RSS 1.0Theses and Dissertations
Recent Submissions
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Subject positions of British South Asian women with inflammatory bowel disease: a Foucauldian discourse analysisThe prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among British South Asians (BSA) is increasing. Evidence suggests that people of BSA background are more likely to develop IBD than white Europeans. Research on women with IBD is primarily focused on reproduction, which limits our understanding of their IBD experience and its consequences. This study aimed to investigate how BSA women discursively construct their experience of IBD, how this links to overarching sociocultural and medical discourses, and what the disciplines of counselling psychology (CP) and health can do to improve it. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight BSA women with IBD and analysed using Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA). The analysis revealed subject positions sourced in sociocultural and medical discourses. These were the Seeker Woman, the Private Woman, the Flawed Woman, and the Empowered Woman. These subject positions illustrate how sociocultural factors and medical practices influence BSA women’s subjectivity and actions. The study indicated that BSA gender stereotypes and attitudes towards women impact their experience and highlighted the societal dynamics that medical professionals, mental health providers, and politicians must address to deliver care customised to the specific needs of BSA women with IBD. Suggestions and recommendations for future research and policy are made.
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Deep learning for DDoS attack detection in mobile edge computingMobile edge computing (MEC) has become a disruptive technology that brings computation closer to end users, reducing latency and allowing faster response times. However, MEC like other networks is facing cyber security issues, particularly the Distributed Denial of Service attack (DDoS) which has become common in recent years. Compared to cloud environments, MEC networks have their own constraints, including limited resources and computational power. These constraints necessitate a careful consideration of how available ML solutions against DDoS attacks can be adapted to suit MEC environment. To achieve a robust and resilient MEC network, there is a need for a proactive self-healing approach towards DDoS attacks. Therefore, this study aims to provide an innovative approach for MEC networks to predict and remediate attacks. This study proposes three categories of solutions that could help provide a resilient MEC network taking into consideration its key constraints. In the first category, this study proposes Feedforward Neural Network (FNN) as a lightweight algorithm that can be deployed on the MEC platform. A simple FNN architecture is computationally efficient and relatively easy to train, which is useful in a resource-constrained environment such as MEC. Also, in this category this study proposes TinyML based DDoS detection model which can be used in an embedded device with low energy and bandwidth consumption. Secondly, the study proposes a hybrid deep learning algorithm (AE-MLP) and a cloud edge collaboration where training is done in the cloud environment and the algorithm is deployed at the edge for faster and more accurate prediction. Finally, a global orchestration mitigation strategy against DDoS attacks is proposed using a new nonlinear Lévy Brownian Generalized Normal Distribution Optimization (NLBGNDO) algorithm. Experimental results using NF-UQ-NIDS-V2 datasets, a recent dataset with new attacks, show that the FNN algorithm achieved an accuracy of 87.63% while the TinyML achieved 91.89%. In the second category of solutions, the hybrid AE-MLP achieved a higher accuracy of 99.98%. The NLBGNDO optimisation algorithm gave superior performance when compared with other optimisation algorithms. By developing a proactive self-healing approach, this research contributes to enhancing the security posture of MEC environments. It offers the potential to improve the resilience of these systems against DDoS attacks and reduce their destructive impact.
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The impact of technology orientation, strategic firm resources and resource orchestration on small high-tech firms innovation: evidence from the UKInnovation is the driving force of a high-tech small business and plays a vital role in developing the firm's competitiveness and achieving sustainable growth. High-tech firms are a significant force for innovation as they are primarily private firms and the main foundation of the UK private sector. This thesis endeavours to unravel the innovation dilemma of high-tech firms by examining how strategic firm resources and the use of these strategic firm resources are exploited in their innovation process to achieve innovation performance. Firstly, this study draws upon the resource-based view and resource orchestration theory to examine how technology orientation influences innovation performance. Secondly, this study examines the impact of strategic firm resources (availability of technological resources, availability of financial resources, networking capability, and degree of openness) on the relationship between technology orientation and innovation performance. Thirdly, this study examines the role of resource orchestration (structuring, bundling, and leveraging) between the availability of strategic firm resources and innovation performance. Based on a quantitative study, this thesis examines the mechanism of the innovation process using quantitative survey data from 141 high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The key findings of this thesis revealed that technology orientation positively impacts innovation performance. Furthermore, the results show that the availability of technological resources, networking capability, and the degree of openness positively affect the nexus of technology orientation and innovation performance. In contrast, the availability of financial resources does not positively impact the relationship between technology orientation and innovation performance. Furthermore, other key findings show that resource orchestration (structuring, bundling and leveraging) impacts the relationship between the availability of strategic firm resources and innovation performance. Specifically, structuring, bundling and leveraging positively and partially mediate the relationship between strategic firm resources (availability of technological resources, networking capability, and degree of openness) and innovation performance. However, regarding the availability of financial resources, structuring has a negative impact on the relationship between the availability of financial resources and innovation performance, whilst bundling and leveraging have a full mediating effect on the relationship between the availability of financial resources and innovation performance. This research extends the understanding of the innovation process in high-tech small firms by exploring the role and orchestration of resources. It tackles the problem of how high-tech firms can achieve innovation performance with scarce resources. Moreover, it enhances the literature on UK high-tech firm's innovation, which provides new knowledge about high-tech business in a developed country, contributing to a more holistic picture of high-tech business innovation worldwide. Finally, the study makes a methodological contribution to the study of the innovation performance of high-tech firms by providing a comprehensive understanding of the innovation performance in UK high-tech small firms as it examines two levels of the mediating effect of availability of strategic firm resources and orchestration of strategic firm resources and integrating both resource-based view and resource orchestration theory.
