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Public preference of flood-resilient housing technologies in Nigeria: A case study of Kogi State
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore flood-prone area residents' preferences of flood-resilient housing technologies (HTs), to understand the factors influencing their choices. Flood-resilient HTs can reduce damage and disruption at a household level, particularly in areas where large-scale community schemes are not available or feasible. People’s perception of floods and their preferences of flood-resilient HTs are among many very important factors influencing the adoption of these technologies. Therefore, these perceptions and preferences must be well understood before implementation of these technologies can occur. However, studies on these two important factors are lacking in literature, particularly in the sub-Saharan African context. Design/methodology/approach: Nigerian residents’ preferences of flood-resilient HTs were explored by focusing on five frequently flooded areas around the Niger and Benue river basins in Kogi State, Nigeria. Thirty-eight chat, video and voice call interviews were conducted with participants across five case study areas: Lokoja, Idah, Bassa, Ajaokuta and Koton Karifi. The interviews, informed through an illustrated brochure, covered residents’ experiences and perceptions of floods. This was done to gain an understanding of the factors influencing the choice of flood-resilient HTs adopted and those preferred. Findings: This study confirms that residents in these five focus areas show similar characteristics to other floodplain residents as encapsulated in protection motivation theory. The flood-resilient HTs discussed in this study include flood-avoidance, flood-recoverability and flood-resistance strategies, as well as neighbourhood-scale approaches. Flood-resistance and flood-recoverability strategies rated highly in terms of suitability and envisaged efficiency in mitigating flooding in Kogi State. Although the measures were mostly agreed to be potentially effective and successful on a household scale, there were concerns as to flood mitigation on a neighbourhood scale. Research limitations/implications: Pre-existing flood-resilient HTs were not extensively discussed in the literature review but were included to have a sense of the participants’ mitigation behaviour, as well as their potential to adopt (or not) new measures after adopting previous ones. Originality/value: The results provide supporting evidence of the factors influencing the choice of and/or intention to adopt flood-resilient HTs, highlighted in literature. Results also contribute to literature by providing further insight into flood-resilient measures already adopted by residents, as well as their preferred HTs from the options presented. The implications of these findings and methodological considerations in this research are fully discussed in this paper
Understanding the impact of organisational and operational stressors on the mental health of police officers in Ireland
Get PDFThe mental health of police officers is a critical yet under-researched area. They face unique operational and organisational stressors, including exposure to violence and trauma, as well as bullying, managerial conflict, and a lack of support in the workplace. This paper explores the multifaceted challenges impacting police mental health through thematic analysis of an online questionnaire completed by 98 members of An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) in Ireland. We found, inter alia, the existence of a culture of bullying and a lack of managerial support within the institution. Furthermore, exposure to traumatic events as part of the policing role was found to have a negative impact on the mental health of most respondents
Reporting guidelines for qualitative research: A values-based approach
No full textEvaluative tools for qualitative research need to be developed and designed in a way that allows them to be used by the research community to assess qualitative research on its own terms, and thus strengthen, rather than undermine, research quality. The diversity of qualitative research practice makes the development of ‘one size fits all’ tools challenging. When evaluating Big Q Qualitative – the use of practices for generating and analysing qualitative data underpinned by qualitative research values – many existing ‘one size fits all’ reporting checklists and standards have the potential to introduce methodological incongruence through their inclusion of criteria that don’t ‘fit’ or align with Big Q values. The values and practices of Big Q Qualitative research, and the paradigms and meta-theoretical assumptions that inform them, are typically incommensurable with ideas and ideals founded in, disciplinary dominant, (post)positivism/objectivism and scientific realism. The unknowing, or knowing-but-required, application of ill-fitting criteria and standards for reporting risks not just incongruence, but undermining the vitality and creativity of Big Q Qualitative. However, evaluative guidelines remain important tools, pragmatically and rhetorically. In this paper, we explain and justify our development of a set of reporting guidelines to support methodologically congruent and reflexively open evaluation and reporting of Big Q Qualitative research. The Big Q Qualitative Reporting Guidelines (BQQRG) articulate a values-, rather than consensus-, based framework for reporting and evaluating qualitative research
An exploration of the impact of different peer learning activities utilised to develop student employability
