordable, Reliable Kinesthetic Evaluation (FARE-KE), which emerged organically from practical challenges encountered while creating and characterising diverse haptic controllers. The research journey began with developing novel haptic prototypes, each presenting unique measurement challenges that revealed limitations in existing characterisation approaches. These challenges were particularly pronounced during COVID-19 restrictions, which necessitated innovative solutions with limited resources and equipment access.Through iterative development across multiple projects, methodologies for measurement, calibration, and analysis evolved into a coherent framework. FARE-KE provides a standardised approach to haptic device characterisation using affordable, readily available components. Key technical contributions include: (1) validated low-cost load cell configurations capable of measuring forces from 0.5N to 80N with accuracy better than 2%; (2) a custom data acquisition system supporting sampling rates up to 10kSPS across multiple channels; (3) calibration methods that reduce crosstalk in multi-axis measurements by a factor of 10; and (4) standardised analysis procedures for consistent performance evaluation.To demonstrate the framework's development and application, this thesis presents three case studies of haptic controllers that contributed to its evolution: a pneumatically-actuated single-axis controller (VR Recoil), which revealed that lower levels of linear kinesthetic feedback can enhance immersion without compromising performance; a study of self-touch haptic sensations (ProxyTouch), which confirmed somatosensory attenuation effects in pinch interactions; and a flywheel-based multi-axis haptic device (HapticWhirl), which demonstrated the ability to generate five distinct haptic modalities from a single actuator system. Each project not only exemplifies specific kinesthetic feedback modalities but also documents the characterisation challenges that shaped FARE-KE's development.The FARE-KE framework represents a significant contribution to the haptic research community by lowering barriers to rigorous device characterisation. By providing accessible methods that complement existing approaches without requiring specialised expertise or expensive equipment, the framework supports the ongoing democratisation of haptic technology development. The standardised methodology enables more consistent reporting of device performance metrics, facilitating meaningful comparisons between different haptic systems and accelerating innovation in the field.Parts of the work presented in this thesis have been previously published in the following papers:Berna Moya JL, van Oosterhout A, Marshall MT, Martinez Plasencia D. “HapticWhirl, a Flywheel-Gimbal Handheld Haptic Controller for Exploring Multimodal Haptic Feedback”. Sensors (Basel). 2024 Jan 31;24(3):935. Doi: 10.3390/s24030935. PMID: 38339652; PMCID: PMC10857638.Berna-Moya, Jose Luis, and Diego Martinez-Plasencia. "Exploring the effects of replicating shape, weight and recoil effects on VR shooting controllers." Human-Computer Interaction–INTERACT 2019: 17th IFIP TC 13 International Conference, Paphos, Cyprus, September 2–6, 2019, Proceedings, Part I 17. Springer International Publishing, 2019.</p
Overcoming barriers: the experiences of female survivors of domestic violence in Nigeria and the mechanisms which aided in leaving abusive relationships
No full textFemale survivors of domestic violence in Nigeria endure traumatic experiences which impact on their well-being and ability to live fulfilling lives. Such women when attempting to leave abusive relationships, face culturally specific barriers because societal norms are underpinned by patriarchy and gender inequality. A lot of what is known about domestic violence in Nigeria are from women in abusive relationships, hence, little is known about how women in Nigeria are able to permanently leave abusive relationships within larger systems of disempowerment. Critically framed within the African feminist/womanist perspective that claim to represent and liberate all African women, mitigated by an intersectional framework, this study examined the experiences of 18 female survivors of domestic violence in Nigeria to gain an understanding of the factors that enabled them to leave and stay out of abusive relationships, and the significance of these theories in their lives and individual experiences. Using an approach grounded in feminist phenomenology, interviews revealed that women relied on spirituality and prioritised their safety and those of their children, to demonstrate agency, strength, and resilience to leave abusive relationships, amidst limited informal and formal resources. By gaining insight into the women’s experiences, findings suggest that leaving an abusive relationship is not a simple resolution but an on-going complex process, and that despite barriers, the women demonstrated the capacity to survive and thrive. Surviving domestic violence was found to be an on-going process, achieved through distinct stages reflecting individualized strategies and ways which suggests that survivors are not a homogenous group. Support was extremely important, not only for when women are leaving but also for maintaining the separation. The study calls for the African feminist/womanist theories to be revisited-not only to approach the rejection of certain theories with caution, but also for an enhanced commitment to incorporating survivors into discourse because they also represent a type of African womanhood. Despite not being the ideal representative extoled by indigenous theories, in their own unique ways, these women embody the same values praised by these theories. It is only through the inclusion of women’s experiences that strategies can be developed that would support women leaving abusive relationships.</p
‘They Should have been Looking after People for a Long Time’: Human Giving and Generosity During COVID-19, in Austerity Britain
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic mobilised a multitude of acts of giving and generosity. This article provides a snapshot of giving and generosity among a small sample of individuals in the UK, in a context following years of ungenerous austerity politics. Giving and generous actions played a crucial role in mitigating the negative effects of COVID and we report on data collected using in-depth interviews to understand experiences of giving and generosity. We conceptualise giving and generosity as pro-social or other-focused actions that involve sharing of resources, underpinned by a crossing of the hyphen between self and other. This article explores the ways in which participants were mobilised by perceived social and political injustices and thus we offer a different understanding of giving and generosity as micro-activism that is done with a critical eye turned towards the macro context.</p