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A new approach for acquiring skills towards undergraduate research : A progress review
No full textIn recent years, a gradual transition from passive teaching to active learning has intensified in higher education. Critical thinking and deep learning is promoted, as opposed to surface learning. The Teaching Excellence Framework guidance for higher education associates learning with research, thus research skills acquisition is fundamental. An innovative collaborative research project, leading to individually composed assignments, was implemented in a research methodology module, aiming at developing an undergraduate research skill set and writing performance. The results were satisfactory showing positive student response to the newly implemented approach. Critical thinking, deep learning, autonomy, peer-support and collaboration are mostly what the undergraduate students can benefited from, through this innovative learning approach
Challenges learners with dyslexia face in maths – an exploration of teaching and learning strategies, and the use of technology to improve metacognition and engagement in maths
No full textAn examination of product development approaches within demand driven supply chains
No full textPurpose – Innovation has been considered as the most important factor in today’s global and competitive environments for meeting growth, customer demands and expectations for any product development environment. This research study examines the concepts of sustainable development, its practices and impacts within demand driven supply chain environments. This paper is part of a wider project and within later stages of the study, a novel framework will be developed in order to link new product development (NPD) and demand chain management (DCM) aspects from the analysis of the research findings.Design/methodology/approach – This research has adopted the approach of descriptive method which tends to examine demand chain concept and its evolution through recent years, while having a particular focus into NPD projects.Findings – The paper investigates early study models through key findings of the literature that focuses on demand chain and NPD for the use and implementation of sustainability measures within manufacturing environments. The research study highlights the need for incorporation of NPD-DCM through the entire business ecosystem entities and also through the flow of information, materials and resources within the structure of the supply chain. The study finds out the key hurdles of the companies towards adoption of demand-driven supply chains in NPD environments, such as lack of cross-organisational association and lack of innovative demand chain frameworks.Originality/value – The novelty of the research is to develop an early understanding within demand driven supply chains, considering the product development programmes particularly focused on marketing activities. The study provides future researchers with a platform to undertake studies within similar function of demand driven supply chain environment
Remarkable lives: Jo Mullen in conversation with Jerome Carson
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Jo Mullen.Jo provides a short background to her life and is then interviewed by Jerome.Jo tells us about the teaching resources that she has developed to increase understanding of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).While this is a single case study, it contains numerous helpful insights of how Jo has developed and presented her work, along with two mental health nurses, and of the high quality educational interventions she has produced.Jo presents a model of co-production, where service partner and mental health professional are equals.It would be helpful if mental health services invested in supporting talented individuals like Jo, to develop and disseminate the tools she has created.Thus far Jo has written her own personal account of what it is like to cope with BPD, a bigger training resource, “Wot R U Like?” and a board game, Personapoly, to help individuals solve social and personal problems
Biomaterial gelatin film based crossbar structure resistive switching devices
No full textCrossbar structural resistive switching devices (memristors) are fabricated using biomaterial gelatin film as the dielectric layer. The performance of the devices and the effects of gelatin film thickness and baking temperature are investigated. Results show that the optimal gelatin film thickness for the memristors is ~80 nm and baking temperature is ~105 °C. The optimized memristors show a bipolar resistive switching behavior with the resistance ratio between the high-resistance state and low-resistance state over 102, the retention time over 106 s without any obvious deterioration, and excellent stability and reliability, demonstrating its good potential for applications. A conductive atomic force microscopy is used to study the conductivity of the gelatin films under various biases, and the results indicate that the conductive filaments are responsible for the resistive switching behavior of the gelatin-based memristors
Impact of HPWS on employees' performance within the Bangladeshi telecom sector
No full textThis paper aims to study the rapport that exists between high performance work system (HPWS) and employees' performance by exploring the intermediating role of employees' attitudes and the moderating role of institutional context in Bangladesh. The study developed a conceptual model based on the knowledge gap in the existing literature. The model was tested using structural equation model (SEM) with the help of AMOS. Consistent with the AMO theory, the findings support that HPWS is related to enhanced levels of job satisfaction, affective commitment and trust in management. Furthermore, these attitudinal variables were positively linked to enhanced employees' performance. The study also provides insights by demonstrating that the institutional context of a country affects the connection between HPWS and employees' performance. The result indicates multi-national companies (MNCs) operating in Bangladesh need to devote substantial resources to adopt HPWS to enhance employees' positive attitudes, which in turn will positively impact employees' performance
