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Are we abandoning the terrain of hope to the enemy?:Rethinking critical theory today
Get PDFProfessorial Inaugural Lecture given by Professor Ana C Dinerstein on 13 March 2025Abstract: In this lecture, I contest the idea that social scientists are sad because we are too critical of the world; I suggest instead that we are sorry because we are not critical enough. I propose to learn from Ernst Bloch’s philosophy of hope, which is aligned with all kinds of movements for change, to find clues to understand the meaning of critique today. The realisation of collective dreams is already unfolding in the shadows of the present crises. With Bloch, I suggest that to be critical is to recognise that the world is open and unfinished, and a not-yet reality lurks in the present to be realised. Today, the far right is mobilising hope as myth, intoxicating millions of people. We should learn hope and articulate a critical theory of hope which unlike Frankfurt School of Critical Theory, enables us to engage with those who do not doubt that another world is possible, like many social, indigenous labour, women, LGTB+ movements and the Global Tapestry of Alternatives. They are not abandoning the terrain of hope to the enemy. But are we
Research Portfolio Submitted in Part Fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
No full textA Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures
Get PDFHydraulic systems play a crucial role in contemporary industrial applications. Conventional hydraulic valves often encounter challenges regarding their size, energy efficiency, and response speed, which can affect the overall performance and effectiveness of hydraulic systems. Inspired by the efficiency, adaptability, and compactness of human vascular structures and geometries, we designed a novel bio-inspired digital hydraulic valve and examined its performance through simulation. The flow paths and galleries of the valve were optimised according to vascular principles to minimise energy losses and enhance valve operating speeds. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed to analyse the pressure distribution and flow characteristics of the valve. The steady-state simulated results show that the new valve can deliver a flow rate of 90 L/min at a pressure drop of 4.2 bar. The valve demonstrates significant potential in digital hydraulics and could profoundly impact system efficiency and performance. This innovative design could lead to advancements in the operation of hydraulic systems, providing enhanced control and improved overall performance
A simple clinical grading of complexity based on local and systemic factors demonstrates pre-operative differences, longer operative times, and length of stay in a total knee replacement patient cohort.
Get PDFBackground: A 4-part grading system was developed and used to better stratify knee arthroplasty patients, based on presence or absence of systemic and local (site of surgery) factors with defined parameters. The 4 groups are:1.C0 (Complexity Nil) patients having no local or systemic complexity. 2.C1 (Complex Local) patients having local site of surgery complexity but no systemic complexity.3.C2 (Complex Systemic) patients having systemic complexity but no local complexity.4.C3 (Complex Local & Systemic) patients having both local and systemic complexity.Methods: A cohort of consecutive primary knee arthroplasty patients were graded pre-operatively. Operative time, length of stay in hospital, 42-day readmission and 90 day mortality were key measured outcomes. Results: Of 1,943 patients, group proportions were: C0 44%, C1 25%, C2 20%, C3 11%. There were statistically significant differences in demographics, operative times, length of hospital stays and 90-day mortality between groups. Combined local and systemic complexity (C3) patients demonstrated poorest outcomes of all groups with statistical significance.Conclusions: This grading methodology shows differences in demography, total operating time and lengths of stay between groups. It shows summative interaction between local and systemic factors impacting operative performance, currently overlooked by many health systems and registries. The results have implications for patient information, resource allocation, case-mix assessment and economics. It establishes the case for further investigation of patient outcomes and application to other procedures and formal validation.<br/
Dataset for "Analysing longitudinal wearable physical activity data using Non-stationary Time Series models"
No full textThis dataset contains secondary data from the Multidimensional Individualised Physical Activity (MIPACT) randomized controlled trial used for analysis in “Analysing longitudinal wearable physical activity data using Non-stationary Time Series models”. Physical activity data over the 12-week intervention for 80 participants (28 women) aged between 43 and 70 years old is presented in this dataset at hourly resolution
Topological gap solitons in equidistant lithium niobate waveguide arrays
