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Context-Aware Optimal Resource Management in Electric Vehicle Smart2Charge
No full textThis thesis presents a novel approach to optimizing electric vehicle (EV) charging systems through a context-aware framework powered by deep reinforcement learning (DRL). The research addresses critical challenges in the EV ecosystem, balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders including end-users, grid operators, fleet managers, and charging station operators. At its core, a Deep Q-Network (DQN) algorithm outperforms other state-of-the-art DRL methods in managing complex, multi-objective optimization scenarios.
This work advances the field by bridging theoretical DRL models with practical EV charging implementations, offering a framework that optimizes outcomes for multiple stakeholders while promoting sustainable transportation. Through the Smart2Charge application, the research demonstrates how context-aware solutions can enhance both user experience and environmental sustainability. The application integrates real-time data including grid conditions, user preferences, charging station availability, and environmental factors to optimize charging decisions. Comprehensive testing through simulations and real-world scenarios validates the system’s effectiveness and adaptability across diverse operating conditions.
The proposed system achieves a 15% increase in overall energy efficiency, 10% reduction in charging costs for EV owners, 20% decrease in grid strain, and 10% reduction in CO₂ emissions through optimal integration of renewable energy sources. These advancements significantly contribute to both user satisfaction and environmental sustainability. This research paves the way for more intelligent, user-centric, and environmentally conscious EV charging systems, marking a significant step towards sustainable urban mobility
A Systematic Review Study on Lived Experiences of People Living with Hepatitis B (PLHB)
No full textBackground: Hepatitis B (HB) is a serious "silent infection" with an infection rate of around 325 million worldwide, with an expected death rate of 1.14 million in 2035. Chronic HB is a burden and a threat to People Living with Hepatitis B (PLHB), and it is predicted that the situation for PLHB will become even worse by 2030 if nothing is done to reduce its prevalence and eliminate it. Objective: To determine the lived experiences of PLHB and their impact on their quality of life. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Protocol was used as a guide to systematically search four electronic databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, published in English from 2000 to 2022 with adult volunteers aged 18 years and above. The data screening and selection process was facilitated by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 flow chart, and the methodological quality of the studies selected was evaluated using the JBI Critical Assessment Skill Program (JBI CASP). Data analysis and synthesis were done using the JBI qualitative meta-aggregation approach. Results: Five themes emerged: informational needs, socio-cultural issues as barriers to treatment and care, health system challenges as barriers to healthcare and follow-up, coping strategies to overcome the challenges, and impacts of HB on the psychological, social, spiritual, and physical domains of life. Conclusion: HB burden is a global burden affecting PLHB caused by several factors such as lack of knowledge, healthcare-seeking behaviors, barriers to healthcare, and healthcare system challenges and policy making. To address these challenges, policymakers and stakeholders are to commit funds for HB health education and the awareness creation, free screening for all, creation of HB clinics for early diagnosis and treatment, as well as subsidizing HB treatment and health insurance subscription at the district levels. More healthcare workers should be trained as professional counselors to address and improve the well-being needs of PLHB
Less is more: Designing Wearable Vibrotactile Wristbands for Blind and Visual Impaired Creatives
No full textPrevious research has shown that blind and visually impaired music producers benefit from wearable vibrotactile feedback technologies. Keyboard-based interactions become more accessible, particularly when using Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) applications. This study examines the optimal location and number of motors to display spa- tiotemporal patterns. We review existing literature to understand how vibrotactile technologies are integrated into wearable designs. We identify the hand as the most effective body location for keyboard interaction and survey existing systems to pinpoint design gaps in the literature. We designed and evaluated a wearable armband featuring five motors in different locations. Participants could identify the exact location of the vibration stimuli, achieving a 71% success rate regardless of the hand location. The study was repeated with three motors, achieving a success rate of 97%. In addition, results can potentially be influenced by age and body mass when using five motors. We propose the use of three motors around the hand for displaying spatiotemporal patterns
"Everyone is Allowed One Sin in Life": A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions towards Smoking and Smoking Cessation in University Students
