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Integrating immersive technologies to architectural design studios
Get PDFThis research investigates the transformative potential of immersive technologies—Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR)—in architectural education, with a particular focus on their application within design studios. It addresses the evolution of architectural pedagogy from its classical origins, characterized by the master-apprentice model, through the formalized education systems of the traditional period, to the contemporary era where digital and immersive technologies play a pivotal role.
The study is anchored in a mixed-method research design, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of VR, AR, and MR on architectural education. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-experiment questionnaires administered to a diverse cohort of students and educators. Qualitative insights were garnered from in-depth interviews and case studies conducted across multiple educational institutions. These methods collectively facilitated a robust analysis of how immersive technologies influence teaching methodologies, student engagement, and educational outcomes.
The thesis begins with a literature review that traces the historical context of architectural pedagogy, highlighting key developments and shifts that have shaped the design studio as the core of architectural education. The classical period, marked by the apprenticeship system and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts model, laid the groundwork for the studio-based learning approach. The traditional period saw the formalization of architectural education within academic institutions, influenced significantly by Donald Schon's theories on reflective practice and experiential learning.
The core of the research focuses on contemporary architectural education and the integration of immersive technologies. The study identifies several key benefits of VR, AR, and MR in design studios, including enhanced spatial understanding, improved creativity, and more effective communication between students and educators. Immersive environments allow students to visualize and interact with architectural designs in a more tangible and realistic manner, fostering innovative problem-solving and design thinking. The research also explores the pedagogical implications of these technologies, demonstrating how they can support a more interactive and student-centered learning experience.
However, the adoption of immersive technologies in architectural education is not without challenges. The thesis addresses critical issues such as the high cost of equipment, the need for specialized training for both students and educators, and the complexities of integrating these technologies into existing curricula. Despite these challenges, the findings indicate that the benefits of VR, AR, and MR far outweigh the drawbacks, providing a compelling case for their inclusion in architectural education.
The research is guided by Bloom's Taxonomy, ensuring that the educational objectives align with higher-order thinking and deeper cognitive engagement. By employing Bloom's framework, the study emphasizes the importance of fostering creativity, communication, and confidence in students through the use of immersive technologies. The findings suggest that VR, AR, and MR can significantly enhance the quality of architectural education, preparing students for the demands of the modern architectural profession.
The thesis concludes with practical recommendations for educators and institutions aiming to integrate immersive technologies into their curricula. These recommendations are based on the research findings and best practices identified through the case studies and interviews. The study advocates for a strategic approach to technology integration, emphasizing the need for adequate resources, training, and support to maximize the educational benefits of VR, AR, and MR.
Overall, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the use of immersive technologies in education. It provides valuable insights into the potential of these tools to revolutionize architectural pedagogy, offering a roadmap for educators and institutions seeking to enhance their teaching practices and improve student learning outcomes. The research underscores the transformative potential of VR, AR, and MR, positioning them as critical components of the future of architectural education
Shifting identities: Kashmiri youth and the drivers of conflict
No full textThe thesis explores the shifting identity of Kashmiri youth in the context of the ongoing conflict. These identities are impacted as a result of various drivers of the conflict, particularly the coercive nature of governance of the Indian state, lack of democratic processes, constitutional changes and technology-led processes like censorship and surveillance. The findings are based on a subjective evaluation of firsthand accounts from 35 Kashmiri youth, collected through semi structured digital interviews using a constructivist interpretive framework. The interviews highlight their experiences living through a conflict in general and particularly after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. A recurring theme that emerged from the responses is the overwhelming sense of humiliation felt by the youth due to the extensive coercion, constitutional changes and severe state surveillance and monitoring through technological means like CCTV, and social media and censorship of their voices. This sense of humiliation is not merely a reaction to isolated incidents but is closely tied to a collective experience of marginalisation and disempowerment over the years, which has been significantly reinforced after the 2019 abrogation. As a result, Kashmiri youth are leaning towards a more self-enclosed and inward-looking identity
Caregiver involvement on developmental changes in visual cognition: insights from behaviour and brain
Get PDFEarly in development, infants begin to share attention with mature caregivers, learning about objects and their environments. During this period, there are also considerable increases in visual cognition. Given that this system has far-reaching outcomes impacting the quality of life, it is important to study how this emerges and develops early in the lifespan, as well as what factors might influence its developmental trajectory. This thesis aimed to address these gaps, investigating associations between caregiver and infant visual neurocognition, with insights from dyadic play interactions. To do this, the preferential looking task was used to assess visual cognition at multiple timepoints. Caregiver-infant dyads also completed play interactions with objects. To gain a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms that underly behaviours during the preferential looking task and dyadic interactions, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was also used to examine brain function.