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Modular making in kiln cast glass: repetition, efficiency, and the uniqueThis thesis investigates the use and implications of a modular approach to studio casting processes, focussing primarily on kiln cast glass. In their traditional conception, modular systems developed to improve efficiency – allowing limited parts to be combined and recombined in different ways to introduce a degree of variety. However, such systems require standardisation and a shared mechanism for bringing modular parts together. Both aspects work to limit the results which are possible using a modular system. They can thus be characterised as more suited to repetitive industrial production than the creation of artistic sculpture. Instead, this thesis argues that in the hands of studio casters, modular systems can move beyond their roots in reproduction and the carbon copy. Despite the inherently algorithmic nature of the modular, the research reveals that it is possible to break from the seriality which would normally be expected – especially when working with geometric units. Instead, when coupled with the iterative material processes of casting, a simple modular system can evolve into a complex visual language. Repetitive geometry becomes capable of producing representational, figurative and even narrative sculpture. This is evidenced by the body of sculptural work created during the research. The thesis also reveals that modular systems can offer a different form of efficiency within a studio environment. It shows that the development of a modular system for casting is initially demanding, requiring multiple models and moulds to create the repeating copies of the desired modular parts. Yet once complete, these ancillary models and moulds – the tools of the casting process – can be used beyond their first intended purpose. In contrast with industrial use, in the artist’s studio they are not bound to a specific process or use. This means that models and moulds can be used at different stages of the casting process to cast different materials. As they share surfaces and geometries with the modular parts they create, they are also primed for modular combination – becoming modules in their own right. Far from being restrictive, within a studio setting the system becomes positively generative: incidental groupings of models, moulds and casts suggestions new forms, combination and possibilities.
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The British general election of 1923; an anomaly or the election that changed British political history?The 1920`s saw British Politics in a state of flux. The First World War had shattered the conventions and issues existing before it, broken the pre-war Liberal Party into two warring factions and seen the emergence of a developing and stronger Labour Party. There were three General Elections in 1922, 1923 and 1924, each fought on different issues and with different results. Including the 1929 election, by the end of the decade the Conservative-Labour hegemony had been established. And yet, despite books and articles being published about most General Elections held in the 20th Century, no substantial research has been undertaken on that of 1923. This thesis is a comprehensive examination of the 1923 General Election. A core theme of the research is to establish to what extent it was an anomaly and one of the most important General Elections of the century. There are a number of reasons for calling at an anomaly. It was a “snap” unexpected election fought on the shortest ever election campaign lasting just 22 days. It was the first election fought by three relatively equal parties, all of whom could have formed a government. It produced the only Parliament in the century where three parties had over 150 MPs. For the first time, women were elected in their own right without having inherited their seat from their husbands. Most of all, however, in producing the first Labour government it can also claim to be an election that changed the course of British political history. The research that underpins the thesis draws substantially on a broad range of primary sources from political archives and an analysis of national and local newspapers.