Get PDFEquidistant 1D arrays of thin film lithium niobate waveguides can exhibit non-trivial topology due to a specific interplay between inter- and intra-modal couplings of two families of guided modes [A. V. Gorbach etal., Opt. Lett. 48, 1982 (2023)]. In this work, we analyze two-color spatial solitons, emerging due to χ2 nonlinear interactions between the modes of non-trivial topology in the fundamental harmonic field, and modes of trivial topology in the second harmonic field. We discuss solitons localized in the bulk of the array (bulk solitons), and at an edge of a finite-size array (edge solitons). The latter emerge due to the nonlinear interactions between a topological edge mode in the fundamental harmonic and bulk modes in the second harmonic. We reveal that for each type of soliton, bulk or edge, there generally exist two families of solutions with different internal structures and ranges of propagation constants. All bulk solitons can only be excited above a certain power threshold dictated by the coupling strength in the second harmonic field and the phase matching between the fundamental and second harmonics. The power threshold for edge solitons generally appears to be much lower, and, by tuning the phase matching, it can be reduced to zero.</p
Topological gap solitons in equidistant lithium niobate waveguide arrays
Get PDFEquidistant 1D arrays of thin film lithium niobate waveguides can exhibit non-trivial topology due to a specific interplay between inter- and intra-modal couplings of two families of guided modes [A. V. Gorbach etal., Opt. Lett. 48, 1982 (2023)]. In this work, we analyze two-color spatial solitons, emerging due to χ2 nonlinear interactions between the modes of non-trivial topology in the fundamental harmonic field, and modes of trivial topology in the second harmonic field. We discuss solitons localized in the bulk of the array (bulk solitons), and at an edge of a finite-size array (edge solitons). The latter emerge due to the nonlinear interactions between a topological edge mode in the fundamental harmonic and bulk modes in the second harmonic. We reveal that for each type of soliton, bulk or edge, there generally exist two families of solutions with different internal structures and ranges of propagation constants. All bulk solitons can only be excited above a certain power threshold dictated by the coupling strength in the second harmonic field and the phase matching between the fundamental and second harmonics. The power threshold for edge solitons generally appears to be much lower, and, by tuning the phase matching, it can be reduced to zero.</p
The consequences of audit partner narcissism:Evidence from the UK market
Get PDFThis paper investigates the consequences of audit partner narcissism for a large sample of UK listed firms. In contrast to prior research, which focuses on Chinese and Taiwanese settings, we do not find that more narcissistic auditors are associated with higher audit quality. Instead, we find weak evidence of poorer audit quality associated with narcissism. Specifically, although audit partner narcissism is not significantly associated with modified audit opinions and financial statement misstatements, as narcissism increases, the propensity of auditors to tolerate clients’ earnings management increases. Notably, these results are similar to those from studies documenting that personality traits and, in particular, narcissism, is nuanced and has different effects across cultures. In addition, we find that audit fees decrease with audit partner narcissism but narcissistic audit partners attract a greater number of listed clients such that highly narcissistic partners earn higher revenues at the portfolio level. Overall, these results provide some evidence that narcissistic audit partners in the UK tolerate more earnings management and charge lower fees in order to expand the size of their client portfolios; however, they are able to do so while avoiding audit failures
Lifetime stressor exposure, health, and well-being in sport performers:Exploring the underlying properties of stressors
Get PDFLifetime stressor exposure can influence health and well-being through various pathways, including stress appraisal processes and sympathetic nervous system activation. Although important, research provides information relating to how lifetime stressor exposure influences health and well-being. One unanswered question relates to why lifetime stressor exposure may be harmful, particularly for sport performers. According to theory, it is proposed that this could be due to underlying properties of stressors (e.g., novelty). While researchers have started to examine such properties, the majority of research has focused on their influence on appraising rather than their implications for outcomes and has been limited to acutely stressful situations. The aim of this study was to explore the situational properties of lifetime stressors that are influential for sport performers’ health and well-being. Nine sport performers (seven female, two male; M age = 23.7 years, SD = 4.4) completed a timeline of their life story, followed by a semistructured interview (M duration = 92.44 min; SD = 26.52).We analyzed data using reflexive thematic analysis and developed four themes: (a) the timing of stressors in quick succession creates a domino effect, (b) limited past experience enhances vulnerability to novel situations, (c) lack of clarity surrounding stressful events impacted health and well-being, and (d) prolonged and long-lasting stressors drain the tank until there is nothing left. This study shows that lifetime stressor exposuremay lead to detriments in health and well-being when the stressors experienced by sport performers coincide with other life events, are novel and/or ambiguous in nature, and long-lasting.</p
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