4101 research outputs found
Sort by
Developing a performance appraisal framework for Students' Union Sabbatical Officers
No full textThe aim of the project was to conduct research into performance appraisal processes for Sabbatical Officers in Students' Unions. Sabbatical Officers are students elected to serve as the political leaders of the Students' Union, and who take a year out of their studies or post-graduation to do so. Since the passing of the Charity Act 2006, Students? Unions have had to register as charities, so Sabbatical Officers have also had to undertake the role of a charity trustee, accepting the accompanying legal and regulatory responsibilities
Nanocrystalline ruthenium oxide dispersed Few Layered Graphene (FLG) nanoflakes as supercapacitor electrodes
No full textSignificant enhancement in supercapacitor performance was achieved via the synthesis of nanocrystalline RuO2 on vertically aligned Few Layered Graphene (FLG) nanoflakes, synthesized on bare n-type heavily doped silicon substrates by microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition. The RuO2 nanoparticles (diameter <2 nm) were deposited using a combination of low base pressure radio frequency magnetron sputtering and subsequent electrochemical cycling in acidic media. The well-dispersed RuO2 nanoparticles on FLGs achieve a specific capacitance of the order of 650 F g−1. The specific capacitance of RuO2–FLGs is significantly higher than pristine sputtered RuO2 (∼320 F g−1) and FLGs (∼6 F g−1) indicative of the synergistic effect between the FLGs and RuO2. In addition, the fabricated RuO2–FLG supercapacitors show excellent cycling capability with approximately 70% retention of initial specific capacitance over 4000 cycles at high charging–discharging rates of 500 mV s−1. The superior electrochemical performance is attributed to the good electronic conductivity of the FLGs as well as high utilization of well-dispersed RuO2 nanoparticles on FLGs
The central executive of working memory and its inhibitory rôle in mental arithmetic division
No full textA four experiment investigation was carried out into two types of inhibitory control and whether or not they were involved in mental arithmetic division. Previous research had either focussed on the central executive component of working memory as a single entity or split this component into response selection, memory updating, input monitoring and inhibition and has examined how these components relate to addition, subtraction and multiplication. The first two experiments reported here represent an attempt to split inhibition into two separate abilities, namely prepotent response inhibition and resistance to distracter interference and investigate how they might relate to complex division. The Two experiments were loosely based on the Stop-Signal Task and the Eriksen Flanker Task, respectively. Experiment One followed a 3x3x3 factorial design whereas Experiment Two was a 3x2 design. All factors were varied entirely within-subjects. The results suggested a major rôle in mental division for both types of inhibition and some results were unexpected. The results of Experiment Two suggested a speed-accuracy trade-off as an effect of the flanker digits.Experiment Three was designed to extract the short division procedure from the division process. Experiment Four was created to extract the carrying procedure. The results suggested a rôle for both prepotent response inhibition and resistance to distracter interference in monitoring the procedural aspects of complex division. Only resistance to distracter interference had a rôle in monitoring magnitudes of short-division and carry-values. The speed-accuracy trade-off apparent in Experiment Two may, at least in part, be as a result of the involvement of resistance to distracter interference in preventing interference with regard to carry procedures and the value of the carry. The results were discussed, amongst other aspects, in terms of their relationship to conflict monitoring theory and dual mechanism of control theory (Braver et al, 2007, 2009; Botvinick et al, 2001) and a two-channel system of inhibition was proposed, resistance to distracter interference being a proactive subcomponent and prepotent response inhibition being reactive
Auxetic warp knit textile structures
No full textThe design, manufacturing and characterization of warp knit textile structures with enhanced drapeability and energy absorption is reported in this paper. Four textile structures were produced, all based on a triangular or double arrowhead structure, which is known to lead to a negative Poisson's ratio ?. Mechanical testing has confirmed that textile structures can be produced which are auxetic at +/- 45 degrees to the warp direction, with ? of up to -0.22?+/-?0.03
An integrated model of the factors influencing the purchasing decision of UK online consumers
