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Can development initiatives reduce the recruitment of adolescents to organised crime groups? Perspectives of the recipients of the Prospera Conditional Cash Transfer Programme in MexicoThis thesis explores the role of Development policy as an alternative to the traditional public security focused strategies for tackling organised crime violence in Latin America and the Caribbean. To do so, it builds bridges between the academic literature of criminology and development. It examines the public experiences of insecurity in Mexico and the social impacts of a development initiative, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme in two municipalities in Mexico. The thesis poses questions about the impacts of Development initiatives upon organised crime violence from the perspectives of those living within areas affected by violence. The CCT programmes seek to address poverty in the short and long-term and research has begun to explore the potential of these programmes to diminish violence and crime, almost exclusively from a quantitative research approach, whereas this study adopts a qualitative design. This research is based on data gathered through interviews, observations, and focus groups to examine the perspectives and experiences of current and former CCT recipients, CCT administrators, public security officials, members of the public, NGO leads, and ex-gang affiliated individuals. This micro-level qualitative methodology adopted in this research contrasts the almost exclusively macro-level, econometric evaluations which have dominated CCT and organised crime research. The findings demonstrated that respondents perceived CCTs as significant in reducing the propensity of young men participating in organised crime violence in their localities. The perspectives of participants in this study provided enough evidence to overturn a common narrative of ‘prevention doesn’t work’ and suggest that in each of the areas targeted by the study there is potential for a reduction of organised crime rooted in development initiatives according to respondents.
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Doing the ‘right’ thing: A sociological exploration of pro-social behaviour by independent witnessesIndividual pro-social behaviour has been explored by academics and others in a variety of situations and contexts. Why people act selflessly on behalf of strangers is an intriguing topic and has not been studied in the specific context of the Crown courts before. This study has three phases. The first allows independent witnesses to describe their emotions, decision-making and motivations for taking part in the criminal justice process where there is no overt benefit for themselves to do so. The study identifies three key points in the witnesses’ journey through the process and tests the reactions of the witnesses at these points. This approach allows any changes in their thinking to be recorded and analysed. The second phase of the research asks other participants who have not been witnesses to imagine themselves becoming aware of three different scenarios where a violent crime is occurring. These participants are asked to think about their reactions to each scenario, and if they expect themselves to act as witnesses, asks what their motivations would be. The imagining witnesses’ reflections are compared to those of the real witnesses from Phase 1. Finally, phase three disseminates the results from phases one and two to senior professionals working in the criminal justice sector. Their thoughts and suggestions are also applied to the results to identify and encourage best practise.
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Investigation of a Novel Formulation from Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes and Antioxidant (Selenium) in Malignant Melanoma CellsIntroduction: Malignant Melanoma (MM), caused by UV radiation-induced DNA damage, is the most invasive form of skin cancer and has an increasing incidence worldwide. The hallmarks of MM include the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and excessive proliferation of tumour cells. Many treatments are available or under investigation as anticancer therapeutics such as cell therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and nanotechnology-based strategies but they all have severe complications and side effects that limit their wider use. Methods: The present in vitro study has evaluated the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of Se and CBSC-derived exosomes, individually and in combination, on lymphocytes from MM patients and healthy controls, and on the CHL-1 melanoma cell line. The comet assay and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay were used to measure genotoxicity and cytotoxicity, respectively, in all cell types. Molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects were explored using transcriptional and protein expression profiling of key cell cycle and apoptosis genes, by employing the RT qPCR and Western blotting techniques. Conclusion: Selenium displays antioxidant and genoprotective effects in human lymphocytes, especially in MM patients. Both Se (10 μM) and CBSC-derived exosomes (120 μL) are well tolerated in lymphocytes, but show significant genotoxicity and cytotoxicity towards the CHL-1 cell line, with combined administration exhibiting a synergistic effect.
