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Exploring teachers' perceptions on the impact of students' social skills on academic achievement: a case study
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Master of Philosophy.Social skills influence how well children interact with peers and teachers, and in learning activities, they are widely acknowledged as critical components of academic success. The challenges posed by COVID-19, which resulted in extensive remote learning and heightened social isolation, have highlighted the importance of social skills in recent years. Students' social skills, communication ability, and general academic achievement have all been significantly impacted by these changes. Using an interpretivist qualitative case study approach for detailed insights into the teachers' perspectives, this study attempts to investigate how secondary school teachers see the impact of students' social skills on academic accomplishment. An open-ended questionnaire was used to gather data from a group of secondary school teachers. According to the findings of the study, social skills are consistently viewed by teachers as being necessary for academic achievement, and there are definite connections between social skills and student participation in class, peer collaboration, and general engagement with learning activities. Peer mentoring, cooperative learning activities, and structured socio-emotional learning programs are just a few of the techniques that teacher participants have suggested to establish collaborative environments that foster both academic and social growth. The study also emphasises a number of crucial ethical considerations, such as getting participants' informed consent and maintaining participant confidentiality during the data collection procedure. The study addresses these concerns in accordance with established ethical standards and emphasises the significance of establishing a dignified and reliable research environment. The study underscores the necessity of focused interventions to address gaps in students' social skills, particularly in the wake of the pandemic's disruptions. It is suggested that incorporating social skills development within the curriculum is essential to guaranteeing that students have the social skills needed to succeed in both their academic and social lives. A more comprehensive approach to student development that acknowledges the connection between social and intellectual development in the changing educational landscape is advocated by the discussion of the research's implications for teaching methods and educational policies
Digital transitions of critical energy infrastructure in maritime ports: a scoping review
Get PDF© 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/jmse13071264This scoping review investigates the digital transition of critical energy infrastructure (CEI) in maritime ports, which are increasingly vital as energy hubs amid global decarbonisation efforts. Recognising the growing role of ports in integrating offshore renewables, hydrogen, and LNG systems, the study examines how digital technologies (such as automation, IoT, and AI) support the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of port-based CEI. A multifaceted search strategy was implemented to identify relevant academic and grey literature. The search was performed between January 2025 and 30 April 2025. The strategy focused on databases such as Scopus. Due to limitations encountered in retrieving sufficient, directly relevant academic papers from databases alone, the search strategy was systematically expanded to include grey literature such as reports, policy documents, and technical papers from authoritative industry, governmental, and international organisations. Employing Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR (scoping review) guidelines, the review synthesises insights from 62 academic and grey literature sources to address five core research questions relating to the current state, challenges, importance, and future directions of digital CEI in ports. Literature distribution of articles varies across continents, with Europe contributing the highest number of publications (53%), Asia (24%) and North America (11%), while Africa and Oceania account for only 3% of the publications. Findings reveal significant regional disparities in digital maturity, fragmented governance structures, and underutilisation of digital systems. While smart port technologies offer operational gains and support predictive maintenance, their effectiveness is constrained by siloed strategies, resistance to collaboration, and skill gaps. The study highlights a need for holistic digital transformation frameworks, cross-border cooperation, and tailored approaches to address these challenges. The review provides a foundation for future empirical work and policy development aimed at securing and optimising maritime port energy infrastructure in line with global sustainability targets.This research was funded by Lloyds Register Foundation with grant number Cg\100001, for which the authors are grateful. However, the view presented in this study is that of the authors.Published onlin
Facticity, today
Get PDF© 2025 Published by e-flux. Available online: https://www.e-flux.com/notes/652418/facticity-toda
Evaluation of drivers for sustainable business model innovation: TISM and fuzzy MICMAC approach
Get PDFThis is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published by Emerald in Smart and Sustainable Built Environment on 8 September 2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-01-2025-0016.
The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.Purpose: Today’s business environment is complex; organisations are increasingly forced to adjust. By innovating their business model, organisations have become increasingly capable of creating positive social and environmental value. This paper aims to expand knowledge on driving forces for sustainable business model innovation (SBMI).
