Thesis and Research Data Repository Leeds Beckett University
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Sustainability Literacy Evaluating Instrument for Construction Professionals
No full textThe construction industry plays a vital role in world economies over various sectors. Moreover, construction is one of the main sectors that significantly contribute to carbon emissions, resulting in global warming, climate change, disturbance of natural habitats, etc. In view of the negativity it causes, decarbonising economic sectors has become a global agenda, seeking to build secure and resilient societies, of which the construction industry is not an exception. However, achieving the desired level of success in decarbonisation has become challenging within the construction industry, especially due to the need for more sustainability literacy among construction professionals. Therefore, this study proposes an instrument to evaluate the sustainability literacy of construction professionals. In achieving the aim of this study, it incorporates a longitudinal research method while relying on secondary data. Data analysis is subjected to content analysis for a better understanding. Overall, the findings revealed that individuals’ environmental background, innovative perspectives of sustainability, the degree of in-depth analysis or the coherent structure of sustainability knowledge, institutional support, psycho-behavioural intervention and managerial influence should be considered in sustainability literacy evaluating instruments. The outcomes of this study are highly useful and significant in attaining sustainability in construction to build resilient communities. Moreover, it is beneficial in assessing the interrelationship between sustainability literacy and sustainable approaches within the construction sector.</p
Chemical characterisation and leaching properties of air pollution control residues (APCr) from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) sites in the UK
No full textThe thermal treatment of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities is continuously increasing in the UK as a sustainable practice to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill. However, the MSW incineration (MSWI) causes the volatilisation of hazardous compounds contained in the waste. These contaminants are removed from the gaseous emissions by air pollution control units. The solid waste generated during this cleaning process, known as air pollution control residues (APCr), are classified as hazardous because their chemical composition and leaching properties cause an environmental impact. The variable concentrations of metals and soluble salts make APCr treatment a difficult practice; hence, this waste must be carefully characterised before being treated either for disposal or for recycling. In this research, APCr from 22 EfW facilities in the UK, were analysed for heavy metals, mineralogy and leaching behaviour. The contents of heavy metals were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), revealing that the elements of major concern, given their high contents (122 to 10,500 mg/kg), were Pb, Zn, Ba and Cr, of which the most concerning metal was Pb with leachable concentrations from 7 to 2,570 mg/kg. The mineralogy was analysed by X-Ray diffraction (XRD). From a total number of 45 mineral phases identified in APCr, the most common were Calcite, Quartz, Calcium hydroxychloride, Halite and Sylvite. Regarding soluble salts, chlorides exhibited the highest leaching rates, from 9,756 to 330,275 mg/kg; while the leaching of sulphates was between 53 and 27,566 mg/kg, and the leaching of fluorides varied from 23 to 44 mg/kg. The APCr characterisation provides valuable information for the implementation of a suitable treatment aimed to reduce or stabilise the contents of heavy metals and soluble salts, improving their leaching properties and enabling the APCr for further recycling.</p
Do Project Managers have expanded short term memories?
No full textKnown human limitations for short term memory mean project managers managing local complexity either have ways of extending memory using plans and/or have expanded short term memory capabilities. The aim of this primary research is to investigate whether project managers DO have expanded short term memory capabilities. This was done using an inductive approach, conducting experiments with 2 sample groups (5 – Project Management based & 5 – Non-Project Management based). Observationally planning to represent the externalisation of detailed memory for recall, does not occur (for a variety of reasons) – So, some other method must be at play, expanded mind-capacity might be one of these solutions. The research displayed a reliance on methods of externalisation within the project management (PM) control group, which was in turn, reflected in the results of both experiments undertaken (PRE intervention). To try and better understand the data obtained from conducting the research, an intervention sample was chosen from the non-PM group, as a sample which stood out with similarities in job role and responses to the project management control group. Implementing the planned intervention into the control group, created a dynamic which meant that the two groups were homogeneous samples (project management sample group) and heterogeneous samples respectively (non-PM control group). The results both point towards the Null Hypothesis, in that project managers do not have expanded short term memory capabilities when compared to a control group. The results displayed a higher number of tasks remembered for both interventions (PRE & POST), within the project management control group, whilst displaying a heavy reliance on methods of externalisation using technology. There was a reliance on externalisation, with the non-PM outperforming the opposing control group in both experiments. Exogeneous variables need to be taken into consideration when looking at the results from the project managers, at the time of the research taken there were distracting factors in play that may have influenced the responses in the experiment (whether they be professional or personal distractions). Any future experiments regarding this research will need to ensure that the exogeneous samples are moved to statistically 479 significant samples, to provide an element of control to account for the specific experiences of the intervention group that result in a homogeneous sample group.</p
An ethnographic study of the online synthwave community, a community of practice – by a composer and performer
No full textOnline music communities are a vital method of genre formation in the 21st century. In a Web 2.0 (or 3.0) virtual space which transcends geographical boundaries, a multitude of artists, audiences, musicians, producers and performers come together to negotiate subcultural capital in a collective capacity. With new subcultural styles, rituals, practices, and cultural disseminations, how can we assess the activities of an online community and their role in the formation of a genre?