Previous research has suggested that infants’ ability to sustain attention may be influenced by their caregivers’ own attentional behaviours. Chapter 3 therefore examined if this association was measurable when visual cognition is objectively measured in caregivers and infants using comparable experimental paradigms. Importantly, findings in this chapter reported associations between caregivers’ and infants’ abilities to detect change. Further, infants with caregivers who were better able to detect change showed greater left parietal cortex activation. These findings provide first evidence of a visual neurocognitive association between caregivers and their children in the first year of life. To better understand these associations, Chapter 4 investigated how caregiver and infant behaviours and brain function during dyadic play interactions influence infant visual cognition. This chapter focused on unimodal (look only), bimodal (look and touch) and multimodal (look, touch, and verbalisations/vocalisations) object engagement behaviours. While this chapter reported caregiver-infant brain associations during play, there were no associations with infant visual cognition. To analyse the play interaction data in greater depth, Chapter 5 examined periods in which caregivers were showing multimodal engagement whilst interacting with the same object as their infant (joint attention), and periods in which the infant continued to interact with that same object after caregiver multimodal engagement ended (continued attention). Findings in this chapter reported that greater joint attention between caregivers and infants was associated with greater continued attention in infants. Importantly, this chapter found that reduced activation in the left temporal cortex in caregivers during joint attention was associated with reduced activation in the left temporal cortex in infants during joint activation, longer duration of joint and continued attention, and better visual cognition in infants. These findings contribute to understanding of cortical mechanisms engaged during attention periods in caregiver-infant interactions and how these mechanisms might be linked to visual cognition in infants. However, further investigation is required to better understand longitudinal effects. Therefore, Chapter 6 investigated the impact of caregiver-infant dyadic behaviours on longitudinal changes in visual neurocognition from infancy to toddlerhood. Findings reported developmental changes in behaviour and brain function from infancy to toddlerhood. Furthermore, findings suggested that infants who experienced a shorter duration of joint attention do not show consistency in left temporal engagement from infancy to toddlerhood. In line with findings in Chapter 5, it was suggested that children who demonstrate inconsistency in temporal cortex activation are less able to suppress this region and efficiently recruit neural resources for visual cognition.
Collectively, this thesis highlights the potential mechanisms by which caregiver-infant joint engagement shapes visual cognition and underlying brain function in early life. Ultimately, by shedding light on the role of caregiver behaviours in shaping infant attention and cognitive development, these novel findings have potential implications for informing caregiving practices, early intervention methods, and future visual cognition research
Revisiting the late-twentieth-century histories of an English country house estate: Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire.
No full textThis thesis examines the production of histories of individual English country house estates during the second half of the twentieth century through a case study. During this period, there was a foundational growth in new knowledge, both academic and non-academic, about various aspects of English country house estates and their owners and residents. The thesis study seeks to link the ‘possible wider influences of the time’ that acted on the practices of various types of historical researchers, to ‘history losses’ that occurred. This is done by ‘revisiting’ and close examination of the historic content of the main chronological histories of the ‘created place’ of the Wollaton Hall country house estate. New replacement and additional narratives are developed from various sources in addition to the estate archive, to enable comparison with the histories, and to illustrate the new history that it is currently possible to construct, 25 years after the last history publication. Different analytical themes and practice approaches are applied, which enables expansion of the connections between the owner-family (the Willoughbys) and the physical elements of the place of Wollaton, which increases the knowledge of both. The thesis concludes with acceptance that the study’s findings do support an argument that this genre of history, constructed at this time, could be affected by the ‘wider influences’ of the time, and this could lead to various types of ‘history loss’. Further, that different practice approaches can enable the generation of new and revised knowledge about historic places. This includes stronger interrogation of the histories developed in this time and, if possible, the archival sources that were used. This thesis can contribute to conversations by various historical researchers, including practitioners, about historical knowledge production, particularly for ‘created places’ and the landowning elite, English country house studies, and the research use of estate archives
Ukraine’s national identity and foreign policy, 2004-2014
Get PDFSince Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, and its full-scale assault in 2022, researchers have found that Ukraine’s national identity has become increasingly united and civic, with a growing number of Ukrainians switching to the Ukrainian language and supporting the country’s European integration. Most of the research marked the Euromaidan Revolution of 2014 as a starting line for Ukraine’s national identity consolidation and foreign policy changing to a clear pro-Western vector. Most of the research on pre-2014 Ukraine’s national identity and foreign policy found that i) Ukraine was divided between a pro- European Ukrainian-speaking West and a pro-Russian Russophone Southeast; ii) the Ukrainian elite conducted either “multi-vector” or balanced foreign policy without committing to a pro-European vector and were driven mainly by short-term material gains or reactive towards external pressures from either the European Union or Russia.