Stretchable Optical Sensing Patch System Integrated Heart Rate, Pulse Oxygen Saturation, and Sweat pH Detection
No full textObjective: Continuous measurement of key physiological parameters, such as heart rate (HR), pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), and sweat pH value, has very broad applications in healthcare, disease surveillance, and fitness and sports training. In this study, a stretchable optical sensing patch system was developed for real-time continuous noninvasive monitoring of the HR, SpO 2 , and sweat pH, and the sensing data were transmitted to a smartphone through Bluetooth. Methods: The sensor patch system adopted serpentine stretchable interconnects between the optical sensor and microcontroller chip with wireless function on a flexible substrate. The pH sensing function was implemented by coating a pH sensitive organically modified silicate film on the surface of a commercial blood oxygen sensor, achieving simultaneous measurement of HR, SpO 2 , and sweat pH with a single sensor. Results: Real-time on-body assessment was carried out to evaluate the sensor patch system, showing its excellent repeatability and applicability. The sensor patch system could withstand up to 35% extension and exhibited a pH sensitivity of 4.42 mV/pH from 4.0 to 8.0, while the accuracy of HR from 25 to 250 b/min and SpO 2 from 70% to 100% sensing were ±1 b/min and ±2%, respectively. Conclusion: The triple sensing functions was achieved through a single optical sensor on a flexible substrate while holding excellent contact with the body. Significance: The sensor patch system can be used for fitness guidance, skin disease detection, and wound monitoring and management by replacing related sensitive films
Understanding the thermal and dielectric response of organosolv and modified kraft lignin as a carbon fibre precursor
No full textUnderstanding the thermal behaviour of lignin is crucial in order to realise its valorisation as an engineering polymer. Two hardwood lignins, organosolv (OSL) and chemically modified kraft lignin (ML) have been chosen to represent important classes of renewable and abundant raw materials. The relationship between ionic mobility and viscosity in OSL and ML has been studied. The rheological results have been interpreted in terms of the competitive processes of thermal plasticisation and stiffening through crosslinking. Results show that with OSL, crosslinking proceeds relatively rapidly, and this is consistent with its more reactive structure. Higher molecular weight (Mw) influenced the melt stability as cross-linking kinetics was reduced and this was attributed to the reduction of chain ends available for cross-linking reactions. Scanning calorimetry has shown that both materials are glassy and pass through the glass transition between 100 °C and 115 °C, with the higher molecular weight modified material having a slightly higher Tg. Both lignins show pronounced maxima in the Gram–Schmidt plots for methane or methanol around 400 °C. However, a significant difference between the materials is observed with the detection of a strong carbonyl peak in the evolution products of the ML, which is attributed to the scission of the hydroxypropyl substituent present in the ML structure. The differences in the degradation processes are further reflected in the dielectric properties of the partially degraded materials where loss maxima occur at different temperatures and show different degrees of frequency dependence. An important observation is the difference in conductivity, where higher values for OSL are attributed to the cross-linking between adjacent benzene rings, whereas with the ML, a lower conductivity is associated with intrinsically less conductive intermolecular linkages. These results demonstrate that the thermal decomposition of the two lignins follows significantly different paths at the molecular level. With the more reactive OSL, it appears to be the case that there is a greater tendency to form direct ring to ring crosslinks and this is very significant for the properties of the intended end product
Qualitative evaluation of individual experiences of a school-based educational programme on crime
No full textProject Chameleon is a school-based educational programme relating to crime, UK law and social moral positioning. Qualitative data were collated from three focus groups with child participants and two focus groups with university psychology student volunteers. The data related directly to the individual experiences of child participants and student volunteers supporting the facilitation of the programme.Three overarching themes emerged from the data: Personal Experiences, relating to individual learning, attitude and behavioural changes and how individuals used the information provided by the programme; Programme Delivery, which examined all aspects of how the programme was taught to child participants; and Session Content and Issues, discussing the topics and any relevant problems occurring whilst participating. Recommendations for future school-based interventions are discussed, including delivery style, interactivity, dosage and tailored content
Students as collaborators
No full textFunding was obtained from a HEFCE catalyst fund by Drs Cross and Prescott in 2016 to undertake a research project to enhance learning and teaching through technology via a student- led research project. The 18 month project ended in April 2018. This presentation aims to discuss the project, providing detail of the two technology based interventions, a university wide mobile app (uBolt) and a virtual reality (VR) therapeutic game to be used on the Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling pathway.The presentation will discuss the project in terms of students as collaborators and co-creators, as well as the benefits and challenges of undertaking research with students. As well as the PI's of the study, two of the key student researchers will also provide their insights of the research and its process