Open Research Exeter - University of Exeter
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The grey work of lifestyle entrepreneurialism in skateboarding: carving out pathways in an era of precarity and flexible professionalism
No full textA variety of scholarship has addressed the informal and unconventional trajectories of professional skateboarders—of taking skateboarding as ‘serious leisure’. The consensus is that there is no established sporting infrastructure that clearly scaffolds a skateboarder’s career, and that skate work should be contextualized by its entrepreneurism: as ‘lifestyle entrepreneurism’. Work and play are, on this analysis, integrated with various motivating drives of expression, activity, location, and as we add ‘for the culture’. We make our argument by drawing on four different ethnographic perspectives of skate work from diverse populations: POC, women, trans, and queer skaters, as well as ageing and youth skaters. These perspectives lead to our thesis: that skate work is ‘grey work’, a layered complexity of ‘subcultural labour’ and ‘flexible professionalism’ amidst the norms of skateboard culture. Skateboard careers are thus far more dense than the supposed ‘pro-skater’ moniker ever suggests.</p
Beyond Domesticity: Translating Cookbooks as State-building in Afghanistan (1890–1920)
No full textThis paper examines two Persian-language cookbook translations published by the Afghan state in 1895 and 1919 as tools of statecraft, challenging traditional understandings of “domesticity” in early twentieth-century Afghan history and situating these culinary texts in global culinary history and transregional circuits of knowledge production. The 1895 translation of a British Indian text, Dainty Dishes for Indian Tables, was produced for Amir Abdur Rahman Khan’s court, aligning the Persianate-imperial regime with hybrid British-Indian tastes and colonial circuits of knowledge. Decades later, Mahmoud Sami’s 1919 translation of the Ottoman cookbook Ev Kadını (The Housewife) was commissioned for the Maktabi Harbiya (Military School), decoupling domestic science from the housewife and repurposing it to train young male bureaucrats and officers. Both translations, produced by and for men, utilized the state printing press to promote transregional blueprints for modernity—Indian and Ottoman, respectively—in the formation of an elite, modern Afghan subject. These translations reveal how modern discourses of domesticity resonated beyond strictly domestic contexts and could be used as instruments for constructing state authority and defining modern Persianate tastes beyond exclusively Eurocentric norms and circuits.</p
Integrating thin-film semi-transparent photovoltaics in greenhouse agrivoltaics: materials, energy yield, photosynthesis response, crop productivity, and future directions
No full textThis review examines the importance of integrating semi-transparent photovoltaics (STPVs) in agriculture as a promising approach to address both challenges of energy production and sustainable food cultivation. The main materials of STPV that are evaluated are Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), organic photovoltaics (OPVs), dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs), amorphous silicon (a-Si) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). These materials are reviewed to understand the benefits of different STPVs when mounted on greenhouses. The benefits identified include improved land use and the reduction of fossil fuels in greenhouse farming. Energy conversion efficiency, stability, transparency and spectral selectivity are the main aspects of STPVs that are integrated into greenhouses. These factors have been evaluated to determine if the energy output balances the photosynthesis required for crop growth in the greenhouse. CdTe is identified as the most mature STPV material because it is stable, economical and up to date technologically. Research shows that a-Si is prone mainly to light-induced degradation compared to CdTe. The other materials including OPVs, DSSCs and PSCs have advantages like spectral tunability, but face durability challenges and are not yet ready for large-scale. This review establishes that STPV systems for agri-energy are promising and have low-carbon emissions.</p
Hierarchical Grouping of Nodes for Improved Nodal Demand Calibration in Water Distribution Networks
No full textHydraulic models are critical tools for planning and managing Water Distribution Networks (WDNs), yet inaccuracies in nodal demand estimates remain a key source of modeling errors. Demand calibration is essential to enhance model reliability but is challenging due to the large number of unknown demands and limited sensor availability, resulting in an underdetermined problem. This study introduces a novel hierarchical grouping methodology that integrates sensitivity analysis with graph-theoretic shortest-path to cluster nodes into demand groups, effectively reducing the dimensionality of the calibration problem. Building on this, a two-stage calibration framework is proposed: Stage 1 performs conventional calibration across demand groups, while Stage 2 targets sensors with high residual errors by hierarchically subgrouping nodes in their associated groups for focused recalibration. The approach is validated on two looped and one tree type WDNs using synthetic data under multiple sensor configurations. Results demonstrate that the proposed methodology achieves up to 34% reduction in nodal demand estimation errors compared to conventional single-stage calibration, particularly in scenarios with limited sensor coverage. These findings highlight the effectiveness of hierarchical node grouping and two stage calibration in improving demand estimation accuracy, providing a scalable and practical solution for utilities facing data constraints in WDN modeling and operation.</p