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The Geochemistry of Submerged Marine Landscapes: Lipid, Isotopic and Inorganic composition of Sediment Cores from the Palaeo-landscape of DoggerlandTen thousand years ago Great Britain was a part of the European continent, where the surface of the North Sea was about 70 metres below present sea level. The large, prehistoric submerged landmass that connected the island of Great Britain to the European continent is now widely known as Doggerland. 85 samples from six different cores, which were collected from this prehistoric landscape, were studied using multi proxy -organic and inorganic- geochemical methods. Thermal analysis determined the organic matter and carbonate content, which were utilized as characterizing indices, dividing each core into various depositional units. In addition, lipid analysis studying three sets of biomarkers (n-alkanes, fatty acids and sterols), was used to distinguish between various depositional environments, especially between terrestrial and aquatic. Furthermore, the cores were mineralogically analysed using the detected clay and non-clay minerals as depositional indicators; significant states such as high and low energy environments, palaeosoil, type of weathering and stone types were identified and used to recognize any mineralogical and thus depositional alteration. Finally, the sulfur isotope analysis identified different sources of sulfur, which were then used as environmental distinguishing proxies. An integration of these analytical results provided a detailed geochemical history of each core; importantly, a Storegga tsunami deposit was detected in core ELF01A. The primary contribution of this thesis was establishing an analytical approach using combined results from a range of analytical methods. The established approach can be used to study the depositional settings for any cored sediments.
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Development and Evaluation of Organometallic Anticancer Drug CandidatesThere is an urgent need to find novel anticancer therapeutics with different mechanisms of action than platinum-containing drugs, particularly for patients who relapse after having been initially treated with a platinum-containing chemotherapy regimen. This chemoresistance phenomena, along with the serious side effects observed with cisplatin, have led research in Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry to using other precious metals for the design of novel anticancer therapeutics. This work reports on the synthesis and characterisation of a series of organometallic drug candidates based on ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, and iridium, followed by investigation of their cancer-inhibiting properties via in vitro and in vivo studies. The cytotoxicity of these complexes against various human cancer cell lines is presented, as well as preliminary studies on their possible modes of action, determined via gene expression studies, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, reactive oxygen species detection and mitochondrial-membrane potential assays. In addition, to confirm the surprising absence of in vitro toxicity against normal cells exhibited by some compounds, studies on ex vivo/in vitro isolated human lymphocytes from healthy individuals, have been conducted. One lead molecule has been progressed to in vivo studies in mice and toxicity and efficacy were assessed with a series of assays including determination of the maximum tolerated dose and pharmacodynamic studies. Structural modifications of the lead molecule with water-soluble phosphines were subsequently undertaken, with the aim to improve the stability and solubility of the parent 16-electron specie, and evaluations of the biological activity of these novel complexes are presented.
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Community-based Water Management in Urban Informal Spaces: Capabilities and Collective ActionThis thesis contributes to scholarship on applying the Capability Approach (CA) in the informal water sector in post-colonial cities in the Global South. It lays out helpful insights in the field of Sustainable Development Goal no. 6- clean water and sanitation in the backdrop of climate justice. This research aims to translate theoretical roots of the CA into meaningful participatory policy by using a case study approach complimented by different methods of qualitative data collection. The empirical findings are built on in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions with participants from informal settlements in India and Indonesia, members of universities, NGOs, government organizations and peoples’ collectives. This study underscores that cities in the global south are complex and that to study them requires more epistemic diversity guided by a decolonial lens. It starts with a systematic literature review, followed by a purposive literature review. The reviews generated four themes: (i) Human needs, well-being and development; (ii) Social cohesion and community processes; (iii) Water security and psycho-social stress and (iv) Vulnerabilities, resilience and adaption. After which, three overarching theories guided the conceptual framework- Sen’s Capability Approach, Ostrom’s theory of the commons, and combined theories of socio-ecological resilience. Through its findings, it proposes the Capability Locus Pathway for Socio-Spatial Change, along with the concept of the Capability Space, to evaluate what transformative processes look like in informal urban spaces and what power communities have in terms of agency and opportunities to lead such collective action.
