21684 research outputs found
Sort by
From Scotland to Shenandoah: tracing the tale of a transatlantic tragedy
No full textNo abstract available
Exploring existentialism, power, and religion in modern Arabic literature: A comparison between Naguib Mahfouz and Reem Bassiouney’s literature
No full textAbstract not currently available
Essays on remittances in conflict-affected and fragile states
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the role of remittances in household welfare and the impact of various shocks on remittance flows in fragile conflict-affected Somalia. The thesis constitutes of three interconnected essays.
The first essay analyses how remittances influence key household outcomes, such as asset accumulation, savings behavior, financial inclusion, education and consumption pattern. It utilizes unique survey data from Somalia and propensity score matching techniques are applied to compare households receiving remittances with those that do not, in order to analyze the causal effects of remittances. The results show that remittances (1) have a consistently positive impact on productive assets, such as savings and livestock ownership, as well as on educational attainment for children; (2) enhances financial inclusion and living standards, resulting in higher consumption levels and improvements in both food and non food consumption; (3) benefits both poor and non-poor households, with the most significant impact observed among non-poor recipients; and (4) increase household wealth across both small and large households, although the effect on livestock ownership is less pronounced in large families. The results underscore the important role of remittances in improving key household outcomes in Somalia. This suggests that stabilizing and supporting remittance flows can significantly enhance asset accumulation, savings, and financial inclusion, and consequently increasing living standards. Effective management of remittance mechanisms is essential for maximizing their beneficial impact on household welfare.
The second essay explores the effects of violent conflict events on the flow and frequency of remittances at the sub-national level. It utilizes detailed administrative data on remittance transactions from money transfer operators in eight developed countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and the US), focusing specifically on remittances sent to Somalia at the district level. The study focuses on 65 out of 74 pre-war districts, analyzing data from January 2017 to December 2021, with a particular emphasis on 58 districts that consistently received remittances. By employing a fixed effects estimator to account for time and district-specific variations, the research finds that violent conflicts significantly disrupt remittance flows. Specifically, a one-month lag in overall violence correlates with reductions in both the amount and frequency of remittances. The analysis reveals varying impacts depending on the type of violence, with explosions and attacks on civilians leading to more substantial declines. Additionally, instrumental variable regression, using the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as an instrument, confirms that lagged violence conflicts reduce remittance flows and frequency. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved security and stability in conflict-affected areas to support and potentially increase remittance flows, which are important for household welfare in Somalia. Based on these results, it is recommended that policymakers develop strategies to lessen the effects of local conflicts on remittance flows to ensure the continuous availability of these critical external financial flows.
The third essay investigates the impacts of external economic shocks, such as currency depreciation, regulatory de-risking measures, and increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on remittance flows and frequency. Using administrative data from migrant transactions in Australia, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and the US for the period from January 2017 to May 2023, the study employs a staggered adoption design in combination with the Difference-In Difference (DID) method to analyze the effects of these external shocks on remittance patterns. The results indicate that economic disruptions lead to significant reductions in both the amount and frequency of remittances, and the impacts of such shocks vary (e.g., currency depreciation in Australia, regulatory de-risking measures in Norway and Canada, and increases in the CPI in Sweden each affect remittance flows differently). Extending the analysis with the DID method, the study quantifies the impact of exchange rate depreciation on remittance flows, revealing that a 5-10% depreciation (which proportionally increases the cost of sending remittances) leads to a 4% decrease in remittance amounts. Analyzing shocks by country shows that a 7% rise in remittance costs results in a substantial 12% decrease in remittance flows in Norway, while a 6% increase in costs corresponds to a 7% decline in Sweden. These findings underscore the importance of including such external economic shocks in policy considerations. Effectively addressing and reducing these external shocks is important for sustaining and potentially improving remittance flows, which are important for the economic stability of developing countries
Genomics-informed surveillance for elimination of rabies in the Philippines
Get PDFSurveillance comprises the collection, analysis and dissemination of health-related data to support planning, implementation and evaluation of public health response. Genomic surveillance involves incorporating genomic sequencing to understand transmission dynamics and the spread of outbreaks, thereby complementing traditional surveillance. The utility of genomic sequencing for supporting rabies elimination is demonstrated by its capacity to track viral sources, investigate host shifts, and identify cross-border incursions. However, despite its potential, genomic surveillance remains underutilised and its integration into public health interventions has been limited, particularly in countries where rabies is endemic.