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Counterintelligence methods of terrorist organisations and the factors that influence them: a comparative study of Revolutionary Organisation 17 November and the Red Army FactionContinuing terrorist activities across the world create the impetus for a detailed, accurate and comprehensive understanding of the delicate intricacies that govern terrorist decision making. In order to achieve operational success and maintain secrecy, terrorist groups must constantly learn and adapt. In order to defeat them, their adversaries must be able to exhibit superior adaptive capability and strive to remain ahead of the terrorist learning curve. This thesis explores the terrorist counterintelligence methods and adaptation mechanisms of two organisations: the Revolutionary Organisation 17 November and the Red Army Faction. It examines the commonly accepted factors that influence the counterintelligence methods of terrorist groups and evaluates their impact on the group’s strategy. The factors that are considered to be fundamental in a group’s counterintelligence choices are (i) organisational structure, (ii) popular support, (iii) control of territory, (iv) resources and (v) adversary capability. The methods the groups chose are juxtaposed with the intelligence methods of their adversaries and the evolution of both is analysed. The analysis shows that there is a strong correlation between the ability of a group to adapt to changes in its environment and its long-term survival. Contrary to previous findings, the study shows that the most important factor influencing a group’s counterintelligence strategy is the capability and effectiveness of its adversary. The Red Army Faction was facing an effective opponent and adapted accordingly, developing sophisticated capabilities despite the repeated decapitation of its leadership. 17 November, on the other hand, was facing an adversary which did not approach it as a threat, thus maintaining relatively basic intelligence capacity. The lack of adaptation of 17 November when its adversary’s tactics suddenly improved led to its demise. By examining the methods used by terrorist organisations and understanding why these are chosen, concrete steps can be taken in creating an effective framework for counter-terrorism policy and international security.
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How do practitioners examine individuals living with chronic pain and trauma - are we asking the right questions?The relationship between chronic pain, adult comorbidities and adverse life experiences is well established in the literature. The maladaptive coping strategies can intensify patients’ experience of pain, or disrupt or lengthen pain management. Identifying trauma earlier in the assessment process may support individuals to cope with their pain management long-term. National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines stipulate a biopsychosocial assessment be completed when individuals attend a chronic pain management service. The experiences of practitioners in chronic pain services are vastly under-represented, and such voices are needed to help understand how the biopsychosocial approach is utilised when examining subjective reactions to trauma. It was anticipated that the narratives would reveal how practitioners carry out their examination of the individual patient who present with a chronic pain and trauma. Method: Eight practitioners working in various pain services within the United Kingdom were interviewed using a semi-structured interview method. Participants accounts were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed through a process of constructivist grounded theory approach. Results: The findings of this study revealed a central storyline of two main processes, highlighting a push-pull dynamic involving Practitioner Awareness and Practitioner Action. Both models explore motivations for change in current assessment practices in pain management services. Practitioner Awareness: Seven subthemes emerged from the data analysis including ‘The complexity of chronic pain and its links to distress’, ‘The subjectivity of trauma and its links to pain’ and ‘Asking the right questions about the onset of pain’. Practitioner Action: Five subthemes were identified as barriers to practice, including ‘Staying in line with the professional remit’, ‘Practitioner uncertainty prevents exploration of trauma’ and ‘Time determines the focus of assessment’. Participants were unlikely to examine chronic pain and trauma directly. Instead, patients were prescribed physical interventions or treatments. Further categories, such as ‘Not asking about trauma results in excluded patients’ and ‘Best practice recommendations’, offer a deeper understanding and a voice to this population. Conclusion: The shared experiences highlight clear challenges encountered by participants when asking questions about trauma during the assessment process in pain services. Fears of non-containment and not staying in professional remit were reported with participants questioning whether they are ‘Asking the right questions?’ This study has contributed to changes in clinical practice, with practitioners requesting a screening tool to be developed for examining a history of trauma with individuals who live with a chronic pain.
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The determinants and impacts of manufacturing FDI in the UKForeign Direct Investment plays a pivotal role in enhancing economic growth and development, making it a topic of significant interest for policymakers and researchers. The manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of the UK's economy, contributing substantially to its Gross Domestic Product. Understanding the determinants of FDI in this sector is crucial for sustaining growth and competitiveness. The study investigates the determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in the manufacturing sector of the United Kingdom using secondary data obtained from the Office of National Statistics. It employs a panel data analysis, using a dataset spanning from 2009 to 2019. Panel data combines both time-series and cross-sectional data, providing a more comprehensive analysis of FDI determinants. A range of economic and non-economic variables are examined which may influence Foreign Direct Investment in the sector. Based on the panel data analysis, the study provides several key findings regarding the determinants of FDI in the UK manufacturing sector. A positive and significant relationship is observed between the contribution of the manufacturing sector to GDP and FDI. This suggests that a higher contribution of manufacturing to the economy attracts more foreign investments. The study reveals a negative correlation between wages in the manufacturing sector and FDI. Higher wages are associated with lower FDI, indicating that labour costs impact investment decisions. Productivity in the manufacturing sector exhibits a positive relationship with FDI. Higher productivity levels attract foreign investors seeking efficiency and profitability. The results reveal that these factors exert varying levels of influence on FDI inflows across different sectors within manufacturing, reflecting the unique characteristics and needs of each sector. In addition, this study investigates the effect of FDI on firm productivity and firm growth. Using the firm level panel data, and division level FDI data, the study highlights the significant role of FDI in fostering growth and enhancing productivity within the UK's manufacturing industry. The impact of FDI on firm productivity is found to be particularly pronounced in certain manufacturing sectors, suggesting that targeted FDI can serve as a crucial driver of sector-specific development and competitiveness. The impact of FDI on firm productivity is strongest in the computer and electronics sector and the transport equipment sector These insights underscore the importance of a nuanced approach to FDI policy, tailored to the distinctive attributes of individual manufacturing sectors to maximize economic growth and productivity gains. The study sheds light on various economic and non-economic factors that influence foreign direct investment in the manufacturing sector of the United Kingdom. The findings can guide policymakers and investors in making informed decisions to further promote FDI in the critical sector.
