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Prediction of cutting depth in abrasive water jet machining of Ti-6AL-4Valloy using back propagation neural networks
No full textThe current study focusses on developing a back propagation neural network model for depth of cut during the abrasive water jet machining of a Ti-6AL-4V aluminum alloy. The study analyzed depth of cut for five different water jet abrasive parameters namely, water pressure, transverse speed, abrasive mass flow rate, abrasive orifice size, and nozzle to orifice diameter. Experiments were conducted as per the L27 Taguchi-design of experiments (DoE). The back propagation neural network model comprising of one input layer, one hidden layer and an output layer with an architecture of 1–5–6 was chosen for conducting the analysis. The algorithm predicted the Taguchi based output values for the experimental depth of cut with an accuracy of up to 95 %. The neural network algorithm further automated itself, generating 50 new data sets for K-cross validation, out of which 70 %, 20 %, and 10 % of the data were used for training, testing, and validation, respectively. Confirmatory experiments were conducted for depth of cut and assessed against the data set used for validation (10 %). The results showed that as the depth of cut was small, i.e., ranging from 3 mm to 5 mm, the algorithm was unable to predict the optimized parameters, however, the prediction improved as the depth of cut increased. Overall, the consistency between the neural network predicted and the experimental depth of cut throughout the algorithm confirmed the validity of the procedure and the appropriateness of the algorithm
Improving Telemedicine with Digital Twin-Driven Machine Learning: A Novel Framework
No full textThe convergence of digital twin technology and machine learning has ushered in a transformative era in patient monitoring and diagnosis within the healthcare sector. This review article explores the comprehensive integration of digital twin-driven machine learning frameworks, aiming to elucidate the core objectives, pivotal findings, and overarching implications. Our primary objectives encompass the exploration of digital twin technology's adaptation to healthcare, the augmentation of medical assessments through machine learning algorithms, the enabling of real-time monitoring with early anomaly detection capabilities, and the personalization of treatment plans rooted in patient profiles generated by digital twins. The key findings underscore the successful adaptation of digital twin technology for healthcare applications, emphasizing its potential to capture dynamic patient data and history. The synergy between machine learning and digital twins enhances the precision of diagnostics and predictive analytics, thus improving healthcare outcomes. Real-time monitoring, made possible through digital twins, ensures proactive patient care with timely interventions. Moreover, personalizing treatment plans, tailored to individual patient profiles, offers a promising avenue for more effective and less invasive interventions. The implications of this review extend to the transformative potential of digital twin-driven machine learning in healthcare, with the ability to revolutionize patient care, diagnostics, and monitoring. The review highlights data security and ethical challenges, stressing the need for standardized protocols to protect patient information. Ongoing research and innovation are crucial for maximizing these frameworks' potential, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing healthcare quality
'Living with Covid': Well-being, Burnout, and Moral Injury in England's Adult Social Care Workforce - A Survey Study
No full textContext: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for the adult social care sector, necessitating rapid changes in service delivery. Understanding the factors influencing the well-being of staff beyond the pandemic’s initial crisis response phase is crucial. Objective: The article examines the mental well-being, burnout, and the morally injurious experiences of the adult social care workforce in Greater Manchester during the UK’s ’Living with COVID’ phase, initiated in February 2022. Methods: An online survey collected responses from 251 social care staff. Regression analyses, employing a job-demands and resources framework (JD-R), considered demographic, occupational, and COVID-19-related factors to predict psychological outcomes. Findings: Significant levels of low mental well-being (34%) and burnout (31% likely experiencing burnout, 36% at risk) were observed. Additionally, 40% reported experiencing events that were potentially morally injurious. COVID-19-related factors had a significant impact on these outcomes. Satisfaction with infection control measures and access to sufficient resources were associated with more favourable outcomes. Considerable changes in daily activities and dissatisfaction with infection control measures were associated with increased levels of burnout and exposure to morally injurious experiences. Demographic and occupational factors had a lesser influence. Limitations: The study was conducted in a single geographic region of England with non-probability sampling methods and recruitment, potentially impacting the generalisability of the findings. Implications: The findings highlight the importance of adequate resources and infection control measures in reducing harm in the adult social care workforce and building resilience for future sector pressures
Playful Citizen Discussion Space to Help Steer Society Towards Water Security
No full textIn this paper, we explore the use of a playful dilemma activity, a survey and public data analysis to spark citizen awareness and reflection on water use within the UK. Water security ensures access to fresh water for survival and society’s needs. There is significant citizen agency in water security that impacts the freshwater reserves. However, in many countries, water security is under-discussed. Encouraging spaces for individuals to assess their water use, identify waste, and adopt sustainable practices is key to sustaining freshwater resources for the future. We present a case study conducted as part of the GREAT project to stimulate citizen discussion on water use and its subsequent impact on the broader water system. Through a series of activities, citizens can reflect on their water use, consider the future forecast of water security within the UK, and experience a playful dilemma to save a city from the effects of drought. In this dilemma, players are part of an organisation tackling a city’s water crisis. Faced with limited water resources, players analyse data on the population's usage and suggest behaviour changes to reduce consumption. The challenge lies in balancing the need for water conservation with the risk of proposing changes that are resisted by the population. The players must convince the facilitator of both the practicality and acceptability of their plans. Success restores water security, but failure reveals the consequences of inaction. Within this playful discussion space, we create an exchange for citizens to elicit attitudes and preferences on current water use and explore how individuals might be “nudged” into less wasteful behaviour. In this paper, we describe the co-design of this qualitative approach, share findings on attitudes and preferences elicited (n = 19), and reflect on this method as a tool for fostering awareness and meaningful citizen discussions
From Concept to Creation: A Collaborative Approach to Wellbeing Town