In the Philippines, rabies remains a significant public health threat, with hundreds of human deaths annually and widespread canine rabies transmission across all island groups. While national programs have made progress in dog vaccination and awareness campaigns, surveillance continues to rely heavily on traditional epidemiological data, with limited integration of molecular or genomic approaches. Prior to this thesis, the application of whole genome sequencing to rabies virus surveillance in the Philippines was minimal, and no standardized genomic framework existed to support outbreak investigations or inform control strategies.
This thesis explores the integration of genomic data into epidemiological surveillance in rabies control efforts in the Philippines, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the global “Zero by 30” campaign to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies. Using nanopore sequencing technology, I tested and validated a cost-effective whole genome sequencing workflow from sample-to-sequence-to-interpretation. The workflow was tailored to meet the demands of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) settings, providing a scalable model for genomic surveillance. Using this approach, I generated whole genome sequences from rabies samples collected across different regions of the Philippines.For phylogenetic inference, I used BEAST and auxiliary programs (Beauti, Tracer, LogCombiner, TreeAnnotator), and accounted for sampling bias by employing for Bayesian Tip Association Statistics Testing to assess strength of association. In addition, using epidemiological data and samples from an outbreak in Romblon, I reconstructed the likely source and timing of viral incursion(s).
Phylogenetic analysis of the generated sequences, alongside publicly available genomes, revealed the presence of four major rabies virus clades in the Philippines, corresponding to the three main island groups Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and an older lineage within Luzon, estimated to have emerged around 1970. This lineage, predominantly found in Calabarzon, aligns with previous studies showing the region as the source of the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of circulating strains. A strong geographic association of rabies virus (RABV) was evident at the island and regional levels, though less pronounced at finer geographic scales. Luzon exhibited the highest genetic diversity, likely due to better sampling coverage. In contrast, the Visayas had fewer samples, contributing to reduced statistical support in this region.
By combining genomic data and epidemiological data, this thesis established a practical approach for enhanced rabies outbreak detection and response. These findings highlight how genomic surveillance can support region-specific strategies and improve rabies control across diverse epidemiological settings. The development of a rapid, cost-effective sequencing workflow contributes to overcoming existing barriers related to cost, infrastructure, and expertise.
My findings have significant implications for rabies elimination and reinforce the importance of integrating genomics into the national surveillance systems. They also underscore the need for a One Health approach through intersectoral Bite Case Management (IBCM). Future research directions should focus on expanding genomic databases, performing finer-scale phylogeographic analyses, and addressing socio-cultural factors affecting control efforts. Ultimately, the tools and insights from this thesis can advance not only rabies control but also the broader application of genomic surveillance for other zoonotic and infectious diseases in the region
Casino culture: the subjectivity of university students in Macau
Get PDFFollowing the transfer of Macau’s sovereignty to China in 1999, an economic nationalism policy centred on casino capitalism was implemented to decolonise the populace of Macau. Casino capitalism introduced neoliberalism, infusing market values and a consumerist ethos into the local community and shaping the identities of its inhabitants, leading to a growing indifference towards education among the people of Macau. Recently, policymakers have committed to accelerating the industrialisation of local universities as part of the neoliberalisation of higher education. However, there is a lack of research exploring the subjectivity of Macau’s students within neoliberalism. Most existing research on Macau’s higher education has been conducted from the perspectives of teachers and researchers. To explore the subjectivity of Macau’s university students through their own voices, I designed a post-structuralist case study focused on four students. To conceptualise and analyse the data, I used Foucault’s care of the self, hermeneutics of the self, and technology of domination as theoretical lens matrices to interpret their subjectivity within neoliberalism. Since Macau is a Chinese territory steeped in Confucian culture, the present study also incorporated a theoretical lens based on secularised Confucianism.