This 5-year and 6-month (2017-2023) ethnographic study examined the ecosystem of the online synthwave community, a 21st century style of music which both privileges and reimagines 1980s musical and cultural aesthetics. It includes autoethnographic work, with music composition, production and performance being key tenets of the author’s positionality. Paired with an emic viewpoint, this thesis makes visible tacit knowledge of the synthwave creative process, as well as providing rich and experiential subcultural detail about the online community.
The research concluded that the synthwave community is an active community of practice with a defined set of musical, stylistic, technological and subcultural rules. By examining the tensions observable within the outputs, interactions, and discourses of this community of practice, as well as through the author’s participation as a creator, the research addresses how online music communities (including creators and audiences) construct and negotiate parameters of an emergent musical style.
The research is (to date) the first ethnographic account of the online synthwave community and provides a first-hand telling of its ecosystem as a community of practice. Ultimately, this research traces the genre formation of an ‘internet-based creative practice’ (Born, 2018, p.606) known as synthwave. Key implications of the research findings implore the potential for making connections between communities of practice and genre formation in other areas of popular music, particularly of genres which exist primarily (or were formed initially) online.</p
Understanding small-sided game practice in professional rugby union
No full textThe core aim of this thesis was to investigate whether small-sided game (SSG) training may provide a consistent stimulus to elicit tactical, technical, and physical characteristics in professional rugby union players.
Initially, a systematic review of the literature on rugby football codes SSG demonstrated that limited research was available in rugby union SSG (5 out of 20 papers included, 25%), with the majority of research papers investigating the physical characteristics, limited studies evaluating the technical characteristics, and no study assessing the tactical characteristics of the SSG.
Successively, an observational study was conducted to investigate the consistency of tactical behaviour (i.e., attacking shape), and technical and physical characteristics across multiple bouts of a specific rugby union SSG. Findings indicated that consistency of tactical behaviour, and technical and physical characteristics can be achieved for the majority of the variables investigated over multiple SSG bouts. This represents the first study analysing tactical behaviours during rugby union SSG.
A regression study was then implemented to identify which external load variables were more closely related to internal load across multiple rugby union SSG designs. The results demonstrated that the association between internal and external load variables changed based on the specific design of the SSG, with the frequency of players getting down to and up from the ground and the frequency and intensity of accelerations and decelerations showing the strongest effect on internal load.
An additional observational study was implemented to determine the differences in physical and technical characteristics across multiple rugby union SSG designs and to quantify the variability of these characteristics during pre-season. Findings suggested that position specific SSG (e.g., only backs) may be implemented to expose players to greater physical and technical characteristics for the majority of the variables investigated. Furthermore, variability in physical and technical characteristics was identified across multiple training days.
In summary, findings demonstrated that consistency can be achieved across SSG bouts, and limited variability was identified over multiple training sessions
The Surveillance of Women in Contemporary Society: Are Today’s Standards of Surveillance Endangering Young Girls?
No full textSurveillance is defined as the act of observing with regard to one's personal safety, power, and relationships; to watch over, in a general sense (Peterson, 2012). The term implies efforts to enact a sense of control over personal data, insinuating a use of power or influence over another person (Duffy and Chan, 2018). As members of a so-called advanced society, we are exposed to more surveillance than has ever been known before. What was once originally a process of human behaviour, simply to watch, has advanced into complex intelligence tools which were initially a luxury to the most noble and wealthy divisions of the upper class.</p
Is the ‘Girl Boss’ Really Just an Anti-Feminist Commodification?
