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Branding Instead of Product Innovation: A Study on the Brand Personalities of the UK's Electricity Market
Get PDFThis study extends understanding of and demonstrates the importance of corporate branding in the energy sector. We analyse the relationship between branding and consumer switching behaviour among the UK’s Big Six electricity providers. Since privatisation companies have competed against each other, but to the consumer they often appear to have very similar product offerings; firms also face criticism from consumer groups regarding confusing and difficult to compare pricing schemes. This study examines the use of corporate branding to enhance differentiation and specifically examines the influence of brand consistency and brand personality on the retention of customers. Consumers, who find it difficult to compare tariffs, may be influenced by more demonstrable factors like branding. We demonstrate the importance of longitudinal brand consistency, as well as the personality dimension Excitement, which when communicated strongly has the greatest influence on customer retention levels. This work contributes to branding theory, demonstrating that brand personality does differentiate otherwise homogeneous (and low-contact) services. Managerial implications are presented for brands seeking to improve consumer retention
Parallel fault detection algorithm for grid-connected photovoltaic plants
Get PDFIn this work, we present a new algorithm for detecting faults in grid-connected photovoltaic (GCPV) plant. There are few instances of statistical tools being deployed in the analysis of PV measured data. The main focus of this paper is, therefore, to outline a parallel fault detection algorithm that can diagnose faults on the DC-side and AC-side of the examined GCPV system based on the t-test statistical analysis method. For a given set of operational conditions, solar irradiance and module's temperature, a number of attributes such as voltage and power ratio of the PV strings are measured using virtual instrumentation (VI) LabVIEW software.
The results obtained indicate that the parallel fault detection algorithm can detect and locate accurately different types of faults such as, faulty PV module, faulty PV String, Faulty Bypass diode, Faulty Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) unit and Faulty DC/AC inverter unit. The parallel fault detection algorithm has been validated using an experimental data climate, with electrical parameters based on a 1.98 and 0.52 kWp PV systems installed at the University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom
From Inactivity to Becoming Physically Active: The Experiences of Behaviour Change in People with Serious Mental Illness
Get PDFPhysical activity (PA) has been found to improve physical and mental health and aid recovery in those with serious mental illness (SMI). However, individuals with SMI conduct less PA than the general population but little is known about how people with SMI adopt PA and what is involved in their behaviour change processes. The aim of this study is to explore individual experiences of PA to elucidate the behaviour change processes of PA in people with SMI who are in recovery. Method: A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was undertaken. Eight active participants (4 male, 4 female) who were in recovery with either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, were interviewed and their data thematically analysed. Findings: Four main themes emerged which identified behaviour change facilitators when initiating and maintaining engagement in PA. Three themes revealed how participants became more active: ‘Not ready to engage’; ‘Initial steps to engaging in PA’ and ‘Becoming more active’. Within these themes, a variety of findings emerged, including: an awareness of the body in existence, a PA enabling environment and feeling real and normal. The fourth main theme, was labelled ‘Doing PA’, this outlined the experienced acts of PA. The type of PA conducted had different beneficial outcomes on the perceived symptoms of SMI. Individuals developed related PA preferences, which motivated them to continue with those activities. Conclusions: Individuals with SMI could be encouraged to conduct more PA by supporting individually meaningful PA. Strategies are suggested which may help individuals to initially engage in PA, but also to continue engaging in PA by enhancing their PA experience
‘Problems of involvement and detachment’: Norbert Elias and the investigation of contemporary social processes
No full textIn this paper, we seek to move beyond dominant interpretations of Elias by drawing attention to an increasing body of work in the fields of social and public policy. We engage with debates about secondary forms of involvement to facilitate an appreciation of how this as yet undocumented tranche of empirical work can lead to greater understanding of the negative effects of state/elite policies in the current period. We conclude that by adopting a position of ‘detached involvement’ figurational sociologists can generate reality-congruent knowledge that allows them to make concrete statements about contemporary social processes
Man Thou Art Dust: Rites of Passage in Austere Times
No full textIn response to recent calls for further cross-disciplinary research on austerity and a deeper sociological understanding of the impact and aftermath of the economic crisis on individuals and societies, this article builds on extant austerity literature through an exploration of its effects on European men. Informed by theories of liminality and rites of passage, this qualitative investigation examines the experience of austerity from the perspective of 11 men through the three liminal stages of separation, transition and reaggregation and investigates its impact on their identity, responsibilities and expectations. Our findings reveal the negative experiences of alienation and outsiderhood alongside positive experiences of communitas, solidarity and comradeship. The study provides a nuanced understanding of modern male Europeans and their ‘rites of passage’ through austere time