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Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Plectranthus amboinicus leaf extracts on planktonic and biofilm forms of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosaThis investigation of the antimicrobial properties of Plectranthus amboinicus (Indian borage) leaf extracts was initiated due to the growing global concern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the scarcity of antimicrobial drugs currently in development. Plectranthus amboinicus is known for its antimicrobial properties due to the phytochemical-rich essential oil contained within the glandular trichomes present on its leaves. The study presented focused on the phytochemical yield and bioactivity of leaf extracts from different stages of leaf development, namely the lag, log, and stationary phases of growth. These extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 (Gram-negative pathogen) and Staphylococcus aureus NCTC8325 (Gram-positive pathogen). Extracts from the log phase exhibited the highest concentration of bioactive compounds, with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (25mg/ml). Stationary phase extracts were observed to produce the highest level of biofilm dispersal activity against P. aeruginosa (80%), while log phase extracts were shown to effectively disperse S. aureus (59%) biofilms. It is of interest to note that the impact of the extracts was more pronounced when applied to treat P. aeruginosa biofilms compared to those of S. aureus. The effect of the leaf extracts on bacterial virulence factors was also investigated. The extracts were shown to reduce alginate production, catalase activity, bacterial motility and induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the leaf extracts were observed to enhance membrane permeability by 58% in P. aeruginosa and 83% in S. aureus, while also decreasing efflux pump activity by 25.5% and 24.2%, respectively. In addition, the extracts were observed to alter cell surface hydrophobicity in both pathogens. Furthermore, as the concentration of Indian Borage extracts increased, the cell viability of HeLa cells decreased, indicating a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect. This study was the first to explore the influence of P. amboinicus on bacterial antioxidant systems and cell membranes, paving the way for the development of resistance-modifying agents derived from this plant.
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Conspicuous by their absence: Bearing witness to the silenced voices of black women in the criminal justice systemDespite being the most overrepresented group of women in the Criminal Justice System (CJS), a significant lack of attention has been paid to Black women in academic literature and government policy in relation to this disparity. Using a Black feminist lens, this thesis seeks to illuminate the mistreatment, neglect, discrimination, and oppression experienced by Black women once in the CJS. The research highlights and bears witness to their voices and lived experiences through a process of Narrative Interviewing, one of the most effective tools for collecting data from marginalised groups. Additionally, Black feminist epistemologies namely, Critical Race Feminism (CRF) and Black Feminist Thought (BFT) are the theoretical frameworks that assist in providing powerful counter narratives to deconstruct negative stereotypes and promote agency. Eight women with experience of imprisonment in England and Wales were interviewed, producing 21 in-depth interviews. This thesis explores the lived experiences of Black women across all four major CJS agencies: the Police, the Courts, the Prison Service, and the Probation Service and highlight at every stage of the CJS, Black women are disproportionately discriminated against with consistently poor outcomes. The data suggests that, in an already problematic system, poor treatment and negative experiences are due to intersectional factors such as race, gender, religion, and class. The thesis ends with some considerations for how to minimise exclusionary practices and integrate Black women’s narratives into solutions to the highlighted issues.
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‘So proved themselves supreme in women’s hockey throughout the world’: a history of English and British international women’s hockey 1951–2016Women’s hockey in England was well established by 1951 with an extensive national and international network of associations and federations. The sport was also proudly amateur and the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA) expected their representatives to uphold that ethos. At the same time, women’s hockey had benefited from a new British government policy on education, and the lack of interference from the larger International Olympic Committee (IOC) or the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH). This changed after the early 1970s when the sport experienced renewed external influences not seen in previous generations, from the British government’s increasingly interventionist sport policy and the IOC’s ambivalence towards amateurism. More critically, the FIH broke off relations with their counterpart International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations (IFWHA) after the IOC introduced women’s hockey to the Olympic Summer Games schedule in 1980. No longer able to influence their direction or keep challenges to their authority contained, the leaders of the AEWHA became increasingly pragmatic during the 1980s and 1990s. In doing so, the AEWHA was able to largely keep the amateur character of hockey whilst also participating in the Olympic Games. The formation of England Hockey (EH), in the grips of financial deficiency and low morale in 2003, broke with the past and achieved Olympic success in the summer of 2016. Academic literature, until recently, has ignored women’s hockey and particularly its international role post 1945. By exploring the rich source materials held at The Hockey Museum (THM) Woking and Bath University, and combined with oral histories, this thesis seeks to fill that gap in the literature by examining how an ‘high’ amateur sport adapted to challenges outside of its control. The decline of amateurism in women’s hockey was not a linear process. The result, unlike the period 1895 to 1939 when amateurism had priority, was an international sport transformed into a professionalised elite one.
