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A framework to minimise the impacts of climate change on UK residential buildings and occupants
No full text© 2025 The Authors, published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16101216Residential buildings, the bastions of shelter and protection, are facing an escalating threat from climate change. The need to bolster the resilience of UK residential buildings is becoming more urgent, given the nature and frequency of the impact of climate change. This study employed a sequential explanatory mixed-method approach. The first phase involved surveying 313 households, revealing that Climate Change on Buildings (CCB) and Climate Change Measures (CCM) significantly influenced Climate Change on Occupants (CCO). Moreover, climate-positive measures were found to have a significant impact on building occupants. The second phase involved semi-structured interviews with ten UK construction experts to gather insights into the effects of climate change on residential buildings and strategies for mitigation. The findings from both phases underscore the need for government incentives, green loans, and increased stakeholder awareness to mitigate the impacts of climate change. To fully address climate change and improve the quality of life for residents, all stakeholders, including policy makers, construction professionals, and the community, must participate actively in these efforts. Consequently, a framework was developed to minimise the impacts of climate change on UK residential buildings.Published onlin
Engineering across borders: barriers to transnational teaching and research collaboration
No full textPaper presented at the Fifteenth International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century (CITC-15), Rabat, Morocco, 10th-14th November 2025. Available online: https://www.citcglobal.com/_files/ugd/0d72f4_0c18a1f1fde24d17a3af137b844e5aa3.pdfTransnational academic collaboration in teaching and research is a cornerstone of knowledge exchange and transfer in higher education. The widespread adoption of digital technologies globally (accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic), along with financial constraints faced by universities, a growing need for transnational academic collaborations, and shifts in government policies, have brought transnational academic collaborations to the forefront of both governmental and university agendas in the United Kingdom. While the barriers and drivers are broadly covered in the literature and reasonably understood, variations in national, disciplinary, regulatory, and institutional contexts mean that a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible. Consequently, the barriers to transnational academic collaboration between institutions and across disciplines (such as occupational safety, health, and wellbeing (OSHW) in engineering) between the UK and Egypt remain poorly understood. Using document analysis and group panel discussions with Egyptian industry practitioners, academics and students in Egypt, the reported study explores the barriers to transnational research and teaching collaboration in OSHW in Engineering. The major barriers include cultural and policy differences, curriculum design, lack of resources and differences in interest and attitude between individual and institutions. A significant finding is the attraction to universities in fellow Arab countries due to cultural affinity, which has a causal inference with attitudes and interests. Co-creation of culture curriculum to ensure contextual content is recommended. Also, focusing on shared areas of interest and national country priorities of the international partner are recommended
Urban intelligence: governance in smart cities within the UK
No full textThis is an accepted manuscript of a paper presented at BAM 2025, 3rd-5th September, 2025, Kent Business School, University of Kent. The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.The application of Artificial Intelligence to smart governance is transforming public administration by offering innovative approaches to increase effectiveness, transparency, and citizen participation. Particularly in major cities within the UK, urban administrators are looking into the use of cutting-edge IT, including AI, to deliver governance services. This paper aims to explore the utilisation of AI’s capabilities for urban governance and to provide residents with rapid access to relevant information without necessitating a high level of technological expertise is the primary objective. AI is comparable to humans in its speech, text, and image processing capabilities. It is associated with improving democratic processes and altering the way public services are delivered. The neural networking side, in essence, processes data by simulating the human brain and subsequently produce accurate results. In order to experimentally investigate the factors influencing the adoption of AI-enabled service delivery in the context of Smart Governance, researchers commonly employ frameworks such as the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology
Resilient framework for managing a pandemic in a smart city
Get PDF© 2025 The Authors. Published by Taylor and Francis. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1080/10429247.2025.2538369Smart cities represent a substantial opportunity for city leaders and decision-makers to effectively manage the unprecedented challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented, with the lessons learnt helping to prepare for any future outbreaks. This study is based on transition theory. It explores the three stages of transition, “before”, “during”, and “after” as a continuous loop as people move into the transition, through the transition, and out of the transition. This study explores how strategies and technologies have facilitated and enabled knowledge management during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing city resilience during the three periods (“before,” “during,” and “after”) of transition in smart city. The methodological approach for this study was a qualitative design. First, a systematic literature review was undertaken, followed by two focus groups with smart city leaders and key stakeholders. The findings were then validated via focused semi-structured interviews. The study proposed a “resilience framework for managing COVID-19 pandemic in smart cities.” The findings indicate that smart technologies have enabled the creation of a knowledge base of best and worst practices, lessons learned documents, patient case stories, smart technology use cases, policy documents, and performance reports
Disaster mental health in India: a long journey ahead
