25096 research outputs found
Sort by
Numerical Investigation of Thermal Performance in Liquid Cooling Serpentine Mini-Channel Heat Sink with Various Inlet/Outlet Positions
Full text linkopen access articleThis study aims to investigate and optimize the thermal dissipation of a constant heat flux source by conducting a numerical analysis of four serpentine mini-channel heat sink configurations, each characterized by different inlet and outlet arrangements for the cooling fluid. The cooling system under study consists of an upper part made of ABS copolymer resin, incorporating the fluid inlets and outlets (water), and a lower part made of aluminum, which contains the serpentine mini-channel heat sink. The analyzed configurations included four cases: First: a single inlet and a single outlet, Second: two inlets and one outlet, Third: one inlet and two outlets, and Fourth: a variation of the third model with reversed inlet and outlet positions. Numerical simulations, performed using the finite volume method, cover a Reynolds number range from 200 to 600. The analysis focuses on flow behavior, temperature distributions, pressure drop, thermal resistance, the average Nusselt number and the performance evaluation factor (PEF). The results indicate that the configurations with two inlets and one outlet (Case 2) and the reversed inlet/outlet configuration (Case 4) significantly enhance cooling compared to the other configurations. However, the two-inlet, one-outlet case also results in a higher pressure drop. At a Reynolds number of 600, Case 2 achieves the best thermal performance with an average Nusselt number of 20.79 and a minimum thermal resistance of 0.228K/W, while Case 3 exhibits the lowest efficiency. These findings help identify optimal configurations for cooling high heat flux electronic components
Authenticating Basil (Ocimum spp.): An Integrated Quality Control Strategy
Full text linkopen access article
Collaboration between:
Biomolecular Technology Group, Leicester School of Allied Health Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Plant Biology and Systematics, CSIR—Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Centre, Bengaluru 560065, India
Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
Phytochemistry Division, CSIR—Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UKStandardisation is essential to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of basil oil products. Although Ocimum basilicum L. is the most widely traded species, other Ocimum species are often sold under the same name, increasing the risk of misidentification and adulteration. Intraspecific variation in morphology and chemical composition further complicates standardisation, highlighting the need for a comprehensive authentication strategy. This study evaluates genetic, chemical, and morphological methods for the authentication of commercial basil accessions to support accurate species identification and product standardisation. Samples were analysed using DNA barcoding (matK, trnH-psbA, rbcL, rpl16), GC-MS-based chemical profiling, and trichome characterisation via scanning electron microscopy. Phylogenetic analysis placed all commercial samples within a broad clade encompassing O. basilicum, its hybrids, and related species. Species-specific single nucleotide variations in matK and trnH-psbA supported the identification of distinct accessions. Notably, liquorice basil showed genetic similarities to non-basilicum species, suggesting the need to revisit its classification. Chemical profiling revealed substantial variation in essential oil composition, with some samples dominated by linalool and eugenol, and others by methyl chavicol, raising potential safety concerns. Morphological analysis further highlighted differences in trichome density, particularly in the blue spice variety. The findings underscore the limitations of using a single method for basil authentication and advocate for an integrated approach. DNA barcoding supports species identification, while chemical profiling is essential for chemotype differentiation. Developing reliable DNA markers and incorporating combined analyses into routine quality control can strengthen industry standards for natural product authentication
Simulation and Control of the KUKA KR6 900EX Robot in Unity 3D: Advancing Industrial Automation through Virtual Environments
Full text linkopen access articleThis study presents the development of a virtual simulation of a KUKA robot within the Unity 3D platform, focusing on its ability to execute pick-and-place operations in an industrial setting. The research emphasizes the importance of digital simulations as cost-effective and safe alternatives to physical prototypes in industrial automation. By replicating robotic tasks in a virtual environment, organizations can mitigate wear and tear on expensive machinery and minimize safety hazards inherent in real-world operations. The simulation process commenced with the creation of a detailed 3D model of the KUKA robot utilizing Creo CAD software. This model was subsequently imported into the Unity 3D environment, where an interactive and realistic simulation environment was constructed. A manual control system was implemented through custom C# scripts, enabling precise joint manipulation via keyboard inputs. While the current control mechanism remains manual, this study provides a foundational framework for the future integration of advanced algorithms for trajectory planning and autonomous control. The simulation successfully demonstrates the feasibility of performing industrial robotic tasks within a virtual environment. It serves as a platform for further research, including the automation of robotic movements and the integration of virtual reality and digital twin technologies. These advancements have the potential to significantly enhance real-time monitoring, operator training, and overall operational efficiency in industrial applications. This work underscores the growing significance of virtual simulation technologies in industrial automation, presenting a scalable and flexible solution for prototyping, testing, and training within complex industrial ecosystems
Manifold Learning for Aerodynamic Shape Design Optimization