No full textIn the UK, cigarette use is most prevalent among individuals aged 18–34 years, and it is a time when young people, particularly university students move from smoking occasionally to smoking regularly. This study aimed to explore students' perceptions of smoking and its cessation. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method that used in-depth interviews to collect data from study participants, and 20 students from Anglia Ruskin University were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted with a semi-structured, open-ended questionnaire. Thematic analysis of data revealed four main themes, including: influences and triggers for initiating smoking behaviour, perceived benefits and justification for smoking, university intervention for smoking cessation support, and participants' views on programs for quitting smoking. The result shows that family expectations, stress, social acceptability, and peer influence were the key triggers for initiating smoking behaviour among students. There were various myths held by smoking students to minimise the health risks of smoking, such as the belief that physical activity counters the harmful effects of smoking. In line with existing research on prevention and treatment initiatives for smoking among college students, participants supported the enforcement of smoking bans in school environment, provision of free or affordable replacement therapies and implementation of smoke-free educational campaigns. This study emphasizes the complexity of smoking behaviour and the need for comprehensive strategies to deal with the difficulties young adults face when starting, maintaining, and quitting smoking. Policymakers and health educators should develop targeted strategies to lower smoking rates and encourage healthier lifestyles among university students
I am not listening: poem object as hybrid publication in the post-digital era
No full textThe chapter presents an interactive artwork, I am not listening, that exists within the context of the evolution of artists’ publications and publishing activities through the 20th and 21st centuries. It acknowledges a legacy of creative experimentation, particularly that which respondsto developing communications and media technologies with their associated promise of new sensory experiences and new modes of presenting narrative content. The work expands the experiential dimension of poetry reading beyond the conventions of the printed page and towards a performative gesture of reading in which the interpretative experiences between the aural, visual and haptic are exposed and activated, and in which no two performed readings are the same
Innovative hybrid battery thermal management system incorporating copper foam porous fins and layers with phase change material and liquid cooling
No full textIn the present numerical investigation, a hybrid battery thermal management system (HBTMS) has been studied which combines phase change material (PCM), copper foam as porous fins and porous layers, and liquid cooling. The system includes twelve 18650 Lithium-ion batteries encased in aluminium housing, with copper foam used as longitudinal porous fins within the PCM and as porous layer inside copper tubes within the cooling plates. The enthalpy-porosity model was employed for PCM simulation, and the Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer (DBF) model was used for copper foam. Local thermal equilibrium (LTE) and non-equilibrium (LTNE) models were utilized to simulate the porous fins and layers, respectively. Transient heat generation was considered based on a lumped-capacitance thermal model. This study addresses a key research gap by optimising the properties of porous fins and layers to enhance both passive and active cooling mechanisms, to effectively improve both thermal performance and energy density. The obtained results indicated the superior performance of porous fins compared to solid fins. The proposed HBTMS significantly reduces the maximum battery surface temperature by up to 9.18 K at a 5C discharge rate compared to pure PCM battery thermal management system (BTMS), while maintaining maximum temperature difference within the battery pack below 1 K, even at high 5C discharge rate. While porous fins with lower porosity improves conduction in the PCM, porous layers with higher porosity enhances convection within the copper tubes. Also, the utilization of porous fins, compared to solid fins, improves the energy density of the system by approximately 25%
The Impact of Diversity in Disney's Ms. Marvel: An Analysis of YouTube Comments
No full textThis article examines the Disney+ streaming television series Ms. Marvel, as a case study in popular cultural representations of Muslim youth. By analysing YouTube comments on the shows trailer, this research explores how the series navigates the intersections of race, religion, gender, and Identity by drawing on primary social media data. Through a thematic analysis of YouTube comments, the study investigates the ways in which Ms. Marvel both challenges and reinforces dominant cultural discourses.. Themes identified include Culture and Identity where respondents appreciate the respectful depiction and cultural elements. Misrepresentation (34.2%) highlights concerns about the show’s inaccurate portrayal and criticisms that it caters more to Western audiences. Negative Views (17.4%) address stereotypes and criticisms of Marvel’s political motivations. Lastly, Unclassified Content (6.9%) encompasses responses lacking substantial content, often link-baiting or non-English