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The role of sensory stimuli in urban tourism experience construction
No full textUrban tourism has emerged as a significant contributor to economic development and cultural exchange in cities worldwide. As competition intensifies in the global tourism market, cities are actively innovating to differentiate themselves by crafting distinctive visitor experiences. Within this context, given the inherently multisensory nature of tourism experiences, the multisensory urban environment has become a central focus. However, the strategic planning of specific sensory elements within urban tourism settings has been largely overlooked within tourism scholarship, hindering efforts to enhance tourism experiences through effective management and planning. This dissertation thus aims to address this gap by examining the multisensorial experiences of visitors in urban destinations, thereby providing insights into the ways urban tourism experience might be enhanced through city planning and management.
The overall purpose of this dissertation is to investigate how different sensory elements shape tourists' experience construction in urban destinations, using Chinese tourists' visits to European cities as the research context. To achieve this aim, three research questions are proposed as follows: 1) What are the themes, contents (elements) and features of urban tourism sensory experiences? 2) How do different sensory elements influence tourists’ evaluative experience of an urban space and how does this effect differ across different urban spaces? 3) How do different sensory elements further impact tourists’ understanding and interpretative experience towards an urban destination and which factors take effect during this process? To address these research questions, three sequential studies were conducted, utilizing a mixed-methods approach incorporating a range of methods from large-scale data analytics to in-depth qualitative interviews to capture both the depth and breadth of multisensory urban tourism experiences. Several key findings emerged:
First, in Study One, travel blogs from the 12 most popular European cities among Chinese tourists on travel platforms (Ctrip and Mafengwo) were analysed using text analysis methods. Six themes were identified, with each theme characterising underlying sensory elements that significantly contribute to shaping diverse aspects of tourism experience. Four key features of urban tourism sensory experiences were subsequently summarized. These findings offer a comprehensive picture of the sensory landscape within urban tourism, establishing a robust foundation for understanding how tourists perceive and engage with city environments through their multi-sensory experiences.
Subsequently, the second study analysed Chinese online reviews from Ctrip and Mafengwo for tourism attractions across twelve European cities (the same as in Study One). These attractions were further categorized into different urban spaces. Study Two aims to understand how the sensory elements identified in Study One influence visitors' evaluations within specific urban space and the spatial variability of such influence. Through analysis of review sentiment and statistical methods, findings of Study Two firstly disclosed the most influential sensory elements that impact tourists’ evaluations within each individual urban space. And secondly revealed how the impact of these sensory elements varies across different urban spaces, demonstrating that the same sensory stimulus can elicit disparate responses depending on the spatial context. The relationship between spatial character and tourism sensory experiences was accordingly disclosed. This nuanced understanding of space-dependent sensory perceptions and evaluation offers a valuable framework for designing targeted sensory interventions in various urban environments.
Finally, Study Three, employing interviews and observations of Chinese tourists in London, sought to move beyond the quantitative focus of Study One and Two, so as to describe the ways various urban sensory elements collectively shape tourists' understanding and interpretative experiences of the city. Six dimensions underpinning Chinese tourists' understanding of London were identified, each emerging from multisensory experiences tourists encountered during travel. Sensory stimuli were also found to evoke tourists' reflections on broader city characteristics (e.g., political system), while potential antecedent factors shaping these experiences were also uncovered. By revealing the interplay between sensory inputs and broader reflective thinking, these findings offer a nuanced understanding of how tourists actively construct their urban experiences through sensory engagement, providing insights into the subjective and dynamic nature of sensory perception in cities.
By synthesizing the findings of these three studies, this dissertation also provides additional insights into the impact of negative sensory elements on tourist experiences, demonstrating how such 'negative' encounters are integral to a holistic understanding of urban environments. Moreover, the concept of the ‘sensory gaze’ was proposed and identified across the three studies, prompting a reconsideration and expansion of the existing understanding of the tourist gaze and its role within the hermeneutic circle in tourism study.
Collectively, this dissertation makes theoretical contribution in four ways. First, it expands the scope of sensory experience composition in tourism by turning attention to the urban context, revealing how the unique sensory characteristics of city environments shape and influence tourists' experiences. Secondly, it advances a new conceptual framework for understanding the multifaceted impacts of urban sensory elements in shaping tourists’ experiences. By incorporating spatial variability and interpretive processes, this dissertation contributes to deeper understanding of tourist engagement within urban sensory environments. Thirdly, this dissertation advances the field by investigating the antecedents that influence tourists' sensory experiences, shedding light on the multi-dimensional nature of sensory perception formation in tourism contexts. Lastly, this dissertation advances the conceptualization of the hermeneutic circle in tourism by integrating a multisensory dimension, providing valuable insights of how tourists interact with and perceived cities.