No full textSocial media today has been flooded with the increasing portrayal of the ‘Girl Boss’. Instagram and TikTok particularly have millions of posts captioned ‘#GirlBoss’, showing women living an aestheticized life of success, appearing to be the perfect stress-free life that any girl can achieve. From first look, this seems to be a feminist success where women are breaking into the business world, achieving the same business success as men whilst maintaining and promoting femininity. However, looking to theorise the rise of the Girl Boss in contemporary society raises questions on whether this is more of an anti-feminist capitalist commodity than a liberating goal to aim for.</p
Education as an Engine of Sustainability
No full textIn the context of the transition to a sustainable, green and smart architecture, The European Union adopted a series of laws that develop and maintain a network of green schools able to be the promoters and the central incubators of a community able to accelerate the process. Also, starting from the European Union Council’s Resolution to have a strategic cooperation in education for its countries, the latest have adopted a series of laws and regulations. For example, Romania conceived The National Recovery and Resilience Program (PNRR), which led in 2022 to changes to The Normative Regarding Design Implementation and Operating School and High School Buildings (NP 010/2022), and become support for a future network of green schools through The Order for The Approval of Former Methodology Regarding the Organization and Operation of Green Schools (ORDIN 4.147/ 29th June 2022). Along the impact on the built environment, there is a need found in ONU’s statements to expand the sustainability aspects to community involvement and equal education rights. Thus, The Green Schools have a managerial, a curricular, a social, an infrastructural component, that include subjects concerning sustainability, teachers and pupils involved in ecological activities as a permanent state etc. and should end in a positive impact towards the environment (greener spaces, reduction of pollution, digital resources, healthy nutrition), results in learning and quality of life. The questions are: Is the infrastructure good enough to implement these? What are the conditions and resources we need in order to achieve what needed by 2025, 2030, years that are mentioned as deadlines for some of the aspects? What can other countries with great results in its educational system teach the countries that still have more to achieve? In conclusion, there is some incertitude, but for sure, to involve the whole community and to use the technology that youth love so much in a sustainable way, to give them the opportunity to digitalize their school, may be a starting point on how to assure this and also, be the starting line for creative children in qualitative architectural spaces.</p
A Comparative Study of Energy Consumption in Nature-Inspired Optimization Algorithms
No full textThe problem of optimisation is a fundamental mathematical challenge encountered in various fields to determine the optimal solution to a problem while adhering to a set of constraints. Nature-inspired optimisation algorithms are a novel category of algorithms that take inspiration from natural systems to solve complex optimization problems. The utilisation of Nature-Inspired Optimisation (NIO) algorithms has gained widespread popularity in addressing a diverse range of optimisation problems in practical settings due to their straightforwardness, adaptability, and efficacy. NIO algorithms have been applied in diverse areas of ICT, such as metaverse and cloud computing, with a focus on virtual machines, storage, security, meta-analytics, and other related domains. This study presents a comparative analysis of energy consumption and associated carbon footprint of four widely used NIO algorithms. Intel Power Gadget was used to quantify the energy utilisation throughout the execution of each algorithm. Additionally, the carbon footprint of each algorithm is determined by referencing the UK DEFRA guide. The findings of this investigation indicate that different algorithms exhibit varying patterns of energy consumption to attain a common objective. Furthermore, a t-test was performed, indicating that the mean energy consumption of each algorithm exhibits significant differences from one another. Regarding prospective research it is worth considering various CPU architectures, including the Apple bionic chipset and the latest Intel processors, as potential options for executing these algorithms. The collection of energy consumption data for various CPU architectures can facilitate the identification of potential correlations between NIO algorithms and hardware resource energy consumption.</p
Preface and Editorial
No full textSociology sets out to develop the sociological imagination of those who study it, allowing us to think critically and reflexively about the social world around us and make sense of the relationship between our personal experiences and wider society. This approach to interrogating the world is embodied in this collection of critical reflections written by final year students on the Sociology degree programmes here at Leeds Beckett University. The reflections in this volume underline both the breadth of the subject and its power to shed light on the familiar and the taken for granted. They tackle a wide range of contemporary issues such as greenwashing, social media, mental health, school education, and reality television. To do this, they apply theory as an interrogative and explanatory tool, tackling these subjects through the lens of, for example, neoliberalism, surveillance, risk society, commodification, and cultural production, underlining its central role in Sociology.</p