No full textopen access articleThe significant computational cost incurred due to the iterative nature of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in traditional aerodynamic shape design frameworks poses a major challenge, especially in the context of modern integrated design requirements and increasingly complex design conditions. To address the demands of modern design, we developed an efficient aerodynamic shape design framework based on our previous work involving the locally linear embedding plus constrained optimization genetic algorithm (LLE+COGA) high-fidelity reduced-order model (ROM). An active manifold (AM) auto-en/decoder was employed to address the dimensionality curse arising from an excessively large design space. The fast mesh deformation method was utilized for high-precision, rapid mesh deformation, significantly reducing the computational cost associated with transferring geometric deformations to CFD fine mesh. This work addressed the transonic optimization problem of the undeflected Common Research Model (uCRM) three-dimensional wing (with an aspect ratio of 9), involving 241 design variables. The results demonstrate that the optimized design achieved a significant reduction in the drag coefficient by 38.9% and 54.5% compared to the baseline in Case 1 and Case 2, respectively. Additionally, the total optimization time was shortened by 62.6% and 57.7% in the two cases. Moreover, the optimization outcomes aligned well with those obtained from the FOM-based framework, further validating the effectiveness and practical applicability of the proposed approach
Exploring student experience in block teaching: A pedagogic inquiry at a post 1992 university
No full textBlock teaching is an emerging transformative approach in higher education, aimed at enhancing student engagement, retention, and success. De Montfort University has implemented a block curriculum model to enhance the student learning experience. While previous research has focused on student attainment (Buck and Tyrrell, 2022), this study expands the discourse by examining student transitions, sustainability, and the work-life-study balance within this delivery model. Responding to the need for deeper understanding of block delivered student experience, a research initiative was launched in 2023. This study investigates the effectiveness of block teaching by exploring student perspectives on key aspects of their academic journey, focusing on transitions, well-being, and sustainability, influenced by the research methodology of Wilson et al (2024). The research builds upon previous projects, including a Quality Assurance Agency Collaborative Enhancement Project (QAA 2024), yet distinguishes itself through the use of primary data collection. Following ethical approval, qualitative data was collected via a series of semi-structured focus groups. These focus groups were designed to explore students’ lived experiences and perceptions of block delivery, particularly regarding transitions, balancing academic, work, and personal responsibilities, and sustainability. Thematic analysis identified patterns in student narratives. The findings are communicated in this presentation under the core areas of transition, well-being, and sustainability, linked to the critical factors in shaping the student experience. We also discuss the impact of these findings on next steps. This research advances scholarly knowledge on block curriculum delivery, moving beyond attainment-focused studies to capture a holistic understanding of student experiences. The findings will inform institutional policy, pedagogic strategies, and student support, while contributing to the broader academic discourse on delivery models in higher education. Further, scholarly outputs will share insights with the sector, reinforcing our university’s role in leading innovative curriculum design. References Buck, E., & Tyrrell, K. (2022). Block and blend: A mixed method investigation into the impact of a pilot block teaching and blended learning approach upon student outcomes and experience. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(8), 1078-1091. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2022.2050686 QAA. (2024). Evaluating the Impact of Block Delivery. https://www.qaa.ac.uk/membership/benefits-of-qaa-membership/collaborative-enhancement-projects/learning-and-teaching/evaluating-the-impact-of-block-delivery Wilson, E., Roche, T., Goode, E., & McKenzie, J. W. (2024). Creating the conditions for student success through curriculum reform: The impact of an active learning, immersive block model. Higher Education, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01283-
Young Muslim women on Nadiya Hussain, turbanisation and the politics of respectability: Navigating public space and Islamophobia
No full textopen access articleUsing the changing image of British celebrity and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain as a catalyst for exploration, we consider young British Muslim women’s attitudes and practices towards the turbanisation of the hijab and the politics of respectability. Drawing on focus group data with young Muslim women based in London, England, we examine this sartorial practice, which Nadiya Hussain represents in her celebrity career, and argue two overlapping points. First, the adoption of a turban style of hijab is considered by our participants to be a more contemporary form of veiling, and more palatable to white and non-Muslim audiences. It is perceived to obscure their religious identity, affording them a greater level of respectability, enabling them to traverse often burdensome representations of their faith, racialisation and Islamophobia encountered in the public sphere. Second, while the turban allows for respectability in the context of white society, the women doubt if it is ‘proper hijab’, and thus turbanisation presents a potential challenge to their religious respectability. As such, the article contributes to theoretical debates concerning respectability and appearance, showcasing the complexity of managing the expectations of religious practice and white society for young British Muslim women. It reveals the significance of turbanisation as a tool for acquiescing and merging into the dominant white society for these women, and it emphasises the intersections between fashion, celebrity, religion and race
The plight of prestige: The subjective experiences of women managing chronic physical illnesses and their emotional well-being in the context of the prestige hierarchy