Practically, this dissertation contributes to understanding of urban tourism sensory experiences that hold value for planners and managers in cities. For example, it recommends creating 'Sensory Urban Trails' that showcase the city's multisensory aspects, as well as the implementation of 'Sensory Zoning Plan' to ensure harmonious integration of sensory elements with urban spaces. These insights empower tourism planners to enhance visitor experiences in ways that value and celebrate a places culture and identity
The feasibility of using serious adverse event rates as a measure of trial representativeness for pharmacological interventions: Using Randomised controlled trials of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors as an exemplar
Get PDFBackground:
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for determining the efficacy and safety of medical interventions. However, their representativeness is often uncertain, as many trials tend to recruit healthier, younger, and less comorbid patients, potentially limiting the generalisability of findings to the real-world population. Assessing trial representativeness is complex, and currently, there is no gold standard measure to address this. Serious adverse events (SAEs) are clearly defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and regulatory bodies obligate trial sponsors to report all SAEs, regardless of causation. SAEs may reflect the underlying health status of participants, as they include events such as hospitalisations that may not be directly related to the intervention, thus serving as a potential marker of how sicker the participants are. Consequently, SAE reporting could provide insights into trial representativeness. In this thesis, I will explore whether SAE rates can be used to measure trial representativeness, using RCTs of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors as an exemplar.
Methods:
Clinical trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors were identified from a recent systematic review and included in this thesis. I extracted data on SAE reporting, eligibility criteria, and multiple variables for trial and baseline characteristics. ClinicalTrials.gov, other trial registries, clinical study reports, and trial-relevant publications were used to extract the required data. To assess the feasibility of using SAE rate as a measure of trial representativeness, I initially explored whether SGLT-2 trials reported adequate information to calculate the SAE rates. I then compared SAE rates between trial arms to determine whether SAE rates varied depending on treatment and, by extension, whether each arm should be considered separately or together when assessing SAE rates. In the absence of a gold standard, I used different approaches to explore whether SAEs reflect trial representativeness. First, I used the pragmatism metric (PRECIS-2 tool, PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary) to examine its association with SAE rates. I operationalised the PRECIS-2 tool to align with the characteristics of SGLT-2 trials and assessed the trials retrospectively by scoring the nine PRECIS-2 domains. Second, I compared SAE rates with the PRECIS-2 score based on the differences in their associations with trial and baseline characteristics (included as fair umpires) to explore whether SAE is a better metric. Lastly, I examined the association between trial eligibility criteria and the SAE rates to further assess their potential as a measure of trial representativeness.
Results:
A total of 146 RCTs for SGLT-2 inhibitors were identified and included in the analysis. In my literature review I found a lack of representativeness in clinical trials, which limited the generalisability of their findings. This lack of representativeness is driven by underrepresentation of older patients, racial/ethnic minorities, and the impact of strict eligibility criteria.
Trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors reported sufficient information, including the number of participants who experienced SAEs, the number of subjects at risk of SAEs, and the timeframe for these events, allowing for the calculation of SAE rates. Trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov showed better SAE reporting than other trials. The reporting of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was consistently included in the reporting of SAEs. There was no significant difference in the rates of SAE between the intervention and placebo arms (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.07), and between the intervention and active comparator arms (IRR 0.90, 95% CI 0.691.17). Trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov had higher SAE rates than trials registered on other registries (IRR 1.94, 95% CI 1.23-3.02). Multinational trials showed higher SAE rates than national trials (IRR 1.79, 95% CI 1.32-2.41). Additionally, SAE rates were higher in trials with hard outcomes (e.g., MACE) compared to those with soft outcomes (IRR 2.86, 95% CI 1.84-4.74). A higher mean PRECIS-2 score was associated with higher SAE rates (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.00–0.33). The score for the setting domain was also associated with higher SAE rates (β = 0.51, 95% CI 0.26–0.76). Furthermore, the SAE rate and mean PRECIS-2 score were positively associated with certain baseline/trial characteristics (umpires), such as diabetes duration and sponsorship. The trend for most umpires generally favoured SAE as a metric of trial representativeness; however, only age and type of blinding umpires strongly favoured SAE over PRECIS-2 (β = 0.97; 95% CI 0.26 to 1.70, β = 0.72; 95% CI 0.02 to 1.43, respectively). Trials with more restrictive eligibility criteria had lower SAE rates (IRR 0.75, 95% CI 0.73-0.77) than trials with more permissive criteria (IRR 1.33, 95% CI 1.30-1.37).