Design/methodology/approach: This research employed Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) and Fuzzy MICMAC analysis to examine the contextual relationships among SBMI drivers. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with experts in sustainable business innovation across various sectors. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify driving forces, followed by TISM to establish a hierarchical structure of interrelationships. Fuzzy MICMAC analysis was further used to classify drivers based on their influence and dependence levels.
Findings: A total of 12 driving forces internal and external to organisations were identified. A hierarchical structure of the system composed by the drivers and their contextual relationships was developed. The resulting model provides an improved articulation of the interpreted contextual links between the drivers. Then, the study presents the level of influence and dependency of each driver for SBMI within the system.
Originality/value: The study provides a rich insight into the understanding and awareness on how innovative sustainable business model implementation unfolds in new and established organisations which guides organisations to tailor processes based on their needs. Findings help empower top level management and policy makers since it helps differentiate between the drivers and their contextual relations allowing them to better focus their effort and resources on the most relevant
Activating Mn(III)F3 towards homo- and heterogeneous oxidative catalysts
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.The work presented in Chapter 2 shows that the complexes [Mn(III)F3(H2O)(L1-3)] (1-3) (where L1 = 1,10-phenanthroline, L2 = 2,2ʹ-bipyridine, L3 = 4,4′-dimethoxy-2,2′bipyridine), [Mn(III)F3(L4)] (4) (L4 = 2,2';6',2"-terpyridine) and[Mn(II)4(μ-F)4(L1)8](NO3)4 (5) are effective homogeneous oxidative catalysts for the epoxidation of trans-stilbene using iodosobenzene as the oxygen source. During these catalytic studies it is shown that acetonitrile is the most suitable solvent and the presence of catalysts 1-5 are vital in successful oxidations, giving extremely low yields and very long reaction times when no catalyst is employed. Attempts at using anhydrous Mn(III)F3 as a catalyst (as opposed to catalysts 1-5) were unsuccessful, giving poor yields presumably due to its poor solubility. These findings indicate that the ligated di- and triimine ligands in 1-5 are vital components within our catalysts. Moreover, the Jahn-Teller elongated Mn-OH2 bonds in complexes 1-3 may also have importance mechanistically. We have also shown that catalysts 1-5 must be added intact when carrying out trans-stilbene epoxidations (as opposed to expecting in-situ self-assembly of the catalyst). After conducting a significant number of epoxidations where various reaction conditions are optimised, we can now convert trans-stilbene quantitatively into trans-stilbene oxide (with no side products) as shown using NMR and GC-MS. Moreover, this can be achieved with reaction times of 7-9 hours.
In chapter 3, we demonstrate that this same family of complexes (1-5) can also be employed as oxidative catalysts in the sulphoxidations of both 4-nitrothioanisole and nitrophenyl phenyl sulphide. Blank studies show that without catalysts 1-5, these sulphoxidations are very slow (5-7 days). When 3 equivalents of tetra-n-butylammonium peroxymonosulphate (TBAOX) (oxidant) are employed, conversions are close to 100%, however the major product (as expected) was the sulphone in both cases (giving 1-(methanesulphonyl)-4-nitrobenzene (A2) and 1-(benzenesulphonyl)-4-nitrobenzene (B2), respectively). When 1 equivalent of TBAOX is employed, a mixture of sulphoxide and sulphone products were produced in both cases. However, we were able to limit sulphone production (over oxidation) by lowering reaction temperatures (0 °C) and shortening reaction times (30 mins).