text. A striking juxtaposition emerges between the show’s vibrant portrayal of a young Muslim woman and the significant volume of online hate speech and misogyny directed at it, highlighting the paradox of increased visibility and heightened vitriol. Ultimately, this research contributes to a broader understanding of how media representations influence identity formation and social change, particularly among marginalised communities. By investing in culturally grounded storytelling, producers can build a more loyal and diverse audience, fostering resonance and trust, which are essential for long-term viewer engagement and cross-cultural impact. The role of social media analysis, as demonstrated through the themes identified in YouTube comments, is an important medium for understanding audience perspectives on cultural representation in media
Synergising HR Practices and Social Performance for Adoption of Digital Circular Economy: A Case of Developing Country Perspective
No full textPurpose: The study explores two underexamined areas in Digital Circular Economy (DCE) literature: the synergy between human resource (HR) practices and social performance and their impact on fostering DCE adoption in developing countries. This novel approach integrates HR practices, organizational readiness, and social performance dimensions to address barriers in DCE implementation within resource-constrained manufacturing sectors.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with a cross-sectional approach, data from 343 HR managers and senior professionals in developing economies, the study investigates how HR practices and social performance collectively influence organizational readiness and DCE adoption.
Findings: The study identifies training, performance-based incentives, and CSR as critical drivers of organizational readiness, enhancing trust and collaboration for DCE adoption. Organizational readiness, including leadership commitment and digital skills, mediates the relationship between HR practices, social performance, and DCE adoption, offering a novel framework for sustainable transformation in resource-constrained contexts.
Research Limitations/Implications: The study is confined to manufacturing firms in developing economies and hence doesn't have any generality to other sectors or in other regions. Insights from future research on the qualitative aspects of and longitudinal impacts of HR practices on DCE adoption across diverse industries and cultures are required.
Originality/Value: This study uniquely integrates HR practices, social performance, and organizational readiness, addressing significant research gaps by focusing on the manufacturing sector in developing countries. The findings provide actionable insights for aligning workforce strategies with sustainability goals and fostering innovation in DCE adoption
Customer experience and customer loyalty in retail multichannel banking: A mediation Analysis
No full textPurpose –This paper examines whether customer experience has an influence on customer loyalty in a multichannel banking environment.
Design/methodology/approach – The study used a sample of 466 bank customers in Durban, South Africa. Data from the survey of the bank customers was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), and a theoretical model was created and empirically tested.
Findings – The study findings indicate that the relationship between customer experience and customer loyalty is mediated by service quality and customer satisfaction. The theoretical model developed indicates that customer loyalty can be achieved by improving customer experiences, enhancing service quality and improving customer satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications – The implication is that banks must exploit ways of improving customer experience as well as leveraging on customer satisfaction and service quality to enhance loyalty.
Originality/value: The success of service companies depends on their ability to build a loyal customer base, which can be achieved by delivering customer experiences that blend the different channels
How Circular Economy Innovation Can Backfire on The Environment: Quantifying the Rebound Effect of The Textiles and Clothing Sector
No full textCircular economy (CE) is championed as a sustainability solution, promoting reuse, recycling, and resource efficiency to reduce environmental harm. However, efficiency innovations can trigger a rebound effect (RE), where lower costs stimulate higher consumption and production, paradoxically negating sustainability gains. This study applies a multi-region, multi-sector Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (DCGE) model to quantify the circular economy rebound effect in the textile and clothing (TC) sector, the second most polluting industry. Our findings reveal a 155% rebound backfire, showing that CE innovations in the TC sector may exacerbate rather than mitigate environmental pressures. This challenges the assumption that CE alone can drive sustainability and underscores the need for complementary policies. We explore one policy - a uniform Pigouvian tax on TC production, finding that a minimum rate of 1.25% is required to curb the RE. However, effective implementation requires targeted regulatory interventions that also account for socio-economic trade-offs, particularly in low-income countries. To achieve truly sustainable outcomes, we argue for exploring broader systemic shifts, including insights from Degrowth theory