A higher mean PRECIS-2 score was associated with higher SAE rates (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.00–0.33). The score for the setting domain was also associated with higher SAE rates (β = 0.51, 95% CI 0.26–0.76). Furthermore, the SAE rate and mean PRECIS-2 score were positively associated with certain baseline/trial characteristics (umpires), such as diabetes duration and sponsorship. The trend for most umpires generally favoured SAE as a metric of trial representativeness; however, only age and type of blinding umpires strongly favoured SAE over PRECIS-2 (β = 0.97; 95% CI 0.26 to 1.70, β = 0.72; 95% CI 0.02 to 1.43, respectively). Trials with more restrictive eligibility criteria had lower SAE rates (IRR 0.75, 95% CI 0.73-0.77) than trials with more permissive criteria (IRR 1.33, 95% CI 1.30-1.37).
Conclusion:
Clinical trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors reported sufficient information on SAE, allowing for the calculation of SAE rates. There was no difference in SAE rates between trial arms, enabling the combination of total SAEs for both arms. Pragmatic trials, which resemble real-world practice according to the mean PRECIS-2 score, showed higher SAE rates. The trend for most umpires favoured SAE more than PRECIS-2, and trials with restrictive eligibility criteria showed lower SAE rates compared to those with permissive criteria. Therefore, SAE rates may help assess the representativeness of clinical trials
Enhancing engineering education through wearable technology: a focus on eye-tracking and multisensory approaches
Get PDFThis doctoral research investigates the efficacy of wearable technology with a multisensory approach, particularly eye-tracking and physiological sensors, in capturing and interpreting cognitive engagement among engineering students in higher education. Responding to the growing interest in data-driven, personalised learning, the study develops and validates a multisensory framework to detect attention and mind-wandering during video-based instruction.
This study systematically analysed different wearable devices and first identified head-mounted eye-trackers as the most promising tools for monitoring visual attention in educational settings. To evaluate their practicality, a comparative study was conducted using a commercial wearable eye-tracker (Pupil Core) and a custom-built desktop-based solution. The wearable eye-tracker provided greater flexibility for natural head movement and enabled real-time detection of visual attention patterns. It also helped identify segments of the learning material that were skipped or overlooked, offering insights into content that learners found confusing or cognitively demanding. The commercial device outperformed the desktop-based system in both usability and richness of data, validating its utility in dynamic learning environments. To address the limitations of eye-tracking in detecting internal cognitive states, the research implemented a multimodal sensing system by integrating galvanic skin response (GSR) and photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors. Data were collected during learning sessions, and supervised machine-learning models were trained to classify episodes of mind-wandering. The multimodal sensor fusion achieved the highest accuracy of 89% , significantly outperforming unimodal baselines.
The experiments in this thesis concluded that the proposed multisensory device, combining eye-tracking with physiological signals (PPG and GCR), provides a robust method for detecting cognitive disengagement in real-time. The outcomes have implications for developing adaptive educational technologies capable of personalising instruction based on learners’ cognitive states
Differentiating indigenous and exogenous soluble organic matter in CM carbonaceous chondrites
Get PDFIt is accepted that life, as we understand it, must be carbon-based. The study of extraterrestrial organic molecules is a venture into understanding why our planet is unique in hosting its diverse range of life, and which others may be capable of hosting life. One theory suggests that the building blocks of life were brought to Earth by meteorites from the asteroid belt. More specifically, CM carbonaceous chondrites are particularly carbon and water-rich samples which have already been found to contain prebiotic molecules such as amino acids. In the early solar nebula, secondary processes such as aqueous alteration modified the meteorite parent bodies, and as a result, also altered the organic content, water content and volatile element abundances in the meteorites that bombarded the early Earth and the inner Solar System.
The work presented in this thesis aims to firstly identify the organic molecules present in two CM chondrite samples of differing extents of aqueous alteration- a more extensively aqueously altered sample (namedNWA 10853, a CM2.0) and a less aqueously altered sample (Murchison, CM2.5). This will be achieved using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in a meteoritics organics identification protocol developed at the University of Glasgow. The meteorite NWA 10853 is presented with its first 3D-rendering through X-ray computed tomography, and its elemental composition outlined through SEM-EDS study.
Secondly, this thesis discusses meteorite contamination risks and sources of contamination in the samples used, and subjects the detected compounds to several contaminant identification checks. We present this alongside an evaluation of potential methods for improving the confidence rate with which geochemists in meteoritics can determine the source of an organic molecule as extra-terrestrial or terrestrial in origin. Lastly, the link between the extent of aqueous alteration and the abundance of organics in CM chondrites is discussed, and we begin explore to which extent aqueous alteration of parent bodies affects the variability in organic content within different meteorites.
