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Geometric properties of the golden ratio Thompson’s group
Get PDFWe show that all three golden ratio Thompson’s groups Fτ , Tτ and Vτ embed in the asynchronous rational group. We prove properties of the Cayley graph of the monoid M = ⟨L, R : LR2 = RL2 ⟩, whose topological full group is Vτ . Particularly we compute a distance function for the Cayley graph of the monoid M. Additionally, we prove that this Cayley graph is hyperbolic in the sense of Gromov. Our analysis reveals that the horofunction boundary of this graph is homeomorphic to a space resembling a Cantor-like set, with additional isolated points situated between each pair of breakpoints
From ‘progress’ to ‘artistic geography’: a historiographical study of the notion of decline in Venetian art of the early seventeenth century
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Teachers’ and students’ attitudes and actual use of the L1 in ESAP classrooms
Get PDFThe use of the first language (L1) in teaching and learning a second language (L2) has long been the topic of debate amongst educators, linguists and policymakers. Use of the L1 was considered the norm until the late 19th century, when the goals of language learning shifted towards developing oral proficiency. Subsequent methods, such as the Direct Method, took the view that L1 use hindered natural learning and caused language interference. Thus, languages were best taught and learned monolingually. Conversely, others viewed its use positively (the Silent Way) or took an unclear stance (Communicative Language Teaching).
Recent academic and socio-political changes led to a re-evaluation of the use of the L1, resulting in research on teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards the use of the L1 and later its actual application in the classroom due to the conflict between attitudes and classroom practices. However, there remain substantial gaps in the literature regarding attitudes towards and actual use of the L1, as well as the motives underlying those views and uses, especially in English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) contexts within Saudi Arabia. This gap is particularly notable in the case of Preparatory Year Programmes (PYPs) and English-Medium Instruction (EMI) courses in higher education in Saudi Arabia, where Arabic is the mother tongue but English is essential for academic and professional advancement.
This thesis, therefore, aims to investigate teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards and actual use of the L1 in ESAP classrooms in Saudi higher education, in terms of the purposes for which it is used and the factors and situations influencing its use. The study employed a mixed-methods approach in two phases. The first involved classroom observation (4 groups from each domain) and stimulated recall interviews (8 teachers and 11 students) to investigate actual use of the L1 and the factors motivating its use. The second phase comprised questionnaire (21 teachers and 134 students), with follow-up interviews (7 teachers and 15 students) to explore the participants’ attitudes and the reasons for their views.
The findings showed that while there were differences in views and practices among teachers and students, there was clear evidence of extensive use of the L1 in Saudi ESAP classrooms for a wide range of purposes (e.g. explaining ESAP vocabulary and joking with the students), but it was used largely as a device to deal with issues arising during the lessons. In terms of attitudes, the participants acknowledged the significance of English while also recognising the various beneficial roles of the L1, especially when facing difficulties with ESAP vocabulary and teaching low-proficiency students. By offering in-depth insights into teachers and students’ attitudes and practices in Saudi ESAP contexts, this research not only fills a crucial empirical gap but also contributes to the broader discussion on the reintegration of L1 in EMI in higher education settings. The findings have implications for language policymakers, educators and curriculum designers that could help design and implement effective teaching methodologies to achieve optimal learning outcomes
Media presentation of targeted poverty alleviation in China: inclusion, exclusion, recognition, and accountability
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Community justice, anti-carceral activism and prison resistance in Scotland: exploring abolitionist disruptions in the caring state
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The role of mRNA capping enzyme CMTR1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and the innate immune response
Get PDFmRNA capping of is essential for the efficient translation and processing of transcripts generated by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) in eukaryotes. Cap methyltransferase 1 (CMTR1) is responsible for the generation of the mature Cap-1 structure (m7G(5’)ppp(5’)Nm, by the addition of a methyl group at the 2’-O-ribose position of the first transcribed nucleotide. This modification acts as a means for the innate immune system to differentiate “self” and “non-self” RNA species and appears to regulate the expression of specific genes implicated in proliferation, ribosomal biogenesis and histone synthesis. In murine models of liver cancer, where oncogenes Ctnnb1 and MYC were dysregulated, conditional knock out of CMTR1 accelerated tumorigenesis. To enrich understanding of the role of CMTR1 in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterisation of CMTR1 and relevant binding partners was undertaken in mouse models and Huh-7 cell lines. Following this, the CMTR1 interactome was analysed in wild type (WT) and Ctnnb1ex3/WT; R26-LSL-Myc mouse liver to determine if CMTR1 interacting proteins influence the role of this capping enzyme in liver cancer. Of the proteins identified as potential interacting partners of CMTR1, Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1) and PGAM family member 5, mitochondrial serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PGAM5) were selected for validation. This has laid initial foundations for further investigation into the biological ramifications of these interactions, particularly in regard to hepatocellular carcinoma.
