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REF Portfolio Colette Dobson 2021
Get PDFLed by artist Colette Dobson, ‘Empowering Patients’ uses ComMA (Communication Medicine and Art) principles to investigate means of helping patients articulate their experience of relationship or sexual problems and other difficult emotions by cancer and its treatment. The research examines how non-verbal, textiles communication boosts patient confidence; it especially focuses on how this communication generates equality between patient and practitioner as both attempt to understand what the communication and the situation can mean for them.
Dobson conducted the research in hospital environments, working collaboratively with Dr Josie Butcher (Psychosexual Consultant, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) (CWP). Artist-led workshops introduced female cancer patients to textile arts. They encouraged these patients to use the textile practice as a means of communicating any issues they struggled to discuss in spoken conversation with healthcare professionals. Patient responses were monitored, and the methodology underwent continual refinement to identify optimal ways of using non-verbal communication in medical settings.
Testimonials and evaluations have proved that the work has changed clinical practice and improved the outcomes for the patients’ sexual wellbeing. The patent focus group members were empowered because the research gave them a way to communicate to healthcare professionals with less risk of embarrassment or anxiety. They were also empowered because they became able to support other patients, cascading the communication practices throughout new groups of patients and practitioners
The design strategy and testing of an efficient microgas turbine combustor for biogas fuel
Get PDFNowadays, the design and application of free-carbon emission renewable fuels in micropower generators seem to be interesting to provide decentralized clean, affordable, and resilient energy in developing countries, thereby reaching the 2050 net-zero carbon emission objectives. The operation of micro-scale Closed Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) system with these fuels such as biogas without negatively impacting the combustion and micro-turbine performance, should be managed and controlled in the successful design of a micro gas turbine combustor. The application of biogas as a potential fuel due to its low calorific value and impurities, should be made possible in an efficient micro gas turbine combustor design for maintaining NOx emissions, the combustor's ability to light and to tolerate sudden changes in engine load, efficient combustion throughout the engine cycle, and the achievement of the required life. In this work, the efficient design techniques and operation of the 12 [kW] biogas micro-turbine combustor are analyzed and investigated. The designed combustor was manufactured, tested and modeled. Afterward, the emission potential of the designed combustor is discussed and how properly a design scenario for a new fuel should be responded
Pressure. A Qualitative Analysis of the Perception of Concussion and Injury Risk in Retired Professional Rugby Players
Get PDFThis study interviewed retired professional rugby union players (≤10 years since retire-ment) to discuss their careers in the game of rugby union. The primary aim of the study was to document their understanding of concussion knowledge and the analogies they use to describe con-cussion. In addition, these interviews were used to determine any explicit and implicit pressures of playing professional rugby as described by ex-professional rugby players. Overall, 23 retired pro-fessional rugby players were interviewed. The participants had played the game of rugby union (n = 23) at elite professional standard. A semi-structured individual interview design was conducted with participants between June to August 2020. The research team reviewed the transcripts to iden-tify the major themes from the interviews using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Four major themes were identified: (1) medical and theoretical understanding of concussion, (2) descriptions of concussion and disassociated language, (3) personal concussion experience, and (4) peer influences on concussion within the sport. These were further divided into categories and subcategories. The interviews highlighted that players did not fully understand the ramifications of concussive injury and other injury risk, as it became normalised as part of their sport. This normalisation was sup-ported by trivialising the seriousness of concussions and using dismissive language amongst them-selves as players, or with coaching staff. As many of these ex-professional players are currently coaching rugby (48%), these interviews could assist coaches in treating concussio
Past Events: in hindsight! 20 years after - 9/11
Get PDFThis year, 2021, marks the 20th anniversary since 9/11, recorded as the ‘day that changed the world.’ Yet ironically, this year (and last) the world and aviation has faced another battle – a pandemic.
The starting premise of this research, is that, while there have been concerted efforts over the last two decades (since 9/11), it was undoubtedly the earlier failure at an international level, to appreciate such risks, that compounded the vulnerable position that the sector found, and arguably still finds, itself in. In doing so, the method applied is to revisit ‘the past.’ Reflection is given to key events, in the form of case studies, and comparison analysis is given to the USA and the EU responses to terrorism and other security challenges as a result of 9/11.
The findings are that nations inherently cling on to sovereignty in the form of control and that this impacts on a willingness to coordinate, coupled with this, there remains difficulties in sharing information and data, which invariably provides a risk to aviation
Corporate harm and embedded labour exploitation in agri-food supply networks
Get PDFHarm facilitated by corporations has received increased attention in recent years. However, corporate crime and harm remain under-researched themes in relation to labour exploitation, both in theoretical and empirical terms. The purpose of this paper is to argue that in the context of agricultural and food supply networks, harmful labour practices result from structural problems associated with the demand for products. While individual employers and businesses have a role in facilitating these harmful practices, they also emerge from otherwise legitimate agri-food supply network dynamics, such as subcontracted labour which results in fragmented responsibility. Therefore, labour practices have significant implications for the nature, organisation, and control of corporate harms, whereby harmful consequences become normalised, accepted, and embedded in agri-food supply network practices. Criminological analyses of food production and contemporary markets more widely can begin to address the systemic challenges of harmful labour practices, both in domestic and global supply networks
Coach identity leadership behaviours are positively associated with athlete resource appraisals: The mediating roles of relational and group identification.