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Aligning Corporate Governance Strategy with Sustainability: Managing Oil-Companies and Resource Host-Communities Relationships in the Petroleum Industry in NigeriaPetroleum discovery has been described as a ‘blessing’ and a ‘curse’ for Nigeria. Whilst oil wealth has been a boon to the economy, oil-companies' unwillingness to be ‘sustainably responsible’ to their resource-host-communities has resulted in multiple problems. This study, focusing on Nigeria's petroleum industry, confirms a framework with genuine potential to favourably impact the industry by validating shared dependency and exploring the relationship between two knowledge areas: corporate governance and sustainability. From the standpoint of resource-host-community ‘risks-and-impacts’, the study's overarching goal is to strengthen the oil-companies'/industry's ability to deliver their businesses on time, within/on budget, and at design capacity. A case study of three oil-companies was used, adopting a qualitative (interpretive) research technique. Study finds that in a turbulent business environment, aligning corporate governance with sustainability and managing oil-companies and their resource-host-community relationships is one attempt to deal with the induced-risks. By analysing the distinction between academic and practitioner research, as well as the tensions from this division, the study shows that a hybrid research merging theoretical and practice-guided study is feasible. The study also contributes to stakeholder theory by offering an empirical description of how resource-host-communities’ impact oil-companies decision-making processes with the potential for collaboration, and to breed and engender trust and unanimity. The findings show that stakeholder theory could be used to solve a variety of organisational problems plaguing the industry. This is the first study in the industry emphasizing the relevance of involving resource-host-communities in Joint-Management-Stakeholder-Committees (JMSCs) concept, demonstrating the influence and practical significance in governance.
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The development of a liposomal form Secukinumab – an IL 17 pathway inhibitor in the treatment of psoriasisVarious approaches are currently used to treat and manage psoriasis, and biological treatments are often the latest approaches. All biological treatments have major side effects as they are given systemically via injections. One of the latest biological treatments for psoriasis, one which has shown great efficacy with fewer side effects, is Secukinumab. Secukinumab is an anti-IL17 antibody that works by stopping the action of IL17, a cytokine that is known to have a major role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. This work is based on the development of a new way to commence drug therapy to reduce the side effects of the treatment. Our work is based on the studies of the genotoxicity of the drug Secukinumab in its bulk and liposome form using comet and micronucleus assays on lymphocytes. The results from both assays have illustrated the safety of the drug and demonstrated the reduction of the DNA damage induced in both healthy individuals and patients with psoriasis. Secukinumab significantly decreases-H2O2 induced damage and efficiently attenuates its adverse effects both in the comet (p<0.0001) and micronucleus assays (p<0.01). The two concentrations of Secukinumab used (2.1 and 2.8μg/ml) efficiently decreased H2O2-induced DNA damage in both groups to nearly the level of the negative control. Overall, Secukinumab reveals protective and anti-genotoxic effects by demonstrating its potential in reducing DNA damage caused by oxidative stress and by not inducing any further damage in the lymphocytes of either healthy individuals or patients. Liposomes are highly versatile which have been proven efficient for therapy and research applications. The discovery of new therapies in the treatment of psoriasis is a considerable challenge and is now a necessity. Our study was the first one to determine the genotoxicity of various concentrations of the drug in the lymphocytes of psoriasis patients compared to healthy individuals. In the MTT assay, the data showed a decrease in % cell survival rates after exposure to different concentrations of Secukinumab. Also, the results demonstrated no statistically significant differences on confounding factors such as ethnicity, smoking, drinking habits, gender and age among psoriasis patient and healthy controls. The regulation of gene expression levels of IL-17, IL-22 and RORC were assessed after treatment with Secukinumab in the bulk and liposome form via RT-PCR analysis. Secukinumab bulk (2.1μg/ml) treatment significantly down-regulated gene expression of IL-17, IL22 and RORC to 0.46-fold, 0.47-fold and 