No full textIn recent years, online shopping has become a popular choice for purchasing goods and services. The Office for National Statistics (2012) reported that 83.5% of the UK population now have access to Internet. Furthermore, adults who indicated that they had purchased or ordered goods or services online within the past twelve months has reached 32 million which represents 66% of the UK adult population (Office of National Statistics 2011). With the growth of Internet purchasing, recent studies have found various influences that can affect th online purchasing behaviour of consumers. Consequently, this represents a desirable marketing opportunity for businesses.Past research in online shopping is quickly becoming outdated and hence there is a need to update and extend these studies (Delafrooz, Piam and Khatibi 2010; Doolin et al., 2005; Haque, Sadeghzadeh and Khaibi, 2006). As technology continues to improve and new trends start to form, it is important to develop a better understanding of the current online shopping population. Some past studies focused on a specific issue of online consumer behaviour but they differ in emphasis, hence there is a necessity for an integrated model of consumer behaviour with supporting empirical evidence.The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the various influences that affect the decision of online shoppers to purchase in the United Kingdom. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data in order to gain a detailed understanding of the various factors. Following the exploratory study (semi-structured interview), an online survey consisting of 983 respondents was conducted as the other data collection method for this study.The findings from literature review (secondary data), semi-structure interviews (qualitative data) and questionaire (quantitative data ) reveal main influencing factors that affect a consumer's decision to purchase online. The factors were identified as convenience, social, risk, product and merchant factors. Through the analysis of the data, evidence was found to support the presence of relationships between factors and online shopping, and the significant differences between the consumer's demographics and the vaious factors. Furthermore, the results suggest that different types of online consumers (casual,regular,and frequent) perceive the importance of each factors in a different manner. The findings in the study help facilitate in the development of the Integrated Model of Factors Influencing the Online Consumers. This model integrates the findings from the literature, semi-structured interviews, and the online survey to capture the factors that influence the online shoppers, this model can help online retailers and marketers to target their marketing activities and to develop appropriate strategies to convert potential consumers into actual buyers
E-PDP in Bolton: Dr. Maria A. Rodriguez-Yborra and Mike Lawrence examine the nature of a trans-disciplinary approach to PDP, highlighting the benefits of collaboration in action
No full textSalford Communication and Language Assessment Resource (SCoLAR):Safe communication skills for international doctors
No full textProblems with international clinicians’ language and communication skills have been highlighted in the media recently. More attention is now given to preventing errors by staff new to NHS practice.Salford Communication and Language Assessment Resource (SCoLAR) supports clinical staff and helps them improve their communication skills.Assessments are performed in full OSCE settings. These are observed by both linguists and clinicians to identify specific needs. This is supplemented with further training. This resource has been used for the assessment and training of clinicians in speciality training in the Midlands and North West
Numerical study of metal oxide Schottky type solar cells
No full textMetal oxide (MO) semiconductors hold the promise for the development of high efficiency solar cells with low cost. Currently heterostructure type MO solar cells have been theoretically and experimentally studied, demonstrated their potential for applications. This paper highlights a numerical investigation on Schottky type MO solar cells using CuO as the absorption layer. It is shown that the doping concentration, absorption layer thickness, barrier height and back surface field have significant effects on the performance of the devices. Under the optimal structure and doping, the Schottky barrier solar cells, if can be fabricated with suitable techniques, can have a conversion efficiency up to 18.5%, comparable to MO heterojunction solar cells, but at a much simpler structure and lower cost. Some guidelines about the materials selection and structure design for MO Schottky barrier solar cells are summarized
Examining the sexual preference effect in depicted male sexual assault
No full textPurpose – This study aims to investigate the sexual preference effect in depicted male sexual assault.Consistent with Davies et al., the study seeks to predict that males are more blaming toward gay victims of male perpetrators and heterosexual victims of female perpetrators, while females would not blame the victim.Design/methodology/approach – In total, 200 participants read a hypothetical scenario depicting a case of the non-consensual touching of an adult male, and then completed a victim blame scale.Findings – Analysis of variance confirmed predictions. Results are discussed in relation to gender beliefs and homophobia. Suggestions for future work are proposed.Originality/value – This study confirms the existence of the sexual preference effect in attributions toward male victims of sexual assault utilising a scenario depicting non-consensual touching. These findings extend current knowledge in this growing area