No full textAssumptions about fostering human capital for national competitiveness underpin higher education policy drivers regarding employability. Departing from this focus on human capital development, research has highlighted the importance of relationality for employability, but there is a gap in scholarship about the role of peer relationships. Drawing on interview data about a curriculum-based intervention in an English university business school we examine how students reflect upon and what they gain from peers in peer-focused employability learning experiences facilitated by external professionals. A ‘graduate capitals’ lens is used to illuminate student learning. Through group coaching, students’ identity capital grows by comparing themselves to peers and recognising mutual concerns; and through group activities in an assessment centre, students' cultural capital expands through observation of peers and interaction with each other. We conclude by discussing the importance of reflexivity stimulated by peer interactions, and how to address student reluctance to engage with peer-based learning
Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries
No full textGas turbine engines depend on bearing chambers to support and lubricate moving parts, facilitating movement and heat dissipation. However, achieving a uniform oil coating on bearings remains a challenge, often leading to excessive oil consumption and in-flight oil loss. This research aims to establish accurate experimental and CFD methods to measure the residence time distribution (RTD) in a simplified linear geometry, progressing towards investigations in a cylindrical bearing chamber rig.The first test case uses an inclined rectangular acrylic channel (140 cm length, 3 cm height, 5 cm width) with a 39° slope and flow rates ranging from 0.9 l/min to 2.7 l/min. This simplified geometry allows the study of fundamental oil film dynamics. The experimental setup is complemented by CFD modelling using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach with Large Eddy Simulations (LES) to model turbulence.Validation demonstrates high level of accuracy, with film thickness measurements showing an error margin of 0.22 % at lower flow rates and up to 1.7 % at higher velocities. These results confirm the experimental setup and CFD model's reliability, offering a solid foundation for studying multiphase flows in bearing chambers. Future phases will incorporate oil for further validation and refinement. The research question we are asking is: Can the proposed method accurately measure the residence time in an experimental setup
Evaluation of the impact of neutral axis depth in flexural performance of reinforced lightweight geopolymer concrete
No full textThe widespread deployment of low-carbon and alternative cementitious concretes necessitates a critical evaluation of current design standards, particularly those governing the ultimate compressive strain and its implications for flexural behaviour in reinforced concrete (RC) elements. This study examines the effect of reduced ultimate compressive strain on the position of the neutral axis, the minimum lever arm factor (Kbal), and associated reinforcement requirements in RC beam design. A strain-adaptive analytical model was developed to quantify the shift in neutral axis depth (x) relative to the effective depth (d) and the corresponding variation in Kbal for concretes exhibiting strain capacities below the conventional Eurocode 2 assumption of 0.0035. Results indicate a progressive increase in x/d from 0.36 to 0.90 as strain capacity decreases, with Kbal values ranging from 0.253 to 0.304. Application of the model to a case study demonstrated a potential reduction of up to 680 mm² in required reinforcement for a 6m length of reinforced concrete beam , yielding significant material and embodied carbon savings. This underscores the need for performance-based design methodologies that reflect the evolving mechanical behaviour of sustainable concrete materials, offering a pathway toward more efficient and resilient structural systems. Based on embodied carbon factor of 0.684 kgCO₂e/kg for rebar, this reduction corresponds to a carbon saving of approximately 21.91kgCO₂e per 6 m length of RC beam. These findings highlight the dual structural and environmental benefits of strain-adaptive design and reinforce the need for performance-based methods that account for the evolving mechanical properties of sustainable concrete materials, supporting more efficient, economical, and low-carbon structural solutions
Negotiating creativity: 1592-1731 and today
Get PDFMy project is to develop a module for MA creative writing students to support our programmes of workshops through an interdisciplinary analysis of the way writers and artists negotiate creativity. Ultimately, I aim to offer the same module to business students at the same level, partly so that commissioners and creatives can be brought together in the same room, and partly because I believe the analysis and discussion of creativity as a negotiable, socially contingent medium would be useful to both groups of students. This essay explores how the concept of negotiating creativity links the study of literature, culture and economics through a practice-based enquiry.After an introduction, discussing the conceptual context of artistic creative negotiations, I consider three case studies from the formative period of the UK’s creative economy: Christopher Marlowe, Aphra Behn and Daniel Defoe’s negotiations with creativity. In the final section, I demonstrate how there is a need for this kind of analysis through reflections on teaching negotiating creativity in the classroom. I illustrate how this approach enhances students’ understanding of their own creative processes and their confidence to produce new work