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Comparing guided self-help and self-help acceptance and commitment therapy skills-based internet intervention to manage food cravings: a pilot feasibility studyBackground: Managing food cravings poses a substantial challenge when it comes to dietary control or transitioning to a healthier eating regimen. Furthermore, these cravings often lead to premature discontinuation of weight-loss programmes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has emerged as an inspiring approach to managing food cravings. A novel direction was to evaluate an ACT based internet intervention for food cravings. Design/method: This mixed methods pilot study was designed to investigate the acceptability and effectiveness of a 3-week ACT based online intervention for food cravings. Thirty participants from the community were randomly assigned to either a) a self-help delivery method or b) a guided self-help method, where remote support was provided by the researcher. Psychological flexibility, emotional eating and food cravings were measured by validated questionnaires at pre, post and at 1 month follow-up, where participants partook in a semi-structured feedback interview. Results: Many of the participants found the internet intervention acceptable and had a positive experience. Analyses were run with baseline and post scores only, due to participant attrition at follow up. Significant differences between pre and post intervention were found for the following: an increase in psychological flexibility (F (1,28) = 26.67, p = .001, ƞ2 = 0.49); a decrease in both emotional eating (F (1,28) = 12.93, p = .001, ƞ2 = 0.32) and self-reported frequency of food cravings (F (1,28) = 8.045, p = .008, ƞ2 = 0.22). No significant effect was observed between the different delivery method (self-help versus guided self-help). Discussion/Conclusion: This study’s findings tentatively indicated that an ACT based internet intervention was effective for managing food cravings, regardless of delivery method. This pilot has the potential to inform the design a larger scale study to determine its longer-term effectiveness.
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Back to the future? Unravelling current and potential future declines of the common toad, Bufo bufo, in the UKLarge scale and unexplained declines of the common toad, Bufo bufo, have been recorded in the UK for over two decades, especially in southern and central England. However, the extent of these declines and their causes are poorly understood. Except for “toad patrols” taking place in many parts of the UK, B. bufo has been relatively neglected by conservationists and many aspects of the species demography and population structure at local scale are unknown. In this thesis, neutral genetic markers were used to investigate broad scale genetic diversity and population structure of B. bufo populations across Great Britain. This project relied partially on citizen volunteers to allow for quick data collection over a large geographic area. Careful considerations had to be given to the most cost-effective approach to gather large amounts of genetic samples using buccal swabbing as a minimally invasive sampling method (Chapter 2). Based on this method, the genetic data collected throughout the project revealed large scale admixture and low genetic structuring over most of British populations (Chapter 3). In a local area of Central England, presence of heavy metals and nutrients in the environment correlated with trends of B. bufo declines. Local population structuring remains low, and genetic estimates of effective population size supported empirical observations. Adult and larvae telomeres were measured as a possible indicator of environmental stress affecting populations. Although population variations were found in telomere length, it did not unambiguously correlate with presence of chemicals in the environment or observed population trends (Chapter 4). My results shed new light on the state of B. bufo in Great Britain and despite declines, genetic diversity and connectivity between populations is reasonably high. The factors driving declines need more careful examination; however, it is likely a combination of factors that need to be addressed to stop further declines.