No full textopen access articleChronic illnesses, such as Diabetes and Epilepsy, impact millions globally. Despite the burden of chronic illnesses, a medical hierarchy exists, with many illnesses undervalued in society, hence allocated minimal research funding. This bias disproportionately affects health outcomes for women. This research provides a novel exploration into the lives of women with chronic illnesses of varying levels of prestige, examining commonalities and variations among their illness experience, and the coping strategies they employ to manage their emotional well-being. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Two superordinate themes were developed: “A fractured reality” and “A restrained reality.” Commonalities across the narrative were manifested in structural inequalities and coping strategies, however, illnesses lower on the prestige hierarchy were evident with an existential conflict with the illness identity. This research demonstrates the structural discrimination of the gender construct and the disparities experienced by women with conditions of lower prestige
Domestic laundering of healthcare textiles: Disinfection efficacy and risks of antibiotic resistance transmission
No full textopen access articleHospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are a major public health concern, with the evidence base for the potential role of textiles as fomites in microbial transmission growing. In the UK, domestic laundering machines (DLMs) are commonly used to clean healthcare worker uniforms, raising concerns about their effectiveness in microbial decontamination and role in AMR development. This study aimed to evaluate DLMs’ ability to decontaminate microorganisms and their potential impact on AMR. The performance of six DLMs was assessed using Enterococcus faecium bioindicators under various wash cycles and detergent conditions. Shotgun metagenomics was used to analyse the microbiome and resistome of DLMs. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of domestic detergents were determined for Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and detergent tolerance and antibiotic cross-resistance were assessed. Results showed only 50% (3/6) of DLMs achieved sufficient decontamination (≥5 log10 CFU reduction) at 60°C during full-length cycles, with rapid cycles performing inconsistently. Microbiome analysis revealed the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium sp. Pseudomonas sp. and Acinetobacter sp.) and antibiotic resistance genes, including efflux pumps and target modification genes. Detergent tolerance assays showed increased bacterial tolerance to detergents, with cross-resistance to antibiotics observed in S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, including carbapenem and β-lactam groups. Whole genome sequencing identified mutations in genes encoding efflux pumps in S. aureus (MrgA) and K. pneumoniae (AcrB) after detergent exposure, which could impact efflux pump function. Findings suggest domestic laundering of healthcare uniforms may be insufficient for decontamination, posing risks for HAI transmission and AMR. Revising laundering guidelines to ensure effective DLM performance, detergent efficacy, and considering alternatives like onsite/industrial laundering are crucial to enhancing patient safety and controlling AMR in healthcare settings
The mutability of cultural value: a critical analysis
No full textopen access articleThe contemporary cultural value debate has been broadly UK-driven, albeit with European and international dimensions. However, the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent focus on sector working conditions has raised urgent questions about the social role and impact of the arts. Starting from the premise that questions of cultural value are subjective, political, and highly contextualised, this article contextualises the debate on cultural value within cultural policy discourse in Ireland and questions the extent to which the concept of cultural value and its related debates are mutable in different national contexts. The article discusses key themes of cultural value in Ireland such as intrinsic value and how identity categories (particularly Irish national identities manifested through culture) co-exist in the specific context of a post-colonial country. Highlighting the significance of data, evaluation, inequality and national identity to evolving notions of cultural value, the article explores the mutability of cultural value across nations
Degenerative ‘Affordance’ of Social Media in Family Business
Full text linkopen access articleThis paper introduces the concept of degenerative affordances to explain how social media can unintentionally destabilise family-run influencer businesses. While affordance theory typically highlights the enabling features of technology, the researchers shift the focus to its unintended, risk-laden consequences, particularly within family enterprises where professional and personal identities are deeply entangled. Drawing on platform capitalism, family business research, and intersectional feminist critiques, the researchers develop a theoretical model to examine how social media affordances contribute to role confusion, privacy breaches, and trust erosion. Using a mixed-methods design, the researchers combine narrative interviews (n = 20) with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using survey data (n = 320) from family-based influencers. This study’s findings reveal a high explanatory power (R² = 0.934) for how digital platforms mediate entrepreneurial legitimacy through interpersonal trust and role dynamics. Notably, trust emerges as a key mediating mechanism linking social media engagement to perceptions of business legitimacy. This paper advances three core contributions: (1) introducing degenerative affordance as a novel extension of affordance theory; (2) unpacking how digitally mediated role confusion and privacy breaches function as internal threats to legitimacy in family businesses; and (3) problematising the epistemic assumptions embedded in entrepreneurial legitimacy itself. This study’s results call for a rethinking of how digital platforms, family roles, and entrepreneurial identities co-constitute each other under the pressures of visibility, intimacy, and algorithmic governance. The paper concludes with implications for influencer labour regulation, platform accountability, and the ethics of digital family entrepreneurship
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage De Montfort University Open Research Archive? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!