Get PDFThis is a book chapter published in Leadership in Indian psychiatry: converting thoughts into practice 1947-2025. Essays in honour of Professor B.S. Chavan edited by R. Srinivasa Murthy & Nitin Gupta.India is vulnerable to catastrophic natural events due to its geo-climatic conditions and man-made disasters. There is a need to study the mental health consequences of the disasters and their intervention efforts. A comprehensive literature search was done regarding the mental health of the disaster survivors in India based on the epidemiological and interventional studies from electronic databases and manual searches. Large proportions of disaster survivors in India suffer from diagnosable psychiatric disorders, mostly depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders. While there are many studies following natural catastrophic events; there are an inadequate number of studies on industrial disasters, mass conflicts, and riots. Prevalence figures of psychiatric disorders have varied depending upon the disaster, exposure and methodology. Many post-disaster interventions have been tried; however the literature about the interventions is not robust. There is a need for studies related to the support for the mental health consequences of disasters in the community and their effectiveness. Culturally appropriate coping activities have been observed amongst the survivors, which need to be explored further as possible intervention methods. Mental health related assessments and interventions need to be prioritised in disaster related support activities and policies. Public education about dealing with disasters, their impact on mental health, self-care and opportunity for professional care are essential. There is a need for an appropriate system to be in place for immediate, short and long term mental health support for the disaster survivors
An analysis of the potential lessons that can be learned from UK and US financial services regulation in the context of the UAE
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.This research embarks on a comparative analysis of regulatory landscapes in the financial sectors of the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and within the context of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The investigation was driven by the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) which exposed significant vulnerabilities within existing financial regulatory frameworks. The study examines a series of regulatory reforms and measures instituted by financial regulators and agencies across these jurisdictions, encompassing capital adequacy requirements, securitisation regulations, corporate governance practices, and the processes for risk management, approval, licencing, and supervision. And the adoption of the Islamic Finance as an alternative option in reforming the financial system.
A pivotal finding of this analysis is the acknowledgment of resilient measures and regulatory reforms introduced post-GFC in the UK and the US, aimed at fortifying the financial system's stability. Despite these strides towards robust regulatory frameworks, instances of institutional failures within the US question the comprehensive effectiveness of these reforms. Moreover, the exploration into the UAE's adaptation of Islamic finance rules unveils that despite its ethical and risk-sharing underpinnings, Islamic finance is not devoid of financial distress, challenging its immunity to the factors that precipitated the GFC. The research draws upon an extensive thematic analysis, leveraging NVivo software to dissect the complex perceptions of financial system participants towards these regulatory adaptations. Key themes emerge, illustrating the critical role of corporate governance in Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs), the varied interpretations of the causes of financial crises among financial system participants in the UK, the US, and the UAE, and the integration challenges and opportunities of Islamic finance within international standards, notably Basel III.
Significantly, the research underscores a shared recognition among regulatory bodies in the UK, US, and UAE of the necessity for more proactive and stringent regulatory measures to avert future financial crises. This entails a revaluation of governance structures, the introduction of tailored regulatory standards for Islamic finance, the promotion of innovative and authentic financial products, and enhanced transparency and education in Islamic finance practices.
In conclusion, this study advocates for a holistic and adaptable regulatory approach that not only addresses the lacunas revealed by the GFC but also embraces the unique attributes of Islamic finance to potentially offer a more stable and ethical alternative financial system.
The recommendations propose further integration of Basel III Accords, refinement of corporate governance, and elevation of risk management and disclosure standards as pivotal to ensuring the robustness and resilience of the financial system against evolving risks and challenges
The psychological stress of returning to in-person institution-based educational activities by students in college and universities following the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey
No full text© 2025 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://journals.lww.com/odjp/fulltext/2025/01000/the_psychological_stress_of_returning_to_in_person.3.aspxBACKGROUND:
COVID-19 necessitated a change in the educational delivery system during and following the pandemic.
AIM:
This study explored the psychological stress of the students about returning to in-person (face-to-face) education and examination following the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated factors.
METHODS:
It was a cross-sectional survey of college and university students returning to usual in-person education following COVID-19, conducted in Odisha from May to June 2022, through an online questionnaire. Students’ psychological stress, level of comfort, and future preferences were assessed, along with their COVID-19 history of self and family.
RESULTS:
The sample consisted of 304 students. A considerable proportion (37.5%) of them felt stressed about the return to the in-person education system following COVID-19. A history of COVID infection of self or a family member was significantly associated with stress, but not with taking COVID vaccines or medications for any current illness. Students reporting stress were significantly uncomfortable reverting to the usual in-person class or examination system, and a significantly higher proportion of them preferred online and hybrid (a mixture of online and in-person) methods. Major themes regarding stress were the continuing fear of COVID-19 infection, appearing examinations in-person after a gap of 2 years, and readjusting to the changes; however, some students looked at this positively for activities and socializations. It was evident that the stress of the changes has led to anxiety, depression, and a decrease in self-confidence among students.
CONCLUSIONS:
A proportion (37.5%) of students experienced stress as the education system reverted to the pre-COVID norms. This suggested the need to identify the affected students and arrange appropriate support
Leveraging qualitative insights for dashboard development to address perinatal health inequalities in maternity, neonatal and perinatal services
No full text© 2025 The Authors. Published by Wiley. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.70130Introduction
Perinatal health inequalities, referring to disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes among different ethnic groups, persist despite numerous calls to action. A quality improvement initiative, such as the perinatal health inequality dashboard, could serve as a tool to provide real-time data, highlight trends and patterns, and capture and analyse disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes across various population groups.