In this thesis, I challenge all these assumptions. I argue that i) Ukraine’s national identity consolidation and dedication to pro-Western foreign policy preference of both the general public and elites can be traced to early years since regaining independence; ii) pre- 2014 Ukraine’s domestic binary divide into a pro-European Ukrainian-speaking West and a pro-Russian Russophone Southeast was overemphasized as it was not meaningful enough to affect foreign policy; iii) Ukraine’s elites conducted pro-Western foreign policy albeit hesitantly and gradually while their wayfinding toward the EU; iv) pre-2014 Ukraine’s foreign policy was predominantly identity-driven rather than by mere material considerations.
Focusing on the period between 2004 and 2014, and contextualizing developments since 1994, I investigate how domestic meta-narratives of identity shaped Ukraine’s foreign policy. Drawing on Societal Constructivism and post-colonial literary analysis, I analyze a range of primary sources, including novels, screen media, newspapers, and elite memoirs. I argue that popular narratives of identity in Ukraine were characterized by tension in different dimensions. I identify key narrative tensions—between people and elites, svidomi and non- svidomi, reality and imposition, and Ukraine and its Others—that structured popular identity discourses. Elite narratives focused on national unity in diversity, overcoming the colonial past, and gradual wayfinding toward European integration. The interplay of these narratives, in turn, shaped Ukraine’s foreign policy in ways still felt today.
This thesis moves beyond conventional East/West and pro-EU/pro-Russia binaries in foreign policy analysis. It offers a more nuanced, narrative-driven account of Ukraine’s foreign policy development, demonstrating the importance of identity construction and internal dynamics over reactive or materially driven explanations. In doing so, it contributes to rethinking the role of smaller states in international relations and highlights the significance of narrative and identity in shaping foreign policy
Bioinformatic investigation of downstream open reading frames and their role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression
Get PDFDownstream open reading frames (dORFs) are short open reading frames in 3' untranslated regions (3’ UTRs) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that are proposed to regulate translation. dORF translation has been suggested to increase the translation of a transcript. Ribosomes are present in 3’ UTRs, and this can be influenced by local cellular conditions. The importance of dORFs is highlighted by many diseases, including cancer, which are linked to dysfunction of translational regulation or post-transcriptional regulators.
This project used a bioinformatic approach and publicly available datasets to investigate translational regulation, focussing on dORFs and their role in translational regulation in cancers. Paired RNA sequence (RNAseq) and ribosome profiling (RP) datasets were used to investigate translational regulation of transcripts with and without dORFs and ribosome association with 3’ UTRs and dORFs. Paired healthy and cancer datasets were compared. The abundance of potential dORFs in 3’ UTRs was investigated and comparison of dORF nucleotide, dinucleotide, and trinucleotide composition with 3’ UTRs and coding sequences (CDSs) was determined. The conservation of dORFs was explored, including comparison with flanking sequences and 3’ UTRs more generally. Further RP datasets were analysed to determine whether different cell types, cellular conditions, and disease states influenced ribosomal association with dORFs and dORF-containing 3’ UTRs.
Generally, in healthy tissue, transcripts containing dORFs reported in Wu et al. (2020b) were translationally upregulated compared to transcripts without. The activity of these dORFs reduced in tumour tissue, which is unlikely to be explained by transcript alterations, such as 3’ UTR truncation, in the tumour datasets. dORFs were found to share more similar nucleotide, dinucleotide and trinucleotide composition with the noncoding 3’ UTRs than CDSs. dORFs with ribosome association are widespread, however most dORFs had low ribosomal association and little evidence of translational regulation, in contrast to the dORFs reported in Wu et al. (2020b). dORF ribosomal association was varied and likely influenced by different cell types, disease states and local conditions. The biological importance of dORFs is emphasised by their conservation across species. dORFs are more conserved than flanking sequences and 3’ UTRs generally. Some dORFs may be translational regulators, whereas others may have activity through an encoded peptide. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanism of action and function of dORFs, which are a novel, interesting, and important feature of mRNAs
Elucidation of Potential NRP1 Interactors using BioID Technology
Get PDFBackground:
Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in diverse physiological processes, including angiogenesis, axonal guidance, immune regulation, cell adhesion, and recently, facilitation of SARS-CoV-2 entry and infectivity. Despite its functional importance, comprehensive analyses of the NRP1 interactome have been limited. Previous studies focused primarily on the N-terminal region, while the intracellular C-terminal portion, containing a PDZ domain, remains largely unexplored. Identifying NRP1 binding partners, particularly those interacting with its C-terminal region, is critical to fully understand its cellular roles.