0.5-fold, respectively. However, Secukinumab liposome (2.1μg/ml) only decreased the expression of IL-17 and IL-22 significantly, by 0.46-fold and 0.53-fold, respectively. On the other hand, studying the expression of P53 and P21 using qPCR revealed that Secukinumab bulk and liposome has no effect on the expression of these genes in lymphocytes from healthy individuals and psoriasis patients. Western blotting was used to investigate the effect of Secukinumab in both forms on protein expression levels IL-17, IL-22 and RORC. Analysis of the results showed that Secukinumab bulk and liposome had no significant effect on expression levels of any of these proteins in lymphocytes derived from healthy individuals. However, there was a statistically significant down-regulation observed in the protein expression levels of IL-17, IL-22 and RORC in lymphocytes obtained from the psoriasis patients, confirming the sensitivity of the compromised lymphocytes from patient group to Secukinumab treatment. With Secukinumab (bulk form) administration, a 0.5-fold decrease was observed in IL-17, 0.59-fold decrease in IL-22, and a 0.6-fold decrease in RORC expression. However, liposome form reduced their levels to 0.47–fold, 0.5-fold and 0.47–fold, respectively, when compared to the control group. While it had no significant effect on expression of P53 and P21 proteins in lymphocytes from healthy individuals and psoriasis patients and there was no difference observed in their regulation. In conclusion, the use of Secukinumab liposome as topical drug delivery system may be suitable replacement for improving the drug bioavailability and its side effects.
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Wives of the clergy. A Sociological Analysis of Wives of Ministers of Religion in Four Denominations... for the phrase 'clergyman’s wife' has connotations which the phrase 'solicitor’s wife' or 'bank clerk's wife’ does not. The content of the meaning it conveys, is a stereotype picture of what the clergyman’s wife is like, and how her life is organised. The 'typical parson's wife’ is seen as someone who, on the one hand, opens bazaars and dispenses charity to the poor of the parish; and, on the other hand, as someone who visits the sick and bereaved and runs the Sunday School. The two elements in the stereotype are, in this study, characterised as the Lady of the Manor and the Unpaid Curate, and their origins are traced historically, as well as their contemporary relevance being examined through empirical study. ... But the interesting thing about the 'clergyman’s wife' is that it is a stereotype attributed in a sense vicariously; that is, a set of statements about a 'typical' person, attributed by virtue of someone else’s occupation. The clear implication is that, by marrying a clergyman, one automatically adopts a particular way of life and style of life, in a much more clearly defined sense than does a person who marries into almost any other occupational group.
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Genotoxic effects in human peripheral lymphocytes from healthy individuals and head and neck cancer patients after treatment with hydrogen peroxide and pembrolizumab liposomeHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. It has commonly been associated with exposure to tobacco-derived carcinogens and alcohol consumption. Pembrolizumab has shown to be effective in the treatment of many types of cancers such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, due to its antiproliferative, immunoregulatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of naked Pembrolizumab and Pembrolizumab liposome on the level of DNA damage, gene, and protein expressions in peripheral lymphocytes from HNC patients and compared to the healthy individuals by using the Comet and micronucleus assays. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to assess the potential of improving the repair mechanisms after treatment with naked Pembrolizumab and Pembrolizumab liposome. According to the results, Comet assay and micronucleus assay showed a significantly decreased DNA damage in the lymphocytes from HNC patients after being treated with naked Pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab liposome. Furthermore, the results have shown that naked Pembrolizumab and pembrolizumab liposomes (10 μg/ml) greatly decreased the oxidative stress produced by H2O2. Both forms of pembrolizumab have also demonstrated improving the repair mechanisms in lymphocytes from HNC patients by modulating the expression of P53, P21, and Bcl-2 at mRNA and protein levels. This study suggested that Pembrolizumab naked and liposome could have an antioxidant role alongside other actions in the treatment of HNSCC. However, further studies on Cancer cell lines and in vivo observation are required to validate the anticancer potential of pembrolizumab naked with liposome in HNC.