Secrets and Disclosure in Donor Conception
Get PDFThis paper considers the disclosure, sharing and exchange of information on being donor conceived within families, drawing on data from a study undertaken with donor-conceived adults registered with UK Donor Link (a voluntary DNA-linking register). It considers the narratives of how respondents found out they were donor-conceived and what events triggered disclosure of this information. It goes on to examine the role secrecy played in their family life and uses the concept of ‘display’ to explore how it affected their relationships with their immediate and extended family. Secrets are notoriously ‘leaky’ and we found complex patterns of knowing and uncertainty about whom in the family knew that the person was donor-conceived. We argue that what is kept secret and from whom provides insights into the multifaceted web of social relationships that can be created by donor-conception, and how knowledge can be managed and controlled in attempts to display and maintain family narratives of biogenetic connection
Evaluating the Swelling, Erosion and Compaction Properties of Cellulose Ethers
No full textSwelling, erosion, deformation and consolidation properties can affect the performance of cellulose ethers, the most commonly used matrix former in hydrophilic sustained tablet formulations. The present study was designed to comparatively evaluate the swelling, erosion, compression, compaction and relaxation properties of the cellulose ethers in a comprehensive study using standardised conditions. The interrelationship between various compressional models and the inherent deformation and consolidation properties of the polymers on the derived swelling and erosion parameters are consolidated. The impact of swelling (Kw) on erosion rates (KE) and the inter-relationship between Heckel and Kawakita plasticity constants was also investigated. It is evident from the findings that the increases in both substitution and polymer chain length led to higher Kw, but a lower KE; this was also true for all particle size fractions regardless of polymer grade. Smaller particle size and high substitution levels tend to increase the relative density of the matrix but reduce porosity, yield pressure (Py), Kawakita plasticity parameter (b-1) and elastic relaxation. Both KW vs KE (R2 = 0.949-0.980) and Py vs b-1 correlations (R2 = 0.820-0.934) were reasonably linear with regards to increasing hydroxypropyl substitution and molecular size. Hence, it can be concluded that the combined knowledge of swelling and erosion kinetics in tandem with the in and out-of-die compression findings can be used to select a specific polymer grade and further to develop and optimise formulations for oral controlled drug delivery applications
Planetary Gear Fault Diagnosis Based on Instantaneous Angular Speed Analysis
No full textPlanetary Gears (PG) are widely used in many important transmission systems such as helicopters and wind turbines due to its advantages of high power-weight ratio, self-centering and high transmission ratio. Vibration based condition monitoring of PG has received extensive researches for ensuring safe operations of these critical systems. However, due to the moving mesh gears and noise influences, the diagnostics of planet gear faults by conventional vibration measurements needs intensive signal processing but provides less satisfactory performance. This study investigates Instantaneous Angular Speed (IAS) based diagnostics which associates more directly with gear dynamics and is not influenced by the moving mesh gears. A pure torsional dynamic model of a PG is developed to gain the characteristics of IAS under different fault cases. Then experiments are performed to evaluate this IAS based diagnostics. Particularly, IAS signatures obtained by demodulating the frequency modulated pulse trains produced by two in-house made encoder wheels mounted at both the input and output of the PG. In addition, order spectrum analysis is applied to IAS signals to highlight fault components. IAS order spectra exhibit clear changes in the spectral amplitudes associating with different fault frequencies, showing consistent and efficient diagnostics. Besides, both the measurement system and signal processing computation for IAS based monitoring are more costeffective and easier to be implemented online, compared with conventional vibration based methods
Rapid evidence review of good practical science
No full textThere is a clear need for more high-quality studies of practical work that have a tightly-defined focus and a rigorous methodological approach. We are confident that this finding would persist in a more extended review than a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA), which is necessarily limited in scope. We would not recommend conducting a more in-depth, more traditional systematic review at this stage. There is a wealth of commentary on the purpose and usefulness of practical science, but very few robust studies. A more extensive search encompassing the grey literature would undoubtedly identify more studies, but they are unlikely to add significantly to the current knowledge base. This REA has highlighted the need for more evaluations of practical science in its various guises. There is a requirement for research that is clear in its aims, focus and definitions; has a sound methodology with adequate sample sizes and appropriate outcome measures; and is designed to shed light on the usefulness of practical science work across different contexts and for different purposes. Drawing from the literature, the report identifies five main purposes of practical science.These are to enhance student performance in conceptual understanding; practical skills; non-subject specific intellectual and personal attributes; attitudes towards science; and understanding of how science and scientists work. There is currently a much greater evidence base around practical work improving physical skills and dexterity compared with the other four purposes of practical work defined in this report
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