The study found that university students from Macau appeared to have become subjects of neoliberalism. Rather than being subjects of casino capitalism, they were self-actualizing and responsive to performativity as homo economicus, assuming the role of lifelong learners. The students’ peers, families, and other stakeholders in their lives acted as a discursive panopticon, urging and expecting their proactive dedication to constant self-improvement and confessions as lifelong learners. Foucauldian hermeneutics of the self played a more significant role in shaping their neoliberal subjectivity. The students demonstrated their intention to make themselves masters of their own lives by practising Foucauldian care of the self. However, their care of the self appeared to lose its radicalism in terms of students forging their own artefacts of aesthetics and unique subjectivity; rather, their care of the self behaviours were mostly employment-oriented. Care of the self, formerly an ancient spiritual exercise, has been reduced to modern-day life maintenance and has been institutionalised as neoliberalism. However, the study participants also sometimes complained about their busy lives as homo economicus, expressing their longing to care for their souls and doubting the meaningfulness of self-maximisation. The participants demonstrated instability in their formation of subjectivities, which means that there exists a fluid and mutable relationship between care of the self and hermeneutics of the self.
Most of the students’ behaviours and mentalities could also be explained as secularised Confucianism. This study innovates by showing that rather than merely responding to the performativity of the job market, students’ dedication to further academic study and engagement in all types of competition and self-improvement activities have their historical roots in Confucianism. The compatibility of the two sets of theories in the present study epitomises how neoliberalism and the culture of traditional China have allied, cooperated, and overlapped in shaping Macau students into subjects of the market as well as Chinese authoritarian traditions
Monitoring and managing oil spillage and environmental degradation through geoinformation
Get PDFThe Niger Delta region of Nigeria is a major oil-producing area which experiences frequent oil spills which severely impacts the local environment and communities. Effective environmental monitoring and management remain inadequate in this area due to negligence, slow response times following oil spills, and difficulties regarding access and safety. This thesis investigates the pervasive issue of oil spills in the Niger Delta region, employing a multidisciplinary approach to provide insight into their spatiotemporal patterns, environmental impacts, and socio-economic consequences on local communities. The research integrates advanced geospatial techniques, remote sensing analysis, and community based participatory methods to provide a framework for oil spill impact assessment and quantification. Utilising the spNetwork package in R, Network Kernel Density Estimates (NKDE) and Temporal Network Kernel Density Estimates (TNKDE) were employed to analyse oil spill patterns along the pipeline network. By transforming pipeline data into 500-metre lixels (linear pixels), this network-based approach uncovered chronically high-risk oil spill hotspots zones and tracked their temporal evolution, thereby offering a vital evidence base for targeted intervention and remediation. This method surpasses traditional spatial analyses by incorporating network constraints and revealing critical spatiotemporal patterns where spills recur over time.
Furthermore, a remote sensing approach was developed, leveraging geospatial cloud computing and machine learning to evaluate vegetation health indices (SR1, SR2, NDVI, EVI2, GRNDVI, GNDVI). These indices were analysed using Slow Moving Average (SMA) regression, which revealed significant declines in vegetation health following oil spill events. The contaminated landcovers exhibit a Spearman’s correlation coefficient (ρ) ranging from -0.68 to -0.82, p < 0.005 and P-values below 0.05 in most landcover categories, suggesting a clear and consistent downward trend in the indices’ values, reflecting a decrease in vegetation health in contaminated areas between 2016 and 2023. A Random Forest (RF) classifier further quantified the extent of contaminated land cover, demonstrating the effectiveness of this method for monitoring environmental damage in this challenging terrain. The classifier revealed that landcovers, including contaminated vegetation, wetland, farmland, and grassland cover approximately 4% (1,180 hectares) of the total area. Conversely, the non-contaminated prioritised landcovers (non-contaminated vegetation, wetland, farmland, and grassland) account for 96% (32,215 hectares) of the total landcover area
She grows louder