CMTR1 is phosphorylated at 15 sites within the N-terminus of the protein, which promotes binding between CMTR1 and RNAPII to enhance capping activity. CMTR1 has been previously identified as an interferon stimulated gene (ISG) and promotes expression of fellow ISGs, in part by preventing Interferon induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFIT) mediated translational inhibition. To determine the role of CMTR1 phosphorylation in the innate immune response mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) expressing WT CMTR1 and a phosphodeficient mutant were treated with immunostimulatory agents, followed by analysis of ISG expression. In the absence of CMTR1 phosphorylation expression of various ISGs was attenuated, particularly at earlier stages of the interferon response. Despite this, follow up experiments involving infection of MEF cells with Influenza A virus (IAV) uncovered that CMTR1 phosphorylation promotes IAV infection
Health and lifestyle among office and construction workers: insights for forming future intervention strategies
Get PDFBackground:
Non-communicable diseases are increasingly imposing a significant burden globally, with modifiable lifestyle factors like physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking being important contributors to the risk. Preventing these diseases necessitates a comprehensive understanding of such lifestyle behaviours across different domains, including both office and manual (e.g. construction) workplace settings. This knowledge is essential to tailor and guide future preventative strategies effectively. Consequently, this PhD project is focused on exploring lifestyle behaviours and related aspects, such as mental health and well-being, among individuals in office settings and, more specifically, in construction workers—a demographic notably underrepresented in existing research, to help inform and direct future workplace interventions.
Methods:
To achieve the intended aim of this PhD project, four main studies were conducted and are as follows:
i) A cross-sectional secondary data analysis of a large data set of employees from a public sector organisation (Office workers) to look at demographic, social, organisational, health and behavioural factors and whether they were associated with employee absenteeism and presenteeism to help inform potential targets for future interventions to improve health (Chapter 2).
ii) A systematic review to identify previously undertaken workplace-based health interventions (physical activity, diet, weight, and smoking) in construction workers targeting improvement in physical activity, diet,
weight, and smoking to see what has been previously done and the degree of
its effectiveness. (Chapter 3).
iii) A cross-sectional study quantifying demographic, physical and mental health risk factors, and lifestyle-related health behaviours amongst construction workers (workers at Multiplex and their subcontractors) to help guide future interventions by highlighting which health behaviours to target for interventions (Chapter 4).
iv) A qualitative study with the aim to further build up on findings from the prior cross-sectional study (Objective iii) explaining the lifestyle choices of people working in the construction industry and the potential barriers and facilitators towards improving their current lifestyle choices, and in addition, their views on available workplace health promotion programs provided by their organisation. (Chapter 5).
Results:
In Chapter 2, the cross-sectional secondary data analysis of office workers (N = 2846) revealed a number of health concerns. 8.1% were current smokers, and elevated blood pressure was observed in 13.9% of participants, with the majority, 47.6%, falling into the Stage 1 hypertension category. Similarly, a high number, 36.1%, were classified as overweight. Mental health concerns were also prevalent, with 19.1% and 31.8% of workers showing borderline abnormal and abnormal levels of anxiety, respectively, and 23.6% and 13.9% showing symptoms of borderline abnormal and abnormal depression. Key predictors of sickness absence included stress, depression, or anxiety (Coef = 2.653), lower levels of physical activity (Coef = -0.024), and smoking habits (Coef = -0.113). Additionally, stress, depression, or anxiety (Coef = 6.786) and long working hours (Coef = -0.038) were identified as significant predictors of increased presenteeism days. Despite these concerns, physical activity levels were in line with the NHS’s recommendations, with an average of 1240.8 MET.min/week.
In Chapter 3, the systematic review, moderate evidence of workplace interventions’ effectiveness was noted in physical activity and exercise-related outcomes. Two workplace intervention studies contributed to the improvement of physical activity, in which one identified a significant increase in recreational physical activity, while the other reported a significant increase in meeting public health guidelines for vigorous physical activity. Similarly, two intervention studies reported improvement in exercise-related outcomes, as one intervention reported that 30 minutes of daily exercise was linked with a significant increase in muscle strength or muscle tone, while the other intervention study noted a significant increase in the maximum rate of oxygen consumption (Vo2max) among the participants. Similar moderate evidence of workplace interventions’ effect on the reduction of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, as one study noted a significant decrease in sugar-sweetened beverage intake by one glass per week, whereas the control group demonstrated an increase in consumption, and similarly, the other intervention study reported a significant reduction in sugary drinks consumption.