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The questioning of intuition; a post structural analysis of nurses’ storiesAim. The aim of this thesis is to question intuition, and analyse factors which influence Registered Nurses decision making, when recognising and responding to an acutely ill patient. Background. Two models of decision making are historically identified in the literature, the Hypothetical - Deductive reasoning and Intuitive-Humanist (Banning, 2008), with the Hypothetical - Deductive reasoning model initially adopted, to offer authority to nursing as a science (Dowding, 2008; Krishnan, 2018). The Intuitive-Humanist model came to the fore through the work of Benner (1984) and Benner and Tanner (1987), who stated that intuition is an essential part of clinical decision making, emphasising the importance of person-centred nursing care. Intuition in nursing is afforded credibility as a legitimate form of knowledge (Benner, 1983; Green, 2012), particularly in relation to the ‘expert’ nurse, who is able to demonstrate an “intuitive grasp” of each situation, utilising a wealth of experience (Benner, 1983). But intuition is an abstract notion (Green, 2012), in order to study the role of ‘intuition’ in nursing practice, and the rhetoric that affords it legitimacy, means questioning how it is viewed in the current nursing paradigm, which I aim to do in my thesis. Because much of the current data on expert intuition is based on nurses caring for acutely ill/deteriorating patients, this became a point of reference, to ensure a focus for the data collection, and the application of the findings from the data analysis to the discussion and conclusion. Methodology. Data was collected using a naturalistic focus group, with a group of experienced nurses on a Continuous Professional Development programme, with the University of Wolverhampton. The participants were asked to consider a time when they had cared for an acutely ill patient, they were then given one minute to write down ten words related to the scenario, this gave a focus for the subsequent paragraph they were asked to write, and stories they were asked to relate. Analysis. The data analysis was completed using the post structuralist philosophy of Roland Barthes, diachronic evidence from the literature review, was compared to the synchronic evidence from the data analysis, interrogating the text to potentially present an alternative perspective, from what is already ‘known.’ Dissemination of findings. Socratic questioning facilitated interrogation of the text, the data analysis was summarised into four themes, for the summary of findings, What knowledge means to nursing and the impact this has on decision making. Nursing feeling vulnerable and isolated, and the link between the two. Emotion is associated with intuition, the manifestation of emotion and its meaning to nursing. Patients or protocols? The diachronic evidence of the literature review was compared to the synchronic evidence of the interrogation of the text to address the questions, whilst there is some agreement, mostly the synchronic evidence contradicted the diachronic evidence. Conclusion. Despite the drive to identify specific nursing knowledge, particularly when involved with an acutely ill patient knowledge, knowledge is an assumed and expected attribute of nursing. Knowledge is tied up, in the culture of nursing as a societal group, which as long as this is understood by the members of the societal group, the need to understand it, particularly with its link to intuition becomes irrelevant. Personal agency and salience are tied up in being a member of the societal group, not just nursing, but also part of a recognised team. Judgement of others comes from not having the same cultural values, as nursing, despite being in a societal group, in a clinical placement area. Knowledge, to nursing, is not related to evidence-based practise, but being up to date and informed about the patient. The relationship between the patient, the relatives, and the nurse is significant, with shared values and expectations, although the relationship is not one sided, with the nurse being the can giver, and the patient being dependent on the nurse. There is a sense of co-dependency which strengthens the relationship, but also leads to a sense of vulnerability for both the nurse and the patient. The sense of vulnerability, also occurs, not from being faced with a new situation, but being outside a societal group, with a sense of isolation. Nurses are not scared of ‘getting it wrong’, but being isolated, because of the humanistic element of their approach. Actions and behaviour are what define nursing practise, knowledge is locked up in these, and are related to cultural norms and language. This is how nursing should be defined, by what is done, the actions and behaviours which indicate what nursing is, and the knowledge and language that informed this. Emotion is frequently linked to intuition, but again this is physical, a response, behaviour, and actions. Patient focused care is fundamental to nursing, most policies and procedures are valued, mainly as legal protection, the moral obligation to the patient, and to self, are fundamentally more important than the risk of not adhering to policies and procedures. Gathering policies, understanding their use, is linked to the notion of an expert, but the linear trajectory of novice to expert, is challenged due to elements of uncertainty, mainly related to being outside the societal group and a loss of shared cultural values.
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‘’It’s not just the rape’’: an ecological exploration of the factors impacting female sexuality after rapeThe ecological model of trauma enables a multifaceted exploration of the interacting factors influencing rape recovery and sexuality. However, research into the ecological factors associated with rape recovery is limited and fails to focus on function of behaviour, and the context of an individual’s protective strategies. Furthermore, despite the prevalence of sexual and somatic difficulties after rape, including female sexual dysfunction (FSD), no ecological studies were found exploring sexuality specifically after rape. Substantial feminist research documents that female sexual difficulties are consistently medicalised and do not accurately reflect the biopsychosocial nature of sexuality and fail to appropriately explore the impact of trauma. This study aimed to provide an insight into female's experiences of sexuality after rape through an ecological lens. Focus was placed upon interacting factors within the ecosystem and how they may be re-conceptualised to improve understanding and treatment by integrating ideas from Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), the Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment (DMM) and Polyvagal Theory (PVT), to offer a more holistic and less pathologising view of FSD after rape. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analysis data from six semi-structured interviews of women who had experienced rape. The use of extended demographics was integrated in line with the ecological model to explore how each system may interact and impact one another. It also enabled a quantitative measure of FSD and nervous system functioning. Four superordinate themes were identified; ''Society and Female Sexuality'', ''Rape and Female Sexuality'', ''Knowledge is Power'' and ''I was raped, that doesn't make me dysfunctional''. Themes highlight the inextricable link between society and sexuality, as well as individual factors such as attachment and neuropsychology. These findings offer an alternative conceptualisation of females' sexual difficulties than what the DSM-5 currently offers, providing a more trauma-informed and context sensitive formulation, incorporating theory from the DMM, CFT and PVT. Application to practice is identified, suggesting the dynamic and interacting factors impacting sexuality should be individually assessed and formulated. Sensitivity to context and function is imperative, whereby the interventions offered to individuals should reflect the multifaceted and nuanced phenomena that is being experienced.
