4101 research outputs found
Sort by
Trade marks as adwords: an aid to competition or a potential infringement? An evaluation of the Law in the light of recent decisions
No full textThe case law relating to the use of trade marks as adwords has evolved in a piecemeal fashion. Given the significance of cases Cosmetic Warriors v. Amazon and Interflora v. Marks & Spencer it is time to assess these developments in context evaluating the current balance between promoting competition and preventing infringement
UV sensing using film bulk acoustic resonators based on Au/n-ZnO/ piezoelectric-ZnO/Al structure
No full textA new type of ultraviolet (UV) light sensor based on film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) is proposed.The new sensor uses gold and a thin n-type ZnO layer deposited on the top of piezoelectric layer of FBAR to form a Schottky barrier. The Schottky barrier’s capacitance can be changed with UV light, resulting in an enhanced shift in the entire FBAR’s resonant frequency. The fabricated UV sensor has a 50 nm thick n-ZnO semiconductor layer with a carrier concentration of , 1017 cm23 . A large frequency downshift is observed when UV light irradiates the FBAR. With 365 nm UV light of intensity 1.7 mW/cm2 , the FBAR with n-ZnO/ Au Schottky diode has 250 kHz frequency downshift, much larger than the 60 kHz frequency downshift in a conventional FBAR without the n-ZnO layer. The shift in the new FBAR’s resonant frequency is due to the junction formed between Au and n-ZnO semiconductor and its properties changes with UV light. The experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical analysis using an equivalent circuit model of the new FBAR structure
How reliable are knee kinematics and kinetics during side-cutting manoeuvres?
No full textIntroduction: Side-cutting tasks are commonly used in dynamic assessment of ACL injury risk, but only limited information is available concerning the reliability of knee loading parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of side-cutting data with additional focus on modelling approaches and task execution variables.Methods: Each subject (n=8) attended six testing sessions conducted by two observers. Kinematic and kinetic data of 45° side-cutting tasks was collected. Inter-trial, inter-session, inter-observer variability and observer/trial ratios were calculated at every time-point of normalised stance, for data derived from two modelling approaches. Variation in task execution variables was regressed against that of temporal profiles of relevant knee data using one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping.Results: Variability in knee kinematics was consistently low across the time-series waveform (≤5 °), but knee kinetic variability was high (31.8, 24.1 and 16.9 Nm for sagittal, frontal and transverse planes, respectively) in the weight acceptance phase of the side-cutting task. Calculations conveyed consistently moderate-to-good measurement reliability. Inverse kinematic modelling reduced the variability in sagittal (~6 Nm) and frontal planes (~10 Nm) compared to direct kinematic modelling. Variation in task execution variables did not explain any knee data variability.Conclusion: Side-cutting data appears to be reliably measured, however high knee moment variability exhibited in all planes, particularly in the early stance phase, suggests cautious interpretation towards ACL injury mechanics. Such variability may be inherent to the dynamic nature of the side-cutting task or experimental issues not yet known
Whose ethics is it anyway?
No full textThe aim of this research is to address the challenges that arise when students in African partners of a British University try to align the ethical approaches inherent in their culture with the ethical processes explicit in British degrees and research. Using a post-colonial lens and adopting an Action Research approach the study aims to reconcile these differences and consider alternative methods, more nuanced approaches to demonstrating compliance with University Ethics codes.Research Ethics is an important element of any education programme and the understanding of both principles and policies plays a key role particularly within student research projects (dissertations, consultancy reports etc). For students of British universities operating in Sub- Saharan Africa there is a dichotomy between the requirements of the University (based on ethical rationalism (Tikly and Bond, 2013)), and the Post-Colonial cultural context in which they operate. The research draws on the work of Hofstede (1980), Husted et al (1996) and Gbadamosi (2004) to recognise the impact culture has on ethical beliefs and behaviours.Adopting an Interpretive Action Research approach, the study aims through interview, focus groups and archival analysis of Research Codes for Conduct to develop an alternative approach to demonstrating ethical compliance that meets the regulations of a UK University while recognising alternative ethical standpoints.Initial investigations show that African students have a different understanding of academic ethics and this study explores the difference in interpretation of ethics including: the role of culture in developing ethical understanding, evaluation of the extent to which consequentialism (the "ends justifying the means" (Bentham, 1789)) is applicable to Sub-Saharan business students or that Sen's (1979) theory that rules are not absolute when violation leads to more undesirable consequences is the dominant philosophy
LACE Compendium [project handbook, version2.0]
No full textThis document, the “LACE Compendium”, is a compilation of discursive writing, specific guidance and evidence which supports the work of the Learning Analytics Community Exchange(LACE)project to help establish a solid foundation for our community engagement and communications work.The Compendium provides documentation of the LACE project’s approaches to user engagement and outreach which will ensure that awareness of the approaches are shared across the project team.The Compendium is freely available with a Creative Commons licence to permit reuse by others
School improvement and system reform - a retrospective and some myths
No full textFor the sake of historical completeness, it is important to recognise the pioneering work of Aikin (1942) in the ‘eight-year study’, and a number of reviews take this important event as their starting point (Nunnery, 1998; Stringfield & Teddlie, 2011). For the broader purposes of this review, we begin two decades later, at a time when (it can be argued) the field was beginning to evolve in a number of distinctive phases as practitioners and researchers gained expertise in implementing and studying educational change