Aim
To explore the development process of the perinatal health inequality dashboard and conduct a preliminary evaluation of the barriers and facilitators in effectively presenting data and highlighting disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes on the dashboard in the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) region in the United Kingdom.
Method
A qualitative study was conducted at the University Hospital of Leicester (UHL) involving the dashboard development team and end users, who are clinicians specializing in obstetrics, neonatal care, and perinatal mental health from the Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) region. Ten clinicians were interviewed using a semi-structured approach over a 3-month period. The data were analysed using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's method.
Results
The study findings are presented in two sections: the dashboard development process and dashboard evaluation. Key themes in the development process include data sourcing, integration, and accuracy in neonatal care. Evaluation themes focus on the potential impact of the dashboard, a user-friendly interface, balancing qualitative and quantitative data, sustainability through continuous oversight, and system integration and interoperability. These findings offer critical insights for the ongoing refinement and effective deployment of the dashboard.
Conclusion
The dashboard has the potential to improve health outcomes based on clinicians' insights. However, continuous refinement and modification of its functionality are necessary to address the challenges associated with its use.This work was funded by the local maternity and neonatal services (LMNS) for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
The identification and recording of potential biological hazards in ancient monuments for inclusion in HBIM within refurbishment and demolition in ancient castles
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.Background - Owing to the role that micro-organisms play, it can be seen that the need to comprehend the composition and functionality of complex microbial groups, within ancient structures is important as to ascertain if it is dangerous to health. This research aims to demonstrate the possibility of showing this within a process of demolition and refurbishment on a heritage
historical building information modelling platform.
Purpose - Little or no application exists regarding the implication or recording of health and safety information, (especially legislation), primarily aimed at ancient structures, specifically at designated areas of demolition and refurbishment, particularly considering the inclusion of the identification of micro-organisms, which have adapted to varying environmental conditions
throughout time.
Aims - The production of a prototype working HBIM (Historical Building Information Modelling) model to identify micro-organisms found within an ancient monument or otherwise; to produce a full analysis within a platform that informs the stakeholder of the micro-organism communities present; its analysis; to highlight results and portray a document management system within a HBIM platform to indicate and create health & safety legislation required, or sought, within the refurbishment sector, by means of Act of Parliament.
Method - Initial collection of specimens from site were analysed using a PCR, (Polymerase Chain Reaction), to extract DNA as to determine the Genus within the community. All results have been portrayed within a HBIM model and data management system to ascertain the required Health and Safety legislation is required for refurbishment within this or a similar site.
Results – Experiments from the case study concluded to what data collection procedure would be more adaptable or suitable for the research, to give evidence and realisation seen from a HBIM precedent. Metagenomic analysis would satisfy a collection and creation of multiple datasets, however PCR would be required initially to amplify DNA. The research would have a significant impetus within construction, heritage, and the refurbishment of old and ancient monuments.
Conclusion & Recommendations - This process of the data collection method used, particularly within the metagenomic application and collection of data from questionnaires has created a standardisation and availability for such data from ancient monuments, hence, to make available all data stored as such analysis becomes substantially important to enable the production of
datasets for comparison. Such results have shown within the research that there is a need for such a method to be made available for all future analysis of data collection within ancient castles
Case study of hydrogen distribution via ammonia-to-hydrogen system in the UK Humber industrial cluster
Get PDF© 2025 The authors. Published by Elsevier. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.152739The creation of a low-carbon hydrogen energy distribution system is essential to the decarbonisation of the UK Humber industrial cluster and other industrial clusters worldwide. In the UK, it is expected that a good proportion of hydrogen will be imported by 2050 in the form of ammonia derivative due to the material and physical limitation of transporting and storing hydrogen. The Immingham Green Energy Terminal (IGET) in the UK Humbers industrial cluster is envisioned to become a strategic landing point for imported low carbon ammonia which will be decomposed thereafter to obtain and supply hydrogen to the end-user heavy industries in the cluster. This study evaluates various ammonia-to-hydrogen network configurations through a comprehensive techno-economic analysis. A technical design was developed to calculate pipeline diameters, accurately accounting for the fluid properties of both hydrogen gas and liquid ammonia across proposed network designs. The results informed the optimisation of the pipeline configurations for each variation. The network simulation was implemented in Aspen Plus V14, validating the technical design outcomes. An economic assessment calculated the levelised costs of transmission (LCOT), ammonia cracking (LCOC), and hydrogen delivery (LCOH). LCOT values ranged from £0.024/kg NH3 to £0.029/kg H2, while LCOC values ranged from £4.25–£4.46/kg H2. LCOH values of £3.53 and £3.49/kg H2 were determined for centralized and decentralized ammonia-to-hydrogen networks, respectively. Comparison with existing literature revealed discrepancies due to differences in annual hydrogen throughput assumptions, limiting direct validation.This research was supported by funding from the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC), UK.Published versio