The work in Chapter 4 describes our many attempts at introducing Mn(III)F3 (and Mn(II)F2) metal centres at the empty bipyridyl sites found within the Metal-Organic Framework UiO-67-bipy. Thus, introducing {Mn(III)F3(bipy)} active sites within a porous MOF to form a (potential) oxidative catalyst that would represent a heterogeneous analogue material to catalysts 1-4. The UiO-67-bipy precursor was made using two different synthetic methodologies. The first entailed solvothermal synthesis and produced highly crystalline samples, albeit in low yields (∼100 mg; ∼90%). The second method relied on sonochemical methods and provided much larger quantities of product (multi-gram). BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis) adsorption studies on the small-scale batch of UiO-67-bipy provided an average particle size of 22 nm and a surface area of 3,485 m²/g, which were significantly more porous than the latter large-scale multigram batch (100-300 nm particle size and surface area of 13.78 m2/g). Although several promising materials were produced during this work, attempts at incorporating Mn(III)F3 (and Mn(II)F2) incorporation gave mixed and inconsistent results. For example, samples produced in duplicate routinely gave rise to significantly different Mn loading levels when measured using ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy). Moreover, powder X-ray diffraction studies on these novel ‘UiO-67-bipy-Mn’ materials showed poor crystallinity when compared to the highly crystalline nature of the precursor UiO-67-bipy
Modelling the impact of climate change on runoff in a sub-regional basin
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/geosciences15080289This study focuses on developing a climate-flood model to investigate and interpret the relationship and impact of climate on runoff/flooding at a sub-regional scale using multiple linear regression (MLR) with 30 years of hydro-climatic data for the Cross River basin, Nigeria. Data were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for the following climatic parameters: annual average rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures, humidity, duration of sunlight (sunshine hours), evaporation, wind speed, soil temperature, cloud cover, solar radiation and atmospheric pressure. These hydro-meteorological data were analysed and used as parameters input to the Climate -Flood model. Results from multiple regression analyses were used to develop climate –flood models for all the gauge stations in the basin. The findings suggest that at 95% confidence, the climate-flood model was effective in forecasting the annual runoff at all the stations. The findings also identified the climatic parameters that were responsible for 100% of the runoff variability in Calabar (R2 = 1.000), 100% the runoff in Uyo (R2 = 1.000), 98.8% of the runoff in Ogoja (R2 = 0.988), and 99.9% of the runoff in Eket (R2 = 0.999). Based on the model, rainfall depth is the only climate parameter that significantly predicts runoff at 95% confidence intervals in the Calabar, while in Ogoja, rainfall depth, temperature and evaporation significantly predict runoff. In Eket, rainfall depth, relative humidity, solar radiation and soil temperatures are significant predictors of runoff. The model also reveals that rainfall depth and evaporation are significant predictors of runoff in Uyo. The outcome of the study suggests that climate change has impacted runoff and flooding within the Cross River basin
Renewable and sustainable water treatment using Moringa oleifera Lam. and biochar
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.The use of Moringa oleifera (MO) Lam. and biochar has been widely researched. This study, however, attempts to explore straightforward, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly methods for domestic application of MO and biochar for water treatment. To achieve this goal, the researcher first identified the contaminants generally present in water and their prescribed limits in drinking water in developed countries and some developing regions. Their potential health impacts and the conventional removal methods were critically analysed regarding their merits and demerits. The literature review justifies the need to explore sustainable and affordable methods for water treatment. MO and biochar have the potential to provide clean drinking water by removing contaminants through coagulation-flocculation and adsorption, respectively.
Regarding using Moringa oleifera, the current study fills the gap in the literature by exploring the optimum dose, shelf-life, settling time, storage temperature and the extractant used for moringa seed protein to treat water with low hardness and low conductivity, especially in cold climate regions. Further, this research, for the first time, investigated the influence of particle size (PS) on the efficiency of MO seeds in removing turbidity and pathogens from drinking water. For this purpose, the seed powder was sieved into five different PS, and the optimum size range for water treatment was explored.
The research further investigated the potential of biochar as a low-cost, globally available adsorbent to remove heavy metals such as cadmium, zinc, nickel, and lead from water. The study employed sewage sludge biochar (SSB) without surface modification, achieving a high adsorption capacity and removal percentage. The prospective of SSB in removing arsenic (metalloid) from drinking water was also studied. Surface-modified SSB (using a 2M KOH solution) exhibited promising results compared to its pristine counterpart. The water obtained closely met WHO criteria for drinking water.