Family imprint reveals basin-wide patterns of Amazon forest embolism resistance
No full textAmazon rainforests face intensifying water stress due to increases in vapour pressure deficit and changing hydrological regimes. Embolism resistance (Ψ50) is a critical metric of tree survival under drought conditions, it is defined as a plant’s capacity to resist disruption of xylem water flow due to air bubble formation from water stress. However, measurements of Ψ50 are only available for a limited number of Amazon locations and species. Conversely, data on forest taxonomic composition are abundant across Amazonia, and if Ψ50 is conserved phylogenetically, these data could provide a way to scale-up drought resistance patterns. Here we evaluate Ψ50 measurements across non-flooded Amazonian tree taxa and reveal a moderate phylogenetic signal, with phylogenetic conservatism evident at the family-level. Notably, Fabaceae is amongst the most embolism-resistant tree families in Amazonia. Leveraging the phylogenetic signal we use species composition and tree size data from 448 forest plots across Amazonia to produce a macroecological assessment of Amazonian vulnerability to embolism. The resulting estimate spatial pattern reveals that forests in the Brazilian and Guiana Shield regions, where Fabaceae abundance is high, show strong resistance to embolism. In contrast, tree communities in Western Amazonia appear more vulnerable to embolism, suggesting a reduced capacity to withstand future drought conditions.</p
The genetics and movement of ecologically important migratory Hoverflies
No full textMigration is a diverse and widespread phenomenon occurring throughout the animal kingdom on all continents of the earth. Insects are the most numerous terrestrial migrants, far surpassing vertebrates in terms of biomass and abundance, and have profound impacts on ecosystem processes, such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and pest regulation. While migration in mammal and bird species has been extensively studied, understanding the mechanisms underpinning insect migration and the ecological impacts of these movements remains a major goal in movement ecology and migration biology. This thesis aims to address some of these knowledge gaps, which I present here in four parts through published, peer-reviewed papers.
Firstly, I explore the various roles of hoverflies as pollinators in our changing world, introducing new data regarding their economic importance, comparing their morphology to that of bee species, and discussing their migratory propensity. Next follows a study of the role of migratory hoverflies as long-distance pollen vectors, addressing key questions relating to pollen diversity and plant visitation networks, along with new insights into the migratory routes and distances over which pollen is vectored in northern Europe. Thirdly, I explore the role of genetics in the expression of migratory phenotypes in the marmalade hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus. Through differential gene expression analysis of migrant and non-migrant female flies, I identify a variety of genes and pathways that are fundamental to the migratory phenotype. Lastly, I investigate the physiological, morphological, and genetic basis of female-skewed sex ratios, measured during field observations of active migrant hoverflies in the Pyrenees. Using this approach, I elucidate the mechanisms underpinning the diminishing population of males during the migratory journey and identify key female migratory traits required for long-distance migration.</p
Polybius on the decline of monarchy and great man narratives
No full textThis article explores Polybius’ views on monarchy in the Histories and argues that his evaluation of one-man rule shapes his historiographical method. It revisits the notion that Hellenistic historiography increasingly favoured “great man” narratives and argues for a more complex picture which saw the development of multiple historiographical forms and the continuation of debates about historical agency from the Classical period. It observes that while Polybius’ Histories focuses on “great men”, i.e. leaders of men, it also advocates for a universal approach which presents everything and everyone in correct proportion. It contends that Polybius’ scepticism about one-man rule is also an underlying factor in his rejection of a “great man” approach and demonstrates how his universal structure functions as an argument about agency: kings (and leaders of men more generally) are important, but only as limbs of the larger body of history. Close readings of Polybius’ views on kingship and portrayals of Philip V, Antiochus III, and Ptolemy IV show how the failures of Hellenistic monarchy and the rise of Rome press Polybius toward a universal historiography that recalibrates the agency of even the most powerful leaders within a wider field of causation and contingency.</p
