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Crucible steel as an enlightened material
No full textCrucible steel is usually seen as a product of Sheffield. It is defined as a key element of Britain’s Industrial Revolution; in turn, it defines the Industrial Revolution as something essentially provincial and vernacular. This paper proposes a shift in perspective. It examines the alternative genealogy of crucible steel to be found in Henry Horne’s Essays concerning Iron and Steel (1773). Horne presented crucible steel as something metropolitan and enlightened: it was a product of London and its scientific community. It is a suggestion that runs counter to the accepted history of crucible steel as a process and a product, but it there something to be gained by taking Horne’s suggestion seriously
Hydrological assessment and modelling of the River Fani Catchment, Albania
No full textAid In Action Porthcawl (a registered South Wales Charity Organisation) has been carrying out charity work in the town of Rubik in the Mirdita Region of North Albania for many years. Rubik lies within the Catchment of the River Fani which is remote, ungauged and characterised by frequent flooding, erosion and deforestation. Over the years these processes have had a huge environmental and socioeconomic impact on the residents of Rubik. Aid In Action was concerned about this situation and wished to provide a sustainable solution. Following discussions with staff at the University of Glamorgan, it was agreed that a sustainable solution was the development of an integrated hydrological decision support system for the whole River Fani Catchment.
Hydrological models can be a valuable tool, providing a common platform for experts, decision-makers and stakeholders for the sustainable management of catchments, especially when used within the framework of a Geographic Information System (GIS). Such models and systems require quantitative data of good quality over appropriate spatial and temporal scales. For remote mountainous ungauged river catchments in developing countries the development of a catchment model and management system is often complicated due to limited availability of such data. Very often, any available data are difficult to obtain; they could, for example, be scattered among local authorities and are generally in the national language of the country concerned, thus adding the challenge of having records translated into the study language.
Over the last few decades, advances in hydrological data capture (e.g. using remote sensing) and data management systems (e.g. GIS) have provided opportunities for overcoming some of the challenges of modelling ungauged catchments. However, the data captured is often from different sensors and sources and at different scales. This research project sought out to creatively use multi-source and multi-scale data to develop a GIS based hydrological model of the River Fani Catchment in the North of Albania to provide, a long term solution for the sustainable management of the Fani Catchment, thus improving the quality of life for the residents of Rubik and the rest of the Catchment. Data from various remote sensing sensors (e.g. Landsat, MODIS, ASTER) and other sources such as published maps, limited gauged flow and rainfall records, local library archives, digital datasets (e.g. CORINE and radar rainfall) and interviews with residents were used to develop the integrated GIS-based hydrological (using WMS hydrological modelling environment) and hydraulic (HEC-RAS) model of the Fani Catchment. The model was then used to not only map significant environmental change in the Catchment (e.g. deforestation using various vegetation indices), but also to assess flooding impact and to analyse various “What-if” scenarios of conservation strategies (e.g. deforestation, afforestation and provision of runoff attenuation systems).
The results suggest that the changes in vegetation cover (apart from farming practices) are not considerably extensive in the Catchment between 1984 and 2000. It was observed that afforestation as a flooding mitigation measure did not play a decisive role in runoff reduction compared with attenuation measures. This study has demonstrated the effectiveness of remote sensing and GIS in generating quantitative information on land classification, change detection, soil erosion and general catchment management for remote and ungauged catchments in developing countries. This has been particularly so, owing to recent developments in sensor technologies and increasing available datasets from data providers and the global scientific community at little or no cost
Becoming critical beings: a thematic study exploring the development, learning and teaching of a group of non traditional adult learners
Get PDFThe current literature on critical thinking, critical reflection and critical action supports
the view that higher education cannot be defined as such without the implicit existence of all three elements in the curriculum. There are many who suggest that, given the
changing profile of those now engaging in higher education, these features need to be
made more explicit. This study attempts to illustrate how these elements can be made
more explicit within a unique teaching and learning context and with a specific non
traditional group of adult learners. Barnett (1997) goes further and suggests that these
features, which he refers to collectively as the practice of critical being, are an essential
requirement for those engaging in higher education. He does not give specifics on how
this practice can be taught or how it might find expression in the lives or educational
understanding and knowledge of participating students, which is one of the issues this
research will attempt to address
(Un)real (un)realities : exploring the confusion of reality and unreality through cinema
Get PDFThis thesis examines the confusion of reality and unreality in contemporary media discourses, and focuses specifically upon the medium of cinema. The art of our time, cinema reflects the postmodern fusion between machine and culture. As such, a crucial concern of this work, which addresses the impact of digital and visual technological developments in western societies and examines how such advances have come to supersede the historical and cultural imperatives, is precisely this resultant
confusion/fragmentation. The thesis analyzes how audiences interpret the current cinematic evolution, based on computer generated imagery, and how their subjectivity influences and impacts upon knowledge, ideology, culture and society as a whole. The creation of (un)realities in fictional spaces is most apparent in such concurrent places as the Internet, videogames and Virtual Reality, spaces which are certainly of interest to this thesis. However, it is also
crucial to note that recent years have seen a proliferation of films based on
the confusion between reality and unreality; and, further, that these have
enforced a fear of being deceived by technology. Indeed, such post-classical
films as Total Recall (Verhoeven, 1990), The Lawnmower Man (Leonard,
1992), The Matrix (Wachowski and Wachowski, 1999) and eXistenZ
(Cronenberg, 1999) materialize this fear cinematographically; a fear which is
arguably then assimilated by the spectators because this fear is projected
onto their lives. In this respect, it is essential to be aware of the creation of
new spaces, identify related boundaries and understand our own creations in
order to have control over our destiny. Concepts such as (un)reality, a hybrid
of reality and fiction, are essential to refer to the inventions, contexts and
information that appears in a world where atoms and a binary of 0s and 1s
constitute a dual code to which our lives conform.