Get PDFBackground: There is growing evidence identifying the positive effects of sport and exercise leaders engaging in identity leadership. Yet we have limited knowledge of how identity leadership is associated with athletes’ resource appraisals (e.g., self-efficacy) and performance, the underpinning mechanisms that explain such relationships, and changes in relationships across a sporting season.
Methods: In Study 1, 412 amateur and professional athletes completed seven questionnaires directly prior to athletic competition in a cross-sectional design. In Study 2, 136 athletes completed seven questionnaires directly before competition, and one questionnaire directly after competition both at the start and the end of the athletic season.
Results: In Study 1, relational identification and group identification mediated the positive relationship between identity leadership and self-efficacy, control, approach goals and social support. In Study 2, identity leadership at the start of the season predicted self-efficacy at the end of the season through relational identification. Group identification did not significantly mediate the identity leadership-resource appraisal relationship. Perceived social support at the start of the season predicted greater performance satisfaction at the end of the competitive season.
Conclusions: Findings provide evidence that sport coaches’ engagement in identity leadership is key to forming a shared social identity, which in turn, is broadly adaptive for stress appraisals and performance satisfaction both cross-sectionally and longitudinally
Tips for Artists
Get PDFThrough a series of text-based artworks Common Culture offer tips, among other things, on theory (and how and when to use it), democratic processes, fundraising, regional accents, and provincial anxieties. Tips for Artists borrows an established Conceptual Art form through which to deliver incisive, comic and critical remarks and anecdotes about contemporary art and its contexts.
The work is published as a chapter in Art, Politics and the Pamphleteer , edited by Jane Tormey and Gillian Whiteley.
Art, Politics and the Pamphleteer brings together a collection of text-based and visual essays, commissioned artworks and graphics. This richly illustrated book responds to the concept, aesthetics and function of the political pamphlet. It is diverse in content, interpreting the 'pamphlet' in the broadest terms, and encompassing a number of case studies that offer historical or specific examples of contemporary pamphleteering practice that can be seen to perform 'a clear political implication' or protest. Besides exploring the radical history and diverse cultures of the pamphlet, it also celebrates the rich visual rhetoric, typography and contemporary relevance of the format for both artists and activists. Contributions include an historical overview and essays by: Andy Abbott, Angeliki Avgitidu, Aziz Choudry and Désirée Rochat, David Murrieta Flores, Michelle Kempson, Pil and Galia Kollectiv, Rachel Schreiber, Jane Tormey, Gillian Whiteley; visual contributions by Gary Anderson and Steven Shakespeare, Ruth Beale, Ami Clarke, Common Culture, Jeremy Deller, Freee, Patrick Goddard, Gavin Grindon, Ferenc Grof, Marc Herbst, Joanne Lee, Josh MacPhee, Manual Labours, Mark McGowan, Minute Works, Chris Morton, radicalreThink, Hester Reeve, Oliver Ressler, Greg Sholette & Christopher Darling, Laura Wild, Andrew Wilso
A Modeling Approach for Investigating Opto-Mechanical Relationships in the Human Eye Lens
Get PDFObjective: The human visual system alters its focus by a shape change of the eye lens. The extent to which the lens can adjust ocular refractive power is dependent to a significant extent on its material properties. Yet, this fundamental link between the optics and mechanics of the lens has been relatively under-investigated. This study aims to investigate this opto-mechanical link within the eye lens to gain insight into the processes of shape alteration and their respective decline with age. Methods: Finite Element models based on biological lenses were developed for five ages: 16, 35, 40, 57, and 62 years by correlating in vivo measurements of the longitudinal modulus using Brillouin scattering with in vitro X-ray interferometric measurements of refractive index and taking into account various directions of zonular force. Results: A model with radial cortical Young's moduli provides the same amount of refractive power with less change in thickness than a model with uniform cortical Young's modulus with a uniform stress distribution and no discontinuities along the cortico-nuclear boundary. The direction of zonular angles can significantly influence curvature change regardless of the modulus distribution. Conclusions: The present paper proposes a modelling approach for the human lens, coupling optical and mechanical properties, which shows the effect of parameter choice on model response. Significance: This advanced modelling approach, considering the important interplay between optical and mechanical properties, has potential for use in design of accommodating implant lenses and for investigating non-biological causes of pathological processes in the lens (e.g., cataract)
Cell compaction is not required for the development of gradient refractive index profiles in the embryonic chick lens
Get PDFThe development of the eye requires the co-ordinated integration of optical and neural elements to create a system with requisite optics for the given animal. The eye lens has a lamellar structure with gradually varying protein concentrations that increase towards the centre, creating a gradient refractive index or GRIN. This provides enhanced image quality compared to a homogeneous refractive index lens. The development of the GRIN during ocular embryogenesis has not been investigated previously. This study presents measurements using synchrotron X-ray Talbot interferometry and scanning electron microscopy of chick eyes from embryonic day 10: midway through embryonic development to E18: a few days before hatching. The lens GRIN profile is evident from the youngest age measured and increases in magnitude of refractive index at all points as the lens grows. The profile is parabolic along the optic axis and has two distinct regions in the equatorial plane. We postulate that these may be fundamental for the independent central and peripheral processes that contribute to the optimisation of image quality and the development of an eye that is emmetropic. The spatial distributions of the distinct GRIN profile regions match with previous measurements on different fibre cell groups in chick lenses of similar developmental stages. Results suggest that tissue compaction may not be necessary for development of the GRIN in the chick eye lens
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