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Refractive management of patients undergoing cataract surgery. The development of pre and post-operative refractive management guidelines for patients undergoing cataract surgery in the UKCataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery within the UK with 400,000 surgeries performed each year. Currently no guidelines exist for clinicians regarding target refraction discussions, spectacle provision post-operatively and driving advice following surgery. The PhD aimed to start the process of developing pre- and post-operative management guidelines for patients developed by both optometrists and ophthalmologists which could then be disseminated to both professions in the hope of improving the overall outcome of surgery. The current literature highlighted target refraction discussions were lacking or non-existent which left some myopes dissatisfied after surgery due to an emmetropic target refraction leaving them unable to read without glasses as they did prior to surgery. Target refraction discussions were found to be linked with years of experience and this needs further exposure in continuing professional development. Post-operative driving advice was found to be inconsistent and vary between practitioners and between optometry and ophthalmology. Advice was found to vary from driving “immediately” following surgery up to 6 weeks post-operatively. Re-analysis of (de Juan et al. 2013) data during our systematic review and meta-analysis found refraction to be stable 1-2 weeks following surgery for 93% of patients. It was found a large change between pre- and post-surgery cylindrical power/axis may be an indicator that refractive stability has not occurred. Although this study had limitations it confirmed refraction is stable sooner than the current guidelines of 4-6 weeks. Finally, we used a Delphi process to develop refractive management guidelines with a total of fifteen recommendations finalised.
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Addressing inequitable maternity service provision in England for asylum seeking and refugee women who present with symptoms of perinatal depression. A post-colonial feminist inquiry into the experiences of asylum seeking and refugee women and the midwives who care for themBackground: Perinatal depression disproportionately affects asylum seeking and refugee (AS&R) women, but they are less likely to receive support than other women. There is no published research which considers the assessment and support for symptoms of perinatal depression provided by midwives for AS&R women navigating England’s maternity services. Aim: To investigate how midwifery practice can be developed to support asylum seeking and refugee women with symptoms of perinatal depression. Methods: A post-colonial feminist inquiry consisting of a scoping survey (study one) and a qualitative research study (study two) using remote interviews with AS&R women and midwives. Qualitative data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Study one demonstrated that midwives who care for AS&R women work within diverse roles and service structures across England. Study two identified that midwives lack the resources and support structures required to effectively recognise and support symptoms of perinatal depression in AS&R women. These factors were sometimes invisible to AS&R women, but still negatively affected their ability to effectively discuss perinatal depression with a midwife and access help for any symptoms. The lack of appropriate resources was harmful to both AS&R women and midwives. Conclusion: AS&R women and midwives who care for them navigate an inequitable maternity system in England. Midwives do not have the appropriate resources to provide a level of care which is equitable to women in the general maternity population. This leaves AS&R women’s perinatal mental health needs unrecognised and unmet, acting as a barrier to receiving effective support.
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Surface Engineered Novel Patterned Polymers to Remove Pathogenic Biofilms from Human Skin. Effective Removal of Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria from Chronic WoundsA silent pandemic, chronic, non-healing wounds are a major cause of morbidity, with treatment and management representing significant health burdens. The opportunistic pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most common species isolated from chronic wounds. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a biocompatible and, inexpensive to fabricate polymer, can undergo various modifications. The ability of the produced polymers to attract S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, either from the planktonic state, or while sessile in biofilms on ex vivo skin, was investigated using flat (FL) or patterned (PT) PDMS with or without 1% or 10% triclosan Patterned PDMS + 10% triclosan (PT 10%) attracted significantly more live S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, as determined using Colony Forming Unit (CFU) analysis (*p<0.01), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) (*p<0.01) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM) (*p<0.01). The released triclosan was not cytotoxic against either bacteria or primary cultures of human dermal fibroblasts using Water Soluble Tetrazolium Salts (WST-1) assay. High performance liquid chromatography analysis highlights low level of triclosan release from the PDMS. Bacterial infection in co-culture using the Boyden chamber assay increased fibroblast viability in the presence of PDMS (*p<0.05). PT 10% demonstrated superior biofilm transfer from epidermis (*p<0.05), in comparison to all other analysed polymers. In summary, the unique topography of PDMS combined with triclosan attracted bacteria most efficiently. This promising data suggests potential for engineering a patterned polymer to physically transfer biofilms from wounds, and importantly lacks bactericidal properties which is vital in the quest to combat antimicrobial resistance.