The production of an original film, Luna (Diaz Gandasegui, 2007),
works in synergy with the written text to illuminate the complexities of (un)reality and the vital influence of technology on its confusion
Understanding key account management
Get PDFThis document is presented in three parts, i.e. Part 1, ‘The context of ‘Understanding Key Account
Management’, positions the portfolio of work in terms of its contribution to knowledge within the
literature of Key Account Management and its underlying theories, and relative to alternative research
methodologies: Part 2: ‘Understanding Key Account Management’, starting on page 31, gives an account
of the author’s research and knowledge development activities in Key Account Management in
chronological order, to link together the material submitted as the portfolio of work (listed below). Each
part has its own separate list of contents and references. The portfolio of work forms Part 3 of the
document, but only the research reports from 2006-2009 are included here: the other reports, articles and
books are not available electronically or are published with copyright restrictions
Redox regulation of vascular NO bioavailability during hypoxia : implications for oxygen transport and exercise performance .
No full textThe reduction in O2peak at altitude is well documented. Maximal exercise in hypoxia is accelerated through a reduction in O2 supply with contributions from central and peripheral origins of fatigue. Changes in cerebral and muscle oxygenation have not been well characterised during incremental exercise in hypoxia. It is possible attainment of O2peak is driven by the oxygenation profile of these tissues whilst changes in molecular biomarkers of endothelial function could provide some insight into the mechanisms driving systemic and regional O2 delivery and vascular hypoxic sensing capabilities.
The first study of this thesis examined the impact of acute hypoxia (FIO2 = 0.12) on the cerebral and muscle oxygenation response to incremental cycling exercise using NIRS (n = 14; age: 23 ± 5yr; height: 1.80 ± 0.07m; weight: 84 ± 8kg). The profiles were characterised at equivalent relative and absolute exercise intensities and molecular blood-borne markers of O2 sensing and function were measured before and immediately after maximal exercise for changes in oxidative stress (A• and 3-NT), NO metabolites (NOx, NO3•, NO2• and RSNO) and cell adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1). The key observations from this study were: 1) O2peak decreased by 22% and the magnitude of cerebral and muscle deoxygenation (↓O2Hb and ↑HHb) was greater in hypoxia, 2) the slope for the relative HHb response was similar between conditions whereas there was an accelerated slope across the absolute workloads in hypoxia implying cycling performance was driven by a premature attainment of maximal O2 extraction capacity of the muscle, 3) there was no evidence suggesting cerebral O2 metabolism was impaired in hypoxia however since SaO2 was 78 ± 4% at PPO it is possible the reduction in systemic O2 delivery could have influenced central fatigue, 4) there was a tendency for a rightward shift in the cerebral THb profile in hypoxia and although muscle THb peaked at 80% PPO in both trials, the response also tended to be lower in hypoxia, 5) there was no change in oxidative stress markers and NOx after exercise, 6) RSNO increased and NO2• decreased after maximal exercise. The decline in NO2• was attenuated in hypoxia possibly due to a blunted NO2•-HHb-NO pathway and may explain the systemic hypoperfusion response, 7) The increase in sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 after exercise was augmented in normoxia, 8) Only when normoxia and hypoxia data was pooled was there a correlation between sVCAM-1 pre-post exercise and O2peak.Intermittent hypoxia (IH) may be used to improve the efficiency of exercise training and as a pre-acclimatisation strategy prior to high altitude ascent. The purpose of the second study was to evaluate the efficacy of a 10 day IH regime consisting of 9x 5 min daily exposures of 9.5% O2 breathing followed by equal periods of normoxia on submaximal and maximal cardiorespiratory responses to exercise in hypoxia. Additionally, cerebral and muscle oxygenation was monitored throughout incremental cycling to exhaustion and changes in NO metabolites (NO3•, NO2• and RSNO) and CAMs (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) were measured before and immediately after maximal exercise. The key observations from this study were: 1) a tendency for IH to reduce submaximal O2 and increase O2peak in hypoxia, 2) IH increased the muscle THb response to exercise due an increased intercept for both the muscle O2Hb and HHb in the absence of any change in slope, 4) cerebral oxygenation increased (↑O2Hb) at rest and during exercise, 4) the reduction in nitrite was attenuated in the IH group whilst resting sICAM-1 decreased and the pre-post maximal exercise increase in sICAM-1 was augmented after IH.
