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A five-cycle living visual taxonomy of learning interactions
No full textThis paper describes my development of a useful, descriptive model that one-to-one practitioners could use to analyse transcripts of their sessions, design new strategies and even test them out. Further, this work has the potential to offer a framework that students, patients, clients and colleagues could use to communicate the types of interactions they prefer.The narrative in my educational life around the domain of heuristic generates a living-educational-theory as a values-based explanation for my educational influences as a tutor. The living contradictions I encounter, and praxes I make up to help me imagine solutions, are portrayed visually and verbally; and this leads to my proposal of a five-cycle living visual taxonomy of learning interactions.I consider the application of my living-educational-theory to other domains, for example, confidence; and to power dynamics, autism support, student engagement, expert behaviour, external influences, understanding negative feedback, and remoteness in heuristics.Interestingly, one future possibility is to use my taxonomy to develop a ‘positivist/scientific flavoured’ quantitative instrument to support learning analytics and educational data-mining; to optimise learning, and the environment in which it takes place
Multifunctional nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride) reinforced by carbon nanotubes and magnetite nanoparticles
No full textAn investigation into the teachers perceptions of performance appraisal systems in public secondary schools : a case study of schools in Lilongwe city.
No full textThe introduction of performance appraisals through the performance management policy in Malawi has not been as effective as intended. There were suggestions that the policy was not welcomed thus has minimal impact on the teaching service in secondary schools in Malawi. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of teachers in order to understand the implementation of the policy and how to improve it.The main findings were that the policy had major problems that include: the lack of ownership of the policy by teachers; poor use of the information tool; inability to utilise rewards; and poor leadership. The study observed that cultural considerations and links to reward would improve the appraisal process.In conclusion, the policy makers need to ensure consultations of stakeholders are fully utilized and results made publicly available; fully engage in sensitization campaigns; and monitor the policies implementation
Effect of addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the piezoelectric properties of polypropylene filaments
No full textThe effect of addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the piezoelectric properties of polypropylene (PP) monofilaments has been investigated. Various amounts of CNTs (0%, 0.01%, 0.1% and 1% weight ratios) were melt-blended with PP and the resulting nanocomposites were extruded in a continuous process with simultaneous on-line poling to produce monofilaments. Concurrent stretching at a draw ratio of 5:1 and polarisation at applied electric fields of 15 kV of PP/CNT filaments was observed to enhance the piezoelectric properties. The microstructure and crystallinity of the filaments was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Voltage generation by the CNT-modified PP filaments was determined by the application of predetermined load impact. The results show that the incorporation of CNTs in the PP fibre structure has a considerable impact on the enhancement of piezoelectric properties of the PP filament obtained that the peak voltage generation was almost four fold (from 0.76 V to 2.92 V) when 0.1 wt% of CNTs added into the polymer. This is owing to the fact that carbon nanotubes act as nucleating agent for enhancing the crystallisation during the melt extrusion process
Grape extract assisted green synthesis of reduced graphene oxide for water treatment application
No full textGrapes (Vitis vinifera) extract was explored as a “green reducing agent” for the preparation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) from graphene oxide (GO). The effect of reduction time on physical, chemical and optical properties of the RGO was also investigated. Synthesized RGO samples exhibited excellent activity as an adsorbent for the removal of organic dye. Proposed synthesis is environmental friendly, cost effective and promising for the large scale production of RGO
Development of vinyl ester resins with improved flame retardant properties for structural marine applications
No full textThis work builds on our previous experience of blending and co-curing an unsaturated polyester resin with other relatively inexpensive, but more flame retardant resins such as chemically modified phenolic resins, and extends this technology to the almost equally flammable vinyl ester resins, commonly used in marine composites. It has been demonstrated that two commercial vinyl ester resins (Scott-Bader, UK), one epoxy based (Crystic VE 676) and the other novolac based (Crystic VE 673), may be blended with two different commercial low molecular weight phenolic resoles (Sumitomo Bakelite Europe NV), one unmodified (Durez 33156) and the other containing allyl groups (Methylon 75108) and the blends cured (crosslinked) to give blended resins with good flame retardance, in several respects better than that of the unblended vinyl ester resins. Compatibility of the vinyl esters with the Methylon resole is however better than with the Durez, which tends to give phase-separated blends, and thus blends having poor physical and mechanical properties. Moreover, the compatibility of the novolac-based VE with both Durez and Methylon is worse than blends of the unsaturated polyester with Methylon and Durez. This compatibility issue and derived flammability properties of different blends are discussed in terms of their chemical structures
The unheard victims
No full textThe underreporting of the sexual abuse of males, and the societal disbelief that still presides over men’s experience of sexual violation, means that many males live in fear of reporting their abuse, or do not receive adequate support when they do. We consider how complex trauma, such that is created by sexual abuse and its aftermath, needs increased specialist services for male survivors. We argue that although sexual abuse is horrific for every survivor, regardless of who they are, male survivors have a particular set of problems that continue to need to be addressed by service providers and society as a whole
An internet hotel accomodation business strategy based on online consumers' behaviour, thoughts and emotions.