In Chapter 4, the cross-sectional study on construction workers (N = 43) showed that 20.0% were smokers and a significant portion, 51.7%, had elevated blood pressure, with 30.2% categorised under Stage 1 hypertension. Additionally, 32.6% of the workers were classified under overweight. In terms of mental health, the majority, 74.3%, fell into the medium mental well-being category as per the WEMWBS scale, while 57.1% exhibited minimal depression signs as per the PHQ-9 questionnaire. Despite these health concerns, the study found that physical activity levels met the NHS’s recommendations, with an average time spent in moderate physical activity of 253.1 ± 97.5 minutes per day on weekdays (194.8 ± 92.4 minutes during working hours and 58.2 ± 15.6 minutes during leisure time) and 183.3 ± 54.2 minutes on weekends.
In Chapter 5, the qualitative study, data were obtained through interviewing 14 participants working in the construction industry. The findings from this chapter indicated that healthier eating habits were closely linked to an active lifestyle or when meals are prepared by a partner (female). Individuals who have a more active lifestyle (intense exercises) were usually driven to improve their fitness level, sports performance, mental health, and physical appearance, whereas individuals engaging in less intensive forms of physical activity were often hindered by reported barriers to exercise, which was only work. Work-related stress, pressure, and anxiety were the primary contributors to mental health concerns. Moreover, work-related factors such as long working hours and job strain not only exacerbated mental health issues but were also associated with unhealthy dietary choices, smoking retention, reduced physical activity, and sleep disturbances, highlighting the intricate relationship between the work environment and overall health and well-being. Finally, there was a notable dissatisfaction or lack of awareness regarding workplace health programs, even with the presence of a number of them, such as cycle schemes, sedentary behaviour prevention, and mental health initiatives, suggesting a gap in support or communication by the organisation.
Conclusion:
The PhD project uncovered that both office and construction workers grapple with mental health challenges exacerbated by work-related factors — particularly in construction workers — alongside prevalent issues of elevated and high blood pressure, being overweight, and smoking, which notably emerged as a more common habit among construction workers. Although the prevalence of these health issues may not reach the levels observed in the broader UK population, particularly concerning overweight, obesity, and hypertension, these insights may elevate the potential of future workplace health promotion programmes to enhance the health of both office and construction workers. Such interventions could not only foster a healthier, more productive workforce but may also contribute to reducing the overall prevalence of these risk factors in the general population
Exploring the implementation and development of big data analytics in the accounting profession: an institutional analysis of the Big 4, the professional body and accounting education in Saudi Arabia
No full textAbstract not currently available
Europeanisation and the European Union’s involvement in the Western Balkans
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Formalising privacy regulations with bigraphs
Get PDFWith many governments regulating the handling of user data—the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the Saudi Arabian Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)—ensuring system compliance with data privacy legislation is critically important. Organisations’ failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe financial penalties. Checking compliance is a complex process, and often includes manual procedures. We propose that formal methods, that model systems mathematically, can provide strong guarantees to help organisations prove their adherence to legislation.
This thesis introduces a formal privacy framework based on Milner’s Bigraphical Reactive Systems (BRSs), a universal formalism that captures both spatial (placement) and non-spatial (connectivity) relationships between entities. BRSs evolve over time via user-specified rewriting rules that can be defined algebraically and diagrammatically. The rewrite rules describe system behaviour and allow flexibility in integrating privacy policies with user defined systems. To increase usability, we advocate a diagrammatic approach, where privacy experts can explicitly visualise the systems and describe updates. We focus on modelling the following privacy concepts: cross-border data transfer constraints, providing consent, withdrawing consent, purpose limitations, the right to access and sharing data with third parties.
For formal verification, the framework combines static analysis (via inductive reasoning and sorting) with automated model checking, which uses predefined properties expressed in Computation Tree Logic (CTL). To support practical adoption, user interfaces (UIs) are developed to automatically generate well-formed initial states (the starting configurations of a system model) for the framework. The effectiveness and generality of the framework are demonstrated through real-world systems deployed by WhatsApp, Monzo Bank, and Fitbit
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