Finally, the researcher focused on developing a laboratory-scale hybrid system that sequentially uses MO and biochar to remove turbidity, pathogens, and heavy metals from water. Synthetically contaminated water with a turbidity of 200 NTU was prepared. The water contained 10 mg/l of each nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) and 1x105 colony-forming units (CFU/ml) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. It was first treated with MO and then passed through a column containing non-modified sewage sludge biochar. Encouraging results were obtained. The turbidity of the finally treated water was around 1 NTU. Ni and Pb were removed by 97.5% and 99.3% respectively. E. coli in treated water were not detected. The finally treated water met the WHO and UK criteria for potable water. This is the first study that makes sequential use of Moringa oleifera Lam. and biochar as natural resources to obtain clean drinking water
Social views about assisted suicide, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and positions of various organisations and countries
No full textThis is an author's accepted manuscript of a chapter published by Springer in Arafat, S.M.Y., Kar, S.K. (eds) Ecological and Social Determinants of Suicidal Behavior. South Asian Perspectives in Mental Health and Psychology, available online: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4028-7_17
For reuse please see Springer's terms and conditions.Euthanasia and assisted suicide in their various forms remain a heated and polarising debate. There is global variance in the legalisation of forms of assisted dying; with it being legalized in some form in some countries, and staunchly prohibited in others. As legal status varies from country to country, so do religious and social views; within some countries, there is entrenched opposition to the premise of assisted dying, whereas in others it has become increasingly socially acceptable; and in some countries generalised acceptance of euthanasia is the majority viewpoint. Religious and historical perspectives can be used as a lens to explain and understand these varying social views. This chapter provides the religious, historical, legal, and ethical perspectives related to assisted dying
Compressive performance of polyurethane bonded basalt-plastic-rubber porous composite paving material
No full text©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: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsurfi.2025.100527This study presents the development and optimisation of a sustainable polyurethane (PU)-bonded basalt-plastic-rubber composite for paving applications, addressing the ecological concerns associated with traditional asphalt and concrete. By integrating basalt aggregates with recycled plastic and rubber in a PU binder, the research aims to deliver an eco-friendly alternative that balances mechanical performance with environmental sustainability. Quasi-static compression testing was used to characterise the elastic modulus, yield strength, and ultimate strength of the composite material, while X-ray computed tomography (XCT) analysis confirmed a porosity range of 24.21 %–25.83 %, ensuring adequate permeability for water drainage. The influence of the proportion of basalt, plastic and rubber was characterised through the development of a mixture-model capable of predicting the mechanical performance of the composite sample representing a novel contribution to the field. The mixture-model also revealed the influence of basalt, plastic and rubber distribution within the PU matrix on the stiffness and strength of the composite. This approach enables the development of composite material with targeted performance simply by varying the material composition within the PU matrix. The optimal composite formulation of 60 vol % basalt, 20 vol % plastic, and 20 vol % rubber, derived from mixture modelling and ANOVA analysis, yielded superior mechanical properties achieving an elastic modulus of 37.84 MPa and strength of 1.01 MPa, offering a sustainable paving material. This work offers insights into the mechanical interplay of sustainable composite mixture materials for various paving applications.This research was funded by the Innovate UK Smart Grant EnviroSurface project (Ref: 10033756).Accepted versio
The antimicrobial efficacy of amine-containing surfactants against cysts and trophozoites of acanthamoeba spp.
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: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13030665Microbial keratitis, a vision-threatening infection commonly linked to contact lens use, poses a significant challenge, particularly when caused by Acanthamoeba species. Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is difficult to treat due to the organism’s ability to form resilient cysts, necessitating prolonged and complex therapeutic interventions. This study evaluated novel amidopropyl dimethylamines (APDs) and amidopropyl quaternary trimethylammoniums (APTs) for their antimicrobial efficacy against Acanthamoeba castellanii and Acanthamoeba polyphaga cysts. Minimum effective concentrations were determined, and time–kill assays assessed microbial inactivation over 24 h. The results indicated that certain APTs, particularly elaidamidopropyl trimethylammonium (EAPT) and oleamidopropyl trimethylammonium (OAPT), demonstrated superior cysticidal activity compared to the commercially used MAPD, achieving greater log reductions within 24 h (p < 0.0001) at a concentration of 25 µM. The enhanced efficacy of these compounds is potentially attributed to their unsaturated alkyl chains and positive charge, improving antimicrobial activity through the greater disruption of the Acanthamoeba cell membrane. These findings highlight the potential of APTs as alternative agents for incorporation into multipurpose lens disinfectants and AK treatment, offering improved disinfection efficacy. Further investigation is justified to optimise formulations for clinical and commercial applications.Published onlin