The results and analysis undertaken in this study concludes that the long-chain organic compounds intrinsic to the sample of NWA 10853 studied are nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid and palmitelaidic acid. Those intrinsic to the sample of Murchison studied are nonanoic acid, tetradecanol, and myristic acid. This work also recommends that NWA 10853 is reclassified from CM2.0 to a CM2.1 carbonaceous chondrite, based on results of XCT, SEM-EDS, and its organics abundances, which all suggest less extensive alteration than suggested by optical study
Inclusive Pedagogy: exploring faculty perceptions and professional development needs at a North American Catholic university
Get PDFThis interpretivist study examines the perceptions and practices of Inclusive Pedagogy among academic staff (faculty) at a North American Catholic university, as well as their professional development needs pertaining to Inclusive Pedagogy implementations. Theoretical interpretations and practical recommendations for Inclusive Pedagogy abound (Moriña, 2020a; Stentiford & Koutsouris, 2021), while many practitioners in higher education lack initial teacher preparation (a reality fourteen out of twenty-three participants described).
Using a theoretically flexible heuristic and a conceptual framework of Beliefs, Knowledge, and Actions (Gale et al., 2017; Moriña, 2020a; Rouse, 2008), I conducted semi-structured interviews with the methodological aid of coaching techniques. I analysed the data using Reflective Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021b) supported by NVivo 14.
The findings from the qualitative interviews were rich and complex. Participants shared a wealth of (often divergent) perspectives, some of which were consonant with Inclusive Pedagogy literature, and many that were novel. Participants expressed theoretical and normative frameworks, as well as personal convictions that add new complexity to possible conceptualisations of Inclusive Pedagogy. Despite unfamiliarity with the term “inclusive pedagogy” (13/23 participants), many described practices and pedagogical sensibilities that could be described as “inclusive.” Participants shared a range of professional development needs, though (a lack of) Pedagogical Fluency was the most pronounced theme. Finally, I found that the use of coaching techniques, specifically OARS of motivational interviewing (Rosengren, 2017), propelled participant ideation and enhanced my data collection method of semi-structured interviewing.
Participant data can inform future conceptualisations of Inclusive Pedagogy and the degree to which the term is understood or even be useful in furthering its purpose. Based on the intersection of previous research and this study’s findings, I provide practical recommendations for educational developers, faculty, and institutions. Chief among these are: providing ongoing HE teacher development through general and discipline-specific support, organisational incentivisation of pedagogy, and a holistic, multi-layered approach to implementing Inclusive Pedagogy
“Out of sight, out of mind”: International labour migration and fair employment in the Scottish fishing industry
Get PDFThis thesis explores regulative, economic and social dynamics surrounding the employment of migrant fishers working in the Scottish fishing industry. It draws on a qualitative empirical study, comprising primarily of semi-structured interviews (n=37) with fishers, recruiters, representatives of fisheries associations and relevant labour and fisheries NGOs, members of fishing communities, and (former) officials working in related fields. Conceptually, the research is situated between historical and new materialist approaches to geographies of the sea which capture how the work of (migrant) fishers is materially, economically and socially characterized by themes of precarity and instability. The thesis draws on and contributes to literatures on labour geographies (Anderson 2010, Lewis et al, 2015), migration and bordering (El-Enany, 2020), maritime geographies (Steinberg and Peters, 2015; 2019; Campling and Colás, 2021), and emerging literatures on blue justice (Mills, 2015; Bennet et al, 2020).
Through three empirical chapters this thesis discusses policies, enforcements and ideals related to the employment of migrant fishers working in Scotland. Characterizing the industry’s reliance on the oversea workforce as a spatial fix (Harvey, 1982), it analyses the UK immigration regime following the vote for Brexit in relation to the mode of employment in Scottish marine fisheries, arguing that the frequently changing immigration regulations increase precarity among domestic fishers and hyper-precarity among migrant fishers. It then problematises the process of enforcement of labour and immigration regulations at sea, arguing that the conceptualisation of oceanic spaces – in our geographical imaginations, in policy and discursive abstractions, and in individual and collective lived realities – as an unstable and ever-changing place works to both enable and obfuscate the precarious labour practices that take place at sea. It subsequently analyses how practices of regulation and enforcement are negotiated through individual and collective moral geographies. Finally, it calls for a multiscalar approach, drawing on Massey (2004) to argue that the scales of justice in fisheries are inter-connected; and showing that what happens within the porous boundaries of Scottish fisheries is both a product and a part of the practices reproduced in global fisheries
Modular, low-cost point-of-care system for metabolomics applications
Get PDFThis thesis presents the design, development, and validation of a modular, low-cost NMR system tailored for point-of-care diagnostics, with an emphasis on enabling early detection of prostate cancer. This application imposes specific requirements on the system, including the ability to detect low-concentration metabolic biomarkers in microlitre-scale biological fluids, maintain a compact footprint suitable for bedside or outpatient use, and deliver sufficient sensitivity despite the limitations of low-field operation. To meet these needs, two high sensitivity NMR probes were developed, each incorporating Lenz lenses to focus magnetic flux and enhance signal detection. The system architecture was designed for compatibility with small-volume samples and scalability for integration into portable diagnostic platforms.