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The challenges faced by senior leaders within their leadership roles in a multi academy trust when aiming to create conditions for school improvementThis study explores the practices and strategies employed by senior leaders when aiming to create conditions for school improvement within a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). Understanding how these leaders navigate and influence the school improvement process is crucial for developing effective leadership strategies and policies in educational contexts. A constructivist grounded theory (CGT) approach was utilised to capture the complex dynamics of senior leadership within MATs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior leaders currently working in a MAT, and over one hundred documents were analysed. This approach allowed for the development of a theory grounded in the lived experiences and practices of these leaders. The analysis yielded the theory of ‘Crossing the school improvement bridge’ which encompasses key categories such as initial social processes, MAT-induced interruptions, managing relationships and conflicts, and enacting the MAT agenda. The findings highlight that senior leaders undergo significant changes in their leadership approaches as they facilitate school improvement within the structured environment of a MAT. The research provides valuable insights into the challenges and strategies senior leaders employ to enhance school performance in MATs. It suggests that a deep understanding of these leaders' experiences can inform the development of support systems and training programmes for future senior leaders. By acknowledging the complexities of their roles, this study offers recommendations for better preparing senior leaders to effectively manage and lead school improvement initiatives in a MAT.
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The bookbinder and historical invisibility: bookbinding and the Staffordshire book trade 1750-1850Provincial bookbinding has been largely overlooked as a subject for study. The social history of bookbinding has been neglected in the historiography of the book trade, confining it in narrow bibliographical studies. This thesis investigates and challenges this situation, and the orthodox view of the dominance of the London book trade over the Staffordshire trade. It addresses the historical 'invisibility' of the bookbinders, and argues that Staffordshire's bookbinders made a significant contribution in the commerce between the county trade and London. There is little first-hand evidence of the lives lived by Staffordshire's binders. In the absence of such evidence my methodology relies on primary information from contemporary newspapers and books, and secondary data from regional scholars and published research, enabling the analysis of the activities and social context of Staffordshire's binders. It uses the greater availability of book history information in various databases. The thesis argues that the study of bookbinding should form an integral element of book trade history scholarship, in order to explore its place in the social, historical and cultural experience of the advancement of literacy and reading. It makes a significant new addition to knowledge of the contribution of Staffordshire's binders to regional and national printing culture, and also investigates the roles and value of its women bookbinders, leading to a greater understanding of the cultural value of Staffordshire's binders.
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The millennial generation’s self-care practices – a poetic representationBackground: This study explored the poetics of the self-care practices of the millennial generation. Millennials are those with the starting birth years of early 1980s and ending birth years of 2000s. This was during the era of technological revolution and are thus known as digital natives. Having been born and raised with technology, they are a distinct generation which are culturally dissimilar to the previous generations. Being ubiquitous, dominating the higher education and workplace spaces, their health and wellbeing are of public health interest. While on one hand, there is tension in the literature on their ability to self-care, there is a gap in the literature on what their self-care practices can mean on the other hand. It was thus necessary to investigate their notion of self-care without the encumbrances of scientism. The study examined their self-care practices and made sense of them contextually in order to be culturally relevant to them. Methodology: The research design used poetic inquiry to relook at the self-care practices of the millennial generation. Poetic inquiry is a way of knowing and provides the space for polyvocal voices on a given concept. It is rooted in subjectivity and expressed using language, reflexivity, and metaphor. These poetic devices were helpful both in crafting the found poems from the graphic and textual data on millennials’ self-care practices provided by the study participants and in developing and discussing the themes that emerged. An inductive approach based on the Braun & Clarkes (2006) method was utilised as the analytical framework. This allowed fluidity in how the meanings were made and discussed. Findings: The study explored the self-care practices of the millennial generation through a primary study involving the use of digital theme boards and written stories on their self-care practices. The study contributes to furthering the body of knowledge of millennials’ self-care practices by providing found poems and exploring their meanings contextually. This threw up new themes, Academic Stress and the Ways to Overcome It; Parental Support among the Millennials; The Millennials’ Tribe; and Spirituality and Millennials’ Self-Care, and meanings on millennials’ self-care practices that extends knowledge which are useful for professional practice and further research. It offers new insights into the cultural values held by the millennial generation which are different from previous generations. The millennials’ self-care practices identified and discussed are exposed as important for their health and wellbeing. They trump the notion of scientism on what is acceptable as self-care practice and are thus canvassed for as necessary in holistic care. Recommendations: Quantitative research involving the use of structured questionnaire would be helpful in providing outcomes that are both generalisable and comparable with the current study. A longitudinal study which monitors the millennials till old age and the poetics thereof would be helpful to find out if their values are simply based on their young age or the generation to which they belong. Findings should be conveyed to health and wellbeing professionals working with young people to provide insights into the millennials’ self-care practices and the meanings.