Get PDFShe Grows Louder (2019-24) proposes and defines ‘spontaneous song’ as a distinct methodology for song-making by asking the question “How can we harness spontaneity to perform, capture, produce, and release original songs?”. Spontaneous song as a methodology has its roots in religious practice through spirituals, gospel, and blues as a form of protest, but the term is reframed here to document and reflect my experience in the studio and beyond. With its conceptual anchor in Kristin Hersh’s The Future of Songwriting (2024), via autotheory and comparable practices, and through a personal, multimodal, and practice-based inquiry, spontaneous song is explored and foregrounded through the lens of desire, with the outcomes being the essential 34-track, three-hour concept album/artefact, Space Junk (2023), and associated, orbiting works. These pieces attempt to undo dominant epistemologies and conventions of popular music through subverting modes of production and embracing strategies of spontaneity to counter the homogeneity of algorithmic reproduction. The works are documented and disseminated through the nonconventional commentary 'out loud,’ published direct-to-reader on Substack as a personal and political testimony foregrounding and reflecting the spontaneous methodology. In the final stages, the project embraced, and went beyond, ‘wild research’ as a way of understanding the spontaneous methodology within a broader and related research context. I am the first to publish a PhD thesis on Substack, and in the unique way I have. Throughout the project, I addressed the lacuna in popular music research on songwriting practices, as relayed by songwriters, over scholars, especially that of women. By delving into this intense and voluminous body of work, and uncovering disparate materials, positionings and evocations by artistic intuitive practice in a spontaneous way, I disturbed the binaries between the artistic and academic, and forged new ways of knowing, researching and understanding in which the intimate and personal fold back onto the universal and culturally shared. Central to this inquiry is the assertion that this holds value as a social practice for exploring emotion and originating responsive affective material, for both the artist and the audience. Art is not an industry; it is that which saves us
Enacting consumer mindfulness and sustainable clothing consumption behaviours through digitalisation: the case study of save your wardrobe
No full textAbstract not currently available
Exploring zero-gap water electrolysis technologies: benchmarking, evaluation, and comparative analysis
No full textAbstract not currently available
Fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures for healthcare applications
Get PDFThis thesis investigates high-throughput injection-moulded periodic arrays for high refractive index (RI) sensitivity and biosensing applications. The recent pandemic has underscored the critical need for early sensor diagnosis for effective treatment, emphasizing the importance of accessible and efficient healthcare services. Novel biosensors, especially optical biosensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), are emerging as promising diagnostic tools due to their real-time, cost-effective analytical capabilities.
Despite advances, there is a gap in developing LSPR sensors that combine high sensitivity with low fabrication costs for broad applications. This research aims to address this gap by developing and optimizing LSPR sensors with enhanced sensitivity and practical usability.
The study focuses on the coupling between LSPR and surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) in periodic nanostructures on metal films under normal light incidence. This hybridization model was explored using a double gradient plasmonic array library (DGPAL), systematically transitioning from SPP to hybrid SPP-LSPR and predominantly LSPR properties. Hundreds of nanostructures with varying sizes and periodicities fabricated on a single platform, allowed comprehensive experimental studies of their plasmonic resonance.
Key methods involved advanced nanofabrication techniques, including electron beam lithography (EBL), UV-Nanoimprint Lithography (UV-NIL) and injection moulding, to create high-resolution periodic arrays. Two fabrication approaches were compared: a simplified method using "dot writing" exposure commands and an advanced method using graphic data files for optimized design. The advanced approach, employing the Raith EBPG 5200 system, demonstrated superior quality and precision.
The findings reveal that the DGPAL platform significantly improves RI sensitivity and biomolecular detection capabilities. The nanopillar arrays achieved a sensitivity of 358 nm/RIU, closely matching state-of-the-art values reported in the literature. Sensitivity increased with both diameter and interspacing of the nanostructures, suggesting potential for further optimization.
A severe condition involving organ dysfunction due to an abnormal immune response called sepsis is reliably diagnosed by the levels of IL-6. Early detection is crucial given the high mortality rate and in this context a label-free IL-6 immunosensor was developed and tested, demonstrating real-time detection with high reusability, enhancing both efficiency and affordability.
In conclusion, this research presents a cost-effective, high-performance optical biosensor platform. The developed LSPR sensors offer high sensitivity, ease of use, and low-cost hardware, making them ideal for point-of-care applications and advancing healthcare diagnostics, thereby enhancing global health outcomes
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