The first probe iteration demonstrated a 40.6-fold increase in received power, confirming the effectiveness of Lenz lenses in amplifying local magnetic fields. However, alignment and robustness issues led to a second iteration optimised for field uniformity, achieving a 3.8-fold improvement while maintaining return losses below −10 dB at 28.566 MHz. Experimental validation confirmed impedance accuracy, with minor deviations highlighting component sensitivity.
Supporting NMR electronics were developed and characterised for efficient signal generation, amplification, and detection. A modular approach ensured accessibility, with impedance matching circuits validated via Smith charts and Monte Carlo simulations, maintaining return losses below −10 dB across 28–29.2 MHz. The system amplified signals down to 45 nV with a 12 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), achieving a spin sensitivity of 5.07×1015 spins/ √Hz and a concentration sensitivity of 4.77 M/√Hz. Free induction decay signals were acquired, distinguishing water and oil based on transverse relaxation, with T∗2values of 0.489 ms and 0.412ms, respectively. Broad linewidths indicated magnetic field inhomogeneities requiring further refinement.
Compared to other low-cost NMR systems, this design offers improved energy efficiency and a modular architecture that supports customisation for a range of diagnostic applications. While this work is not yet suitable for metabolomics or clinical use in prostate cancer detection, it lays important groundwork for future development. The system demonstrates how high sensitivity can be achieved using microlitre-scale samples in a compact, low-cost platform, and its flexible design can be adapted to accommodate other sample formats or integrated into larger diagnostic workflows. With further advancements in spectral resolution, stability, and signal-to-noise performance, this platform has the potential to evolve into a practical point-of-care tool for early disease detection and biochemical analysis
Antenna design and characterization for future wireless communication enabled V2X applications
Get PDFThe evolution of 5G technology has significantly impacted the advancement of Vehicleto-Everything (V2X) communications, enabling high-speed, low-latency interactions critical for autonomous driving, road safety, and infotainment systems. Operating in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) band, particularly in dynamic vehicular environments, presents challenges such as signal propagation loss, atmospheric attenuation, and polarization mismatches. Addressing these challenges is essential to meet the stringent requirements of 5G V2X applications, which demand wide impedance bandwidth, high gain, efficient beamsteering, and robust polarization control. Achieving these objectives necessitates innovative, cost-effective antenna designs that ensure reliable communication while supporting high data rates and scalability for next-generation networks.
This thesis presents antenna solutions to overcome these challenges, focusing on linearly polarized (LP) and circularly polarized (CP) designs. The LP antenna designs include an annular ring patch antenna offering a wide impedance bandwidth of 35.17% and a 9- element series-fed array achieving a high realized gain of 16.6 dBi with low sidelobe levels (SLLs). Building on this, 2x9 and 4x9 series-fed arrays enhance the realized gain to 17.9 dBi and 21.1 dBi, respectively, while maintaining wide bandwidths. Additionally, a fourport phased array enables dynamic beamsteering, achieving beam control across multiple angles with configurable realized gain up to 21.5 dBi. To address polarization mismatches and multipath interference, CP antenna designs are developed, including a single-element CP patch with wide axial ratio (AR) and impedance bandwidths. The single-element design extends to a 9-element series-fed CP array achieving a realized gain of 15.2 dBi and low SLLs. These solutions emphasize structural simplicity, reducing fabrication costs and enhancing scalability for large-scale deployment.
The proposed designs are validated through simulation, fabrication, and experimental measurements, demonstrating close agreement between simulation and measurement results. Compared to the state-of-the-art, these designs offer advancements in bandwidth, gain, polarization control, and beamsteering while maintaining cost-effectiveness and scalability. The outcomes of this research contribute to the development of high-performance antennas that address the critical demands of 5G V2X systems, enabling reliable, efficient, and robust communication in next-generation vehicular applications
Investigating cognitive-motor function in younger and older adults, using multimodal MRI
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