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“What country are you from originally?” A conversation analysis of black clients' and black therapists' talk during therapeutic encountersBlack individuals, historically engage less and have less positive outcomes from therapy than other populations. In the context of an increasingly multicultural society, research examining the ways in which clients of different ethnic minorities experience counselling and therapy is prevalent. Previous research has explored at length, barriers impacting Black people’s engagement with therapy, as well as the different dynamics in cross-cultural encounters. However, what occurs in the sessions of Black clients with therapists who are racially similar to them has been explored far less than other areas. The focus of this current study was to examine the moment-to-moment encounters in therapy dyads of Black therapists and Black clients. As well as, examine how race and culture is made relevant in these encounters and the multicultural approaches used by Black therapists to navigate these incidents. Eleven therapy sessions were recorded with a total time of 10 hours and 38 minutes. The researcher drew on microanalytic approaches, including Conversation Analysis, Membership Category Analysis and Discursive Psychology to analyse the data. The analysis highlighted four distinct findings: a) racial and cultural identities are drawn upon in talk both implicitly and explicitly, b) therapists make self-disclosures specifically to do with race and culture to both normalise and demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity, c) Blackness is also at times drawn upon as a distinct tool with Black clients. The key contributions to counselling psychology are that therapists can use the ‘Self’ with Black clients more relationally, that cultural humility and opportunities can impact these dialogues, and transform the way Blackness in interaction is understood.
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The role of Rnd3 in kidney morphogenesis and functionAutosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is an adult-onset, multi-systemic disorder, which affects ~12.5 million people worldwide. ADPKD is characterised by progressive kidney enlargement caused by continuous growth of cysts, alongside extra-renal phenotypes. ADPKD is caused by mutations in PKD1 and PKD2. The phenotypic variability of ADPKD can be attributed to genic, allelic and gene modifier effects. To understand the involvement of modifier genes in the onset and development of ADPKD phenotypes, a novel mouse model Rnd3tm1b(EUCOMM)Hmgu was generated. Rnd3 is an atypical member of the Rnd subgroup of the Rho family of GTPases and has a role in actin cytoskeleton reorganisation, cell cycle progression, and cell migration. The characterisation of the kidney phenotype revealed the onset of cyst formation in the cortex in 5-month-old adult Rnd3tm1b+/- kidneys. A significant upregulation in Pkd1 and Pkd2 expression was also observed in adult Rnd3tm1b+/- mice. The kidneys of aged 9-month-old Rnd3tm1b+/- mice presented with multiple cysts in the cortex, mimicking moderate-to-severe ADPKD. The expression of Pkd1 and Pkd2 was significantly downregulated in aged Rnd3tm1b+/- mice. RNA-Sequencing performed on 5-month-old Rnd3tm1b+/- kidneys generated 415 statistically significant protein coding differentially expressed genes. Six genes were selected for validation via qRT-PCR which included Smoc2, Col5α3, Slc4a3, Cchcr1, Psmb7, Dnaja4. All validated genes followed an expression pattern that was in accordance with the data generated by RNA-Sequencing. The characterisation of extra-renal phenotypes revealed that hearts of adult and aged Rnd3tm1b+/- mice exhibited a left ventricular hypertrophy phenotype and fibrosis. To dissect the role and function of Rnd3 in the kidney, mouse Inner Medullary Collecting Duct (mIMCD3) cells were utilised. The downregulation of Rnd3 in post-siRNA mediated mIMCD3 cells resulted in the upregulation of Pkd1 and Pkd2 expression. The downregulation of Rnd3 also increased cell proliferation, migration and disassembled the actin cytoskeleton. The findings from this study highlight the importance of Rnd3 as a potential genetic modifier involved in ADPKD by modulating the expression of Pkd1 and Pkd2. It is proposed that there is a critical window where the expression of Pkd1 and Pkd2 is altered, exacerbating the phenotypes between adult and aged Rnd3tm1b+/- mice. Furthermore, the dysregulation of Rnd3 is also proposed to result in the destabilisation of the cAMP-PKA-mTORC-1 signalling cascade, which contributes towards the onset and development of polycystic kidneys, mimicking ADPKD.