Blogging as a viable research methodology for young people with arthritis: a qualitative Study
No full textBackground: The development of services that are responsive to the needs of users is a health policy priority. Finding ways of engaging young people in research to gain insights into their particular experiences, perspectives, and needs is vital but challenging. These data are critical to improving services in ways that meet the needs of young people.Objective: Our aim was to evaluate Web-based blogging as a viable method for understanding the daily experiences and condition management strategies of young people with juvenile arthritis.Methods: To meet the objectives of the study, a qualitative approach was required to gather information on the experiences and perspectives of young people regarding the management of their condition and its daily impact. In collaboration with a group of young people with arthritis, a custom website was developed. This website provided the opportunity for young people (aged 11-19) with arthritis from a United Kingdom pediatric hospital to contribute blogs. It was designed so that young people were free to write about whatever was important to them, but the site also included some structure and prompts to facilitate the writing of blogs. Qualitative analytical procedures were employed, supported by NVivo software.Results: Engagement in the study by young people was variable in terms of their participation rates, frequency of website visits, and the length of their blogs. Young people used the site in different ways, some responding to the website categories and prompts that the team created, while others used it as a diary to record their experiences and thoughts. In line with principles of qualitative inquiry, the data collection was participant-led. Young people were in control of what, how much, and how often they wrote. However, some young people expressed difficulty regarding knowing what they should blog about. For a number of reasons, discussed here, the blogs may also not be fully reflective of experiences and perspectives of the participants. However, the data obtained provided insights into young people’s experiences of living with arthritis and their use of medicines in the context of their daily lives.Conclusions: Web-based research with young people presents opportunities and challenges for researchers. Web-based blogging methodology has the potential to give young people and parents the space and empowerment to express their own ideas and concerns. However, this project suggests that it might not be the best way to engage a large diverse group of young people and might most effectively be combined with other approaches. Despite these limitations, the study provided valuable data about the experience and impact of living with a long-term condition from the perspectives of young people with arthritis
How can the company improve its marketing to attract potential customers and retain current clients?
No full textThe following dissertation is based upon the marketing issues faced by Cooper Car and Commercial Vehicle Painters which is a small limited company established in September 2012, the issues are highlighted throughout chapter 1. The literature review in chapter 2 illustrates the common themes throughout SMEs and their ability to market effectively. These include the lack of resources available from both a skill set and financial perspective to the added advantage of flexibility afforded SMEs in the business world today. The authors included relate specifically to SME and marketing consequentially developing the hypotheses that clarifies the theoretical background of the report and how it influences the SME performance. This then directs the formulation of the hypotheses in this paper and the conceptual framework adapted on which the research is based. Chapter 3 presents the methodology used to collect and analyse the data in detail in order to justify the research design framework. In chapter 4 the findings are presented sequentially following the structure presented in the conceptual framework and then by research method for each of the 3 objectives. The conclusion demonstrates the commonality between the themes uncovered in the literature review and those facing Cooper Car and Commercial Vehicle Painters. The final section of the report discusses the implication of the findings to the business, highlights the limitations of the study and provides recommendations on the way forward with limited resources available. This is then collated into an implementation plan based upon a strategy within the means of the business with contingencies planned for accordingly
A review of provider performance management within NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group
No full textThis dissertation looks into the performance management systems within NHS East Lancashire CCG in terms of perceptions, its utility and the engagement of providers. This is undertaken through reviewing the literature associated with performance management systems and developing a conceptual framework on which to undertake the research.Three key methods: Data Line Analysis; Self-Completion Questionnaires; and Semi-Structured Interviews were undertaken, from a cross-section of the organisation, to elicit findings.The findings of these methods of research were analysed. The results illustrated that there was clear demonstration of elements of good practice in relation to performance management however there was also clear indication of a lack of a clear unambiguous and well defined process. In addition the findings illustrated key concerns in relation to engagement and awareness of performance management across the organisation specifically linked to a lack of communication along with a lack of actions being taken with some providers around performance management issues.As a result of the findings of this research it is recommended that NHS East Lancashire CCG: implements a revised organisation wide performance management system; develops a bespoke communications and engagement vi strategy for performance management; reviews internal process within the CCG and CSU teams to ensure awareness and understanding of roles and responsibilities along with accountability arrangements and; also ensures clear focus on provider performance within the Director of Performance and Delivery's 1:1s with key senior commissioning leads. In addition it is recommended that a performance management workshop is held to share the revised approach with all staff and providers. An implementation plan has been developed to support achieve those recommendation