No full textThe purpose of this research was to present a straightforward and achievable online strategy in the form of a structured conceptual framework for hotel accommodation providers and practitioners that was extensive and holistic yet easy to understand and achievable. The basis of this framework was achieved through critical analysis of the literature around the online hotel accommodation process under two main headings (1) online hotel accommodation behaviour and (2) online hotel accommodation thoughts and emotions. Each of these main headings were examined under the influencing factors which were internal to the online process (the individual, search engines, third parties / social media and hotel accommodation websites) and external to the process (online access devices and device visual interaction).The data collected was extracted from the 100 individual in-depth observational interviews, the 3,107,281 individual online searches extracted from the online analytics of 18 different hotels over an 18 month period and the interviews of the managers of these 18 hotels.Analysis of the data reinforced the conceptual framework structure providing a standardised map of online hotel accommodation behavioural, thoughts and emotional process patterns. The analysis also revealed mismatches with current perceived norms. Mismatches noted between the requirements of online consumers and the online experience being presented prevent targeted personalisation and individualisation difficulties such as single individuals using multiple devices, multiple individual using single devices, complex multiple segments within single individuals and individual behavioural differences within a single travelling group. Other areas analysed with complex behavioural mismatches included travel stage behavioural differences and psychological advertisement blindness.The thesis culminates in the presentation of the conceptual framework structured on the internal and external factors, the process factors and the sub factors. All these factors and sub factors are correlated through the structure of the thesis, starting from the literature review going through to the research methodology, the data collection and analysis and ending with the recommendations and conclusions
Computational identification of cis-elements in 50 regulatory regions of genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism-related events
No full textCis-acting regulatory elements are important molecular switches involved in the temporal and spatial expression of a dynamic network of gene activities. This network controls hormone responses, abiotic stress responses and multiple developmental events. In this analysis, a particular emphasis was placed on cis-acting regulatory elements present within the 50 regulatory region of sucrose synthase (SuSy), cell wall invertase (CWI) and sucrose transporter (SUT) gene families in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa. The potential cis-acting regulatory elements were predicted by scanning 1.5 kbp of 50 regulatory regions of the SUT, CWI and SuSy genes translational start sites, using various resources for cis-element bioinformatics. Cis-elements associated with phytohormone responsiveness, light responsiveness, elicitor responsiveness and abiotic stress were predicted in varying frequencies within the 1.5 kbp of 50 regulatory region. In addition, cis-elements involved in sugar repression, mineral responses, and cold- and light-inducible gene expression were also identified. Some of the predicted cis-elements have experimental precedent, but many are novel and encourage further exploration.This analysis provides a basis for elucidating transcription regulatory interactions of SUT, CWI and SuSy gene families in regulation of developmental phase transitions under abiotic stress conditions