The role of inter-organisational capabilities in creating the lock-in effect in servitization
No full textThis paper aims to explicate the lock-in effect of servitization by examining the relationship between inter-organizational capabilities and repurchase intention. A Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling method is applied to a sample of 95 customers of service contracts to investigate the relationships between: (1) the degree of activity outsourced by the customer; (2) their perception of the inter-organizational capabilities between provider and customer; (3) the risk the customer perceives in contract repurchase; and (4) the customer’s intention to repurchase. Findings show inter-organizational capabilities positively mediate the relationship between the degree of activity outsourced by a customer and their perceived risk in repurchasing the contract, positively affecting their repurchase intention. The study provides empirical evidence of the role inter-organizational capabilities play in supporting customer repurchase intention. This research gives managers the knowledge to develop effective inter-organizational capabilities to increase the likelihood of repeated customer transactions over time.</p
From Text to Screen The Role of Feminism in Adapting Female-Oriented Internet Literature to Chinese Television Drama
No full textThis thesis investigates the adaptation of female-oriented internet literature into Chinese television dramas from 2011 to 2021, with a particular focus on how feminist ideologies are negotiated and represented across the adaptation process. It explores four interconnected dimensions: the feminist perspectives embedded in adapted narratives and visual representations; the influence of female creators’ gender identities and understandings of feminism on their creative choices; the specific adaptation strategies shaped by feminist consciousness; and the reception of these works by female audiences. Addressing a notable gap in existing media and adaptation studies, this research examines how feminist discourses are interwoven with commercial imperatives in Chinese television drama. It highlights how such adaptations function as sites of ideological negotiation, where representations of femininity are constructed, contested, and circulated. The study demonstrates that Chinese adaptations of female-oriented internet literature serve not only as commercial entertainment but also as potent vehicles for feminist expression, often navigating tensions between market demands, state regulation, and feminist ambitions.
This thesis situates neo-feminist discourse within China’s post-socialist configuration. Following Lisa Rofel, I conceptualise contemporary China not as straightforwardly neoliberal but as a site where neoliberal elements are selectively assembled through ‘socialism with Chinese characteristics’, forming a national project of global reordering (Rofel, 2007, p.33). Within this framework, media texts function as arenas where cosmopolitan aspiration, consumer desire, and Chineseness converge to generate new forms of gendered subjectivity. Moving beyond traditional semiotic analysis, this study approaches media adaptations as spaces of cultural negotiation that mediate emergent female agency and sexuality, revealing how gender representation participates in China’s re-imagining of itself. Employing a multi-method approach, the research integrates feminist criticism, interviews with media professionals, case studies, and audience analysis. This methodology allows for a comprehensive analysis of the adaptation processes, the creative intentions behind the portrayals of female characters and plots, and the audience’s reception of these adaptations.
The thesis reveals that adaptations of female-oriented internet literature often showcase complex negotiations of gender, where feminist ideologies and commercial imperatives intersect. Interviews reveal that, although media professionals may not explicitly label their work as feminist, their creative processes often reflect a feminist consciousness. Audience analysis, particularly through the case study of The Legend of Zhen Huan 甄嬛传(2011), highlights how feminist themes influence viewer perceptions and engagement with the narratives. The survey of female audiences demonstrates a significant relationship between feminist awareness and expectations for gender portrayal in the media.
Beyond the Chinese context, this thesis offers broader contributions to feminist media studies in non-Western settings. Its multi-method approach—integrating textual analysis, industry interviews, and audience research—provides a transferable and adaptable framework for investigating media adaptation and gender politics across diverse cultural landscapes. The Chinese case challenges Western-centric feminist paradigms by demonstrating how feminist consciousness can be shaped and articulated within market-driven, state-regulated media systems, revealing alternative modes of negotiation between feminism, authorship, and commercial production.</p