‘Did I Ever Leave You?’: Site-responsive scenography in Druid's Waiting for Godot (2016)
No full textFocusing on the case study of Druid's Unusual Rural Tour of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot (2016), this article explores how Druid use site-responsive scenography to engage the histories and cultural legacies of the Inis Meáin landscape. In doing so, the themes of class and starvation in Beckett's Godot are recontextualised within the barren performance site, thus creating allusions to the Irish Potato Famine. The use of site in this way, as audience questionnaires attest, invites an audience to bring their own memories, knowledge and feelings about the site, both perceived and conceived, and utilise this in their meaning-making process
Parenting capacity and resources while living in temporary accommodation in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: A CHAMPIONS project qualitative investigation of raising children under 5 in resource-limited settings
Get PDFObjective: In middle-income to high-income countries, temporary accommodation (TA), regardless of type, is considered a form of homelessness. Families with young children living in these countries, in these circumstances, often become disconnected from friends, family and services (such as health and welfare support). The additional impact of pandemic restrictions on parents with children under 5 already living in TA had the potential to be considerable. However, this remains an area of limited research. To address this, this study explored the experiences of parents with children under 5, who lived in TA during the pandemic. Design: The research adopted a qualitative descriptive approach, using semi-structured telephone interviews with 41 families, to explore parents’ experiences of living in TA during the pandemic, with a child under 5. Interviews considered a broad range of factors such as housing quality, access to healthcare and education and the environment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Parent interviews identified that living in TA with a child under 5 during the pandemic impacted their access to services such as healthcare and ability to gather resources, while also affecting their mental health and general well-being. These parent experiences were detailed in three themes, including: (1) effect of restrictions on access, which included healthcare, environment and basic necessities; (2) impact on parents, which included mental health, physical and social impacts and (3) supports, including support services and networks. Conclusion: The challenges conveyed by COVID-19 restrictions, on those already parenting a young child while living in TA, caused concerning health impacts for those affected, while also having potential developmental side effects on their children. This indicates the urgent need for targeted interventions and policies to support vulnerable families in TA, ensuring their well-being during crises and beyond
Airway clearance techniques for adults receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe acute respiratory failure: A scoping review protocol
No full textIntroduction: Patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe acute respiratory failure (SARF) often experience significant challenges with airway clearance due to disease severity, ultra-protective ventilation strategies and suppression of mucociliary and cough mechanisms. Extremely low tidal volumes and minimal flow rates further hinder secretion mobilisation. Despite increasing global use of ECMO, there is currently no synthesis of evidence describing airway clearance practices, their physiological rationale or outcomes in this population. This scoping review aims to explore the extent and nature of evidence on airway clearance interventions in invasively ventilated adult patients receiving ECMO for SARF. Specific objectives include mapping the types of interventions described and specific parameters, their intended physiological effects, reported outcomes and safety considerations. Methods and analysis: This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. A comprehensive search will be undertaken across Embase, Ovid Emcare, Ovid Medline, CINAHL and grey literature sources including TRIP and Google Scholar. Eligible studies will include original data on airway clearance interventions in adult patients (≥16 years) receiving ECMO for SARF. Studies focused on paediatric populations, extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal, or solely cardiac ECMO will be excluded. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts and full texts, extract data using a piloted tool and summarise findings using descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis. Basic qualitative content analysis will support mapping of interventions including parameters, their physiological and clinical rationale, and reported outcomes including adverse effects. Ethics and dissemination: As this study involves a review of existing literature and does not include collection of primary data, ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at relevant academic and professional meetings. The results are expected to highlight variations in practice and provide a foundation for future research aimed at optimising respiratory care and improving outcomes for patients receiving ECMO for SARF. Registration: osf.io/ptfr7