It is concluded that exercise performance in acute hypoxia is driven by the magnitude of hypoxaemia and an accelerated rate of cerebral and muscle deoxygenation. Molecular biomarkers of endothelial function in particular, NO2• and CAMs, are also influenced by hypoxia and may contribute to the reduction in O2peak. IH may be used to improve exercise economy and O2peak in hypoxia by improving cerebral and muscle oxygenation in the absence of any change in central O2 delivery. It is possible a recalibration of mechanisms that affect NO bioactivation could have enhanced vascular hypoxic sensitivity, O2 delivery and adaptation within brain and muscle tissue which ultimately translated to an improved hypoxic exercise performance. These results give motivation for athletes and mountaineers to incorporate an IH strategy prior to athletic performance at altitude
Ethical decision making : an exploratory study of British and Chinese manager behaviour
Get PDFThe growth of international businesses within the context of economic globalisation has created different operating environments that have exposed managers at both national and international levels to different business challenges as well as moral dilemmas. The moral dilemmas and subsequent decisions facing managers in Britain and China today are important considerations both in terms of research knowledge and management practices.
This thesis is based on a triangulated cross-cultural comparative study of managers working for British multi-national corporations (MNCs) in China and the United Kingdom (UK). The study includes a postal survey and semi-structured interviews with Chinese and British managers of British MNCs that represent various industries. Alternative to traditional approach, the study has investigated the reality experienced by the managers in their decision making when confronted by moral dilemmas. The managers‟ moral behaviour processes are compared. For China-based managers, the recent moral, economic, social and cultural changes in modern China have contributed to the creation of ethical challenges. The dilemma for them is whether to follow local practices or the corporate standards of their British companies. For managers who are based in Britain, the centre of the moral tension is caused by reconciling personal ethical standards when making decisions to prioritise business rationale. Similarities found between Chinese and British managers show that despite moral struggles and discomfort suffered by managers, the decisions they finally make are determined by a leaning towards their companies‟ continued benefit.The evidence in this study suggests that managers‟ moral behaviour and final decisions are not often determined by what they personally think is morally right or wrong, but determined by their managerial responsibility, business pressure, commonly accepted practices, business culture and social environment, as well as changing economic environments. The components which play essential parts in constructing moral behaviour include managers‟ moral sensitivity, judgement, motivation and decisions. Business rationale and economic values of a decision are consistently shown to be the main reasons which can explain managers‟ decisions. This is the reality of managerial ethical decision-making interpreted and understood by the managers in China and the UK in this study
Child and adolescent mental health: the strategic framework and its implementation in Wales
No full textThis research comprises three linked projects stemming from the first project which aimed to define “long-term” pupil absence from school and discover the principal reasons for such absence. The second project focussed on the area of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), an issue emerging from the first project. The CAMHS 4-Tier Strategic Framework (or “CAMHS Concept”), including links between CAMHS providers were examined and referral pathways investigated and measured against published criteria. The third project explored the new CAMHS Strategic Framework and considered whether implementation problems were to blame for its lack of transformational impact
The lived experiences of young men addressing their sexual health and negotiating their masculinities
Get PDFThis thesis examines the lived experiences of young men, addressing their
sexual health using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
It is known that young men do not access sexual health services in the same
numbers as young women (Pearson, 2003a) and their masculinities are posited
as a contributory factor to this. IPA was used to analyse data, collected using
semi-structured interviews. Participants were young men, aged 16-20 years
(n=7), recruited through local authority leisure centres; convenience sampling
was used. Six semi-structured interviews were used as two participants were
interviewed jointly. Interviews were conducted exclusively by the researcher, a
young woman. The study aimed:
• To discover young men’s lived experiences of addressing, or failing to
address, their sexual health.
• To discover young men’s experiences of negotiating masculinities,
relating to their sexual health.
Young men were found to have little knowledge of sexual health and sexually
transmitted infections and asserted their wishes about sex over their partners.
Women were characterised as the source of sexually transmitted infections and
the young men sought to ‘protect’ themselves from their partners. However,
contraception was seen as the preserve of women, despite unplanned
pregnancy being a great concern for the young men.
Young men’s ideals of masculinities often did not correspond to their personal ideals; in order to preserve their masculinities, the young men explained the
compromises they made. In this way, they negotiated their masculinities with
themselves and society.
The study has contributed new knowledge and understanding about young
men’s negotiation of their masculinities when considering their sexual health. A
contribution to knowledge about methodology of interviewing young men has
also been made, as the researcher was a young woman who was successful in
eliciting rich data about a sensitive subject from young men