Aims:
This study aimed to define the NRP1 interactome using BioID proximity labeling technology, both under basal conditions and following stimulation with its cognate ligand VEGF165a. A particular focus was placed on characterizing interactions mediated by the intracellular C-terminal region. Selected candidate interactors were further validated using NanoLuciferase Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (NanoBRET) assays.
Results:
In HEK293T cells, BioID analysis identified 177 proteins enriched under basal conditions and 42 potential interactors upon VEGF165a stimulation. Among a subset of proteins selected for further validation—Vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein A (VAPA), Occludin (OCLN), Zona occludens 1 (ZO1), Septin 9 (SEPT9), Hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (HRS), and Integrin β1 (ITGB1)—positive interactions were particularly observed for OCLN and VAPA, associated with cell adhesion and vesicular trafficking, respectively. Further experiments using hTERT2-HUVEC cells, a more physiologically relevant endothelial model, revealed additional potential interactors, suggesting that NRP1 may exhibit context-dependent, cell-specific interactions.
Conclusions:
This study presents the most detailed analysis to date of the NRP1 interactome, highlighting the role of its C-terminal region in recruiting PDZ domain-containing proteins. BioID combined with NanoBRET validation demonstrates that NRP1 interactions are both ligand-dependent and cell-type-specific, particularly involving proteins implicated in adhesion and trafficking. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying NRP1 function in diverse physiological and pathological contexts
Habitus transformation of medical students from low socioeconomic backgrounds: A collective case study of two medical schools
No full textFor over two decades, the UK higher education sector has continued to strive toward equal opportunities for all young people through Widening Participation (WP) policy. Medicine in particular has drawn attention for its lack of representation of particular demographics, being known as one of the most socially exclusive professions. WP in medicine is not only important for social justice and mobility, but benefits patient care by having a workforce which is representative of the population it serves.
Whilst WP initiatives have traditionally focused on helping applicants gain entry to university, in recent years attention has been drawn to the unequal experiences and attainment of under-represented groups during their degree study, indicating that disadvantage continues to follow young people through their higher education journeys. The first part of this thesis is a systematic review of the qualitative literature outlining the experiences of WP students on medical courses in the UK. The review uncovers several themes related to unfamiliarity with higher education and the medicine profession, lack of sense of belonging, and difficulty in establishing social networks with peers.
Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds were a relatively understudied group within the existing literature. The second part of this thesis therefore expands upon the evidence base exploring the experiences of students from working-class backgrounds in depth at two medical schools following the same curriculum, learning outcomes, and assessments, by using Bourdieu’s theory of habitus. One medical school is part of a traditional, Russell Group university in a large city and with a large cohort size, and the other is a new medical school in a small city accepting relatively few students in its first year of operation. This collective case study triangulates data from narrative analysis of students and includes a unique approach of also including family member interviews, as well as thematic analysis of faculty interviews and critical discourse analysis of key university documents.
Students from working-class backgrounds have varied and diverging journeys through medical school, represented through a novel conceptual framework - a typology of habitus change across contexts. Comparison of these two case study medical schools illuminate differences induced by the historic background and environment of the respective institutions, drawing parallels between the pre- and post-1992 institution divide in higher education more widely, and provoking social stratification of medical education. Despite delivering the same medicine course, institutional policies manifest through the applicants they aim to attract, the cultures they foster, and the ways in which faculty interact with their students, which in turn influence the degree to which working-class students are able (or choose to) retain their existing identities. This may have a secondary consequence of influencing their tendency toward working with underserved populations.
In the concluding chapters, this thesis reflects on the philosophies of Widening Participation driving these norms and values at each medical school and explores mechanisms through which educators and policymakers can translate these findings into actionable recommendations at each stage of the student journey. First, breaking down the deficit model of Widening Participation currently enacted through discourse, beginning at the point of application. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds must also be supported to transition into higher education successfully and build social capital through mentorship and role modelling. Finally, course structures which highlight and perpetuate inequalities in student background must be reformed, and faculty must be visible, receptive and cognisant of Widening Participation issues
Sustainability transformations in the ‘Rebel City’: emotional geographies of place, justice and action in Nottingham, UK
Get PDFUsing a lens of emotional geographies, this thesis explores urban environmental transformations in Nottingham with a focus on place and justice. In the context of the city’s ambitious target of becoming the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2028 (CN28) amidst significant challenges including a recent local authority bankruptcy, the thesis examines multifaceted environmental action from ‘above’ and ‘below’.