No full textPresentation of Wellbeing Town current development, given to the 17th International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (2025). This work was funded by the Jenkinson provision (JA25/006)
The Impact of Science Practical Work on Secondary School Students' Learning Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis
No full textThis meta-analysis appraises the impact of practical science work on the learning outcomes of secondary school students based on 16 recent publications based on a quasi-experimental design. The research includes cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains and compares the performance of students who have been subjected to practical science teaching to those who have been subjected to theoretical teaching. The search of the Scopus, ERIC, and DOAJ databases, adhering to strict inclusion criteria, allowed the definition of quantitative studies used in the meta-analytic procedures. Heterogeneity (I 2 = 94.43 %) was significant, and a random-effects model was adopted with standardized effect sizes determined using Hedges g. This finding has a high general effect (g = 1.15), indicating that practical science work has a significant impact on learning in different contexts. The implementation quality, teacher competence, and resource availability were inconsistent across all the studies, yet the results were quite the same, stating the clear advantage of the experiential, inquiry-based methods of implementation. Heterogeneity diagnostics indicate actual rather than random errors and evidence of limited publication bias, as portrayed by funnel plots. The meta-analysis confirms the pedagogical worth of practical science work and its utilization in curricula, notably in coordination with properly established instructional objectives, as well as in the provision of proper teacher training and infrastructure. These results provide evidence-based policy recommendations for both policymakers and teachers to enhance science education through effective hands-on practices
Borassus Husk Fibre/Epoxy composites: experimental analysis of physical, thermal, flexural and dynamic mechanical properties of high-performance applications
No full textBio-based materials are gaining importance in engineering due to their availability, recyclability, and environmental benefits. Among them, the Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra palm) fruit shell husk is an underused biofibre in Bangladesh, typically discarded or used only for low-value applications, despite its potential for high-performance uses. In its untreated form, the husk fibre shows favourable thermal properties: high char content, IPDT, IPDH, and Cp- making it competitive with natural fibres such as jute, ramie, and flax. Alkali treatment removes hemicellulose and further enhances thermal stability, increasing char yield, IPDT, and IPDH, although Cp decreases. Epoxy composites reinforced with alkali-treated fibres demonstrate superior thermal stability compared to neat epoxy and many conventional bio-composites reported in the literature. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) indicates higher glass transition temperature (Tg) and increased tan δ (damping factor), reflecting improved fibre–matrix interaction. SEM images confirm enhanced interfacial bonding, contributing to better impact performance. Overall, the results highlight that alkali-treated Borassus husk fibre/epoxy composites are strong candidates for use in engineering structures, including automotive and aerospace components. Their adoption supports sustainable materials development and contributes to achieving global ‘Net-Zero’ goals under the 2015 Paris Agreement
An analysis of digital marketing and brand loyalty a comparative case study of Islamic and conventional banks in the UK
No full textThis PhD thesis explores digital marketing and brand loyalty in the UK banking sector, focusing on Islamic and conventional banks. The research addresses the growing role of digital marketing in financial services and the gap in understanding its application for Islamic banks, particularly in non-Muslim majority countries like the UK. The study aims to examine how both types of banks use digital strategies to influence customer attitudes and build brand loyalty, with particular attention to the challenges Islamic banks face in promoting their Shariah-compliant offerings.The research objectives are: (i) to review existing literature on digital marketing and brand loyalty; (ii) to assess challenges and opportunities for Islamic and conventional banks; (iii) to analyse customer attitudes toward digital marketing initiatives and their impact on brand loyalty; and (iv) to investigate how digital marketing influences brand loyalty in both sectors. The study employed a qualitative design with an interpretivist philosophy and inductive approach, collecting data through online qualitative questionnaires from customers and semi-structured interviews with digital marketing and branding experts from both types of banks. Data were analysed using thematic analysis in NVivo and content analysis in SPSS.The findings revealed a shared preference for intuitive and secure mobile banking across both sectors, but Islamic bank customers emphasised ethical considerations and Shariah compliance. The study identified opportunities for Islamic banks to expand their digital presence, though competition and customer awareness remain challenges. Clear, consistent, and personalized communication emerged as key to fostering customer loyalty. Ultimately, the research highlights the potential of digital marketing to enhance brand loyalty for both Islamic and conventional banks, with specific recommendations for Islamic banks to build trust and awareness of their unique offerings
Co-designing AI literacy: recognising students as experts in shaping responsible AI use in Higher Education
No full textCourt process management and access to justice in NIgeria
No full textThe World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, in its 2021 report, ranked Nigeria 121 out of 139countries evaluated by examining policy outcomes and their impact on citizens. This indicates that,despite the formal establishment of governance structures and the profession of constitutionalism,as in other top-ranked countries, there are gaps between constitutional provisions and structuresand their realisation, designed to ensure egalitarianism through access to justice. This studyexamines the relationships between court management processes and access to justice in Nigeria,with a focus on the dynamics of power and privilege. The primary objective is to analyse howcourt management processes, including judicial appointments, resource allocation and budgeting,court efficiency, and informal power structures, impact access to justice. The study employed alongitudinal approach from 1999 to the present, engaging both qualitative and quantitativemethods, including survey interviews, personal observations, and document analysis. Findingsindicate that while there have been substantial reforms at various levels of government and withincomponents of the legal system to make the judiciary more accessible and efficient, powerstructures and political influence continue to create barriers not only for the indigent andvulnerable but also for the politically exposed. This thesis highlights innovations, such as thecreation of an appellate helpdesk for indigent litigants who wish to pursue an appeal at the RiversState Customary Court of Appeal, and concludes with recommendations for improving courtfunctionality, addressing power imbalances, and enhancing judicial independence and access