The interdisciplinary study reveals how emotions of love, fear, anger and hope intersect with environmental engagement and action in varied ways, with significant implications for sustainability and justice. By engaging activists, residents, local businesses, climate experts, local authorities, community groups, and third-sector organisations, it provides a holistic understanding of action occurring in the city during the fieldwork window (2022-24) and beyond, highlighting how such action is deeply tied to emotion.
Participant accounts demonstrate how love can promote solidarity, encourage action and build social capital yet also creates forms of othering and non-belonging. Fear surrounding Nottingham’s economic precarity, climate-related anxieties, and the increasing penalties associated with activism impact action and both drive and hinder engagement with climate issues. It explores how such fear can be leveraged in harmful ways, amplifying social divisions and hindering collective action. Reflections reveal how anger is directed toward local, national and global policy and practice, as well as the injustices present within much of the environmental sector. Finally, the thesis explores hope as a sustaining yet fragile force for grassroots action.
The thesis reveals how intersecting emotions produce complex outcomes for social and environmental sustainability, contributing to the ‘emotional turn’ in transformation research and challenges linear and technocratic understandings of change. While focusing on Nottingham, insights extend across several urban contexts, with many cities worldwide dealing with overlapping socio-economic and environmental challenges, while acting as key sites for transformative action. Contributing to debates within sustainability science and human geography, the thesis provides insights for grassroots action and policy, highlighting the need for emotionally attuned approaches in building just place-based environmental transformations
Part A - Formulation of Lipid Nanoparticles with RNA-based Payload – Key Considerations for Characterisation. Part B - Formulation and Biophysical Characterisation of Poly (A)-loaded Lipid Nanoparticles – Effects of Recombumin® on Physiochemical Properties.
Get PDFPart A - Lipid nanoparticles are latest lipid-based drug delivery systems that have recently drawn attention for their use in vaccine preparations by moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech for the transport of mRNA during COVID-19 pandemic. LNPs allow for the transport of delicate drug payloads, which degrade or incite immunogenic responses during circulation at normal physiological levels. This literature review aims to identify possible techniques for preparation and characterisation of LNPs carrying RNA based payload.
The most common types of LNPs for RNA based cargo are solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Both are suitable for transport. SLNs can carry both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. NLC in comparison have greater biocompatibility due to a flexible membrane formed through structural tuning of surfactants used.
Surfactants such as ionisable lipids, PEGylated lipids, phospholipids and cholesterol have a key role in the structural characteristics and biocompatibility of the resultant LNPs. The combination of these components can be done in a variety of microfluidic mixers such as staggered Herringbone microfluidic mixer, an example of passive mixers. Chaotic flow in these passive mixers and increased surface area allows easy diffusion and mixing of aqueous and organic phase. Production of LNPs with passive mixers is preferred when handling RNA based cargo, to prevent the degradation of cargo through external interactions. Stability of LNPs can be measured by light scattering to identify PDI and zeta potential and aggregation behaviour. These parameters are important to predict the application in drug delivery.
This review focuses on the recent development in LNP based research and production. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of different LNP formulations and their characterisation methods.
Part B - Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are small (less than a micron), lipid-based entities surrounding nucleotide-based agents sauch as mRNA as seen in mRNA vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech during COVID-19. Use of ionisable lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol and PEGylated lipids forms a stable complex, capable of shielding delicate cargo (e.g a nucleotide).
During this project, we used a staggered herringbone mixing chip to create LNPs. Herringbone chip provides chaotic mixing and provides uniform diffusion which leads to uniform LNP particle synthesis. The LNPs thus produced were tested for their biophysical characteristics using dynamic light scattering (DLS) to determine their hydro dynamic radius, Zeta (ζ)-potential to measure their surface charge and Size Exclusion Chromatography coupled with Multi-Angled Light Scattering (SECMALS) to calculate the molar mass of the samples produced. Recombinant human albumin (rHA) Recombumin® Prime and Recombumin® Elite, products of Sartorius Albumedix Limited, were added to the LNP samples to test for LNP interaction and determine their effect on the suitability of the assay to detect the LNP. Increase in LNP size and reduction in surface charge, with the addition of albumin indicated the influence of albumin on the hydrodynamical properties of LNPs. SEC-MALS based investigations gave an indication of some interactions between LNP and albumin. On that account, it was inferred that DLS and SECMALs provided suitable baseline information about the biophysical properties of LNPs.
However, given the time frame of this work, it was not identified if the interaction between the two moieties were real and if they would affect overall functionality of the LNP
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