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The ageing hair follicle environment. Alterations in the female scalp and mesenchyme with age.Female ageing leads to reduced hair density and thinner fibres. The impact of the ageing dermal environment on the hair follicles (HFs) remains unclear. This study documents in situ changes in human female scalp skin of women (19-81 years (yrs)), and corresponding primary cultures of dermal fibroblast (DF) and dermal sheath (DS) cells. In situ, the papillary/reticular boundary was indistinguishable in young scalp, but delineated over 40yrs, with reduced rete ridges, changes in collagen organisation, reduced podoplanin (PDPN) and increased versican (VCAN) expression. Hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2) was highly expressed throughout the scalp. Matrix Metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1) and Metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP1), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16INK4A), 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and 2 (11β-HSD1/HSD11B1 and 11β-HSD2/HSD11B2) mRNA expression increased in aged DFs. In DS cells, HAS2, Vimentin (VIM) ,PDPN, Lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1), Sequestosome- 1 (P62) and Protease nexin-1 (SERPINE2) increased, while α-smooth muscle actin (aSMA) decreased. Both cell types exhibited elevated cartilage oligomeric protein (COMP) mRNA expression. Proteomics revealed elevated COMP expression in the DF secretome with age, suggesting a more fibrotic phenotype or DS migration into the dermis. DF and DS lysate protein expression suggests altered extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling due to increased levels of MMP-2 and Protease inhibitor Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (Serpin E1/PAI-1). Cathepsin C/DPPI protein lysate expression decreased in DFs but increased in DS. In summary, ageing female scalp shows striking structural and biological changes in the HF environment that may impact hair growth, due to alterations in ECM, senescence and autophagy associated biomarkers.
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Towards Refinement for Measuring Subcutaneously Transplanted Tumour Models in MiceEvaluation using mouse subcutaneous tumour models is a key process in cancer drug development. Tumour material is implanted subcutaneously and tumour growth measured using callipers. However this methodology can have poor reproducibility and accuracy due to observer variation. Furthermore the physical pressure of using callipers can distress the mouse and lead to tumour damage. Non-invasive digital tumour imaging would reduce handling stresses and allow volume determination without physical contact. This thesis focusses on capturing 2D digital images of subcutaneous tumours, then using image processing and machine learning methods to determine 3D volume. The biggest challenge faced was lack of differentiation between tumour and surrounding skin, rendering tumour boundary identification difficult. Whilst image processing methods such as colour segmentation and edge detection were unsuccessful, machine learning proved more successful. Three convolutional neural networks, VGG-Face, VGG-19 and VGG-16 models were evaluated, with VGG-Face producing the best results. Using the layer FC7 before RELU activation for extraction in the VGC-Face model, a tumour recognition rate of 98.86% was achieved. This was increased to 100% through a semi-automatic step with detection repeated on cropped versions of negatively classified images. Finally, volume was determined through extracting image features using the VGG-Face model and conducting partial least squares regression (error of 0.1). This work has successfully demonstrated that with computational methods the volume of subcutaneous tumours can be evaluated through non-invasive digital imaging without need to have contact with the tumour itself, thus offering refinement benefits to the mice as well as eliminating observer bias.
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Sustainable Transitions in Social Housing in England. The Development of a Theoretical FrameworkSocial housing can play a large role for both the UK and global agenda to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Political and industry efforts to promote sustainability in social housing in England are sparse, despite a plethora of existing research. One reason for this might be the lack of integration of different actors and elements in social housing. This study aims to fill this gap by developing a theoretical framework that can help different actor groups involved in social housing in England identify connections and transition to sustainability. The framework is developed and validated using a mixed methods iterative approach, including a Delphi study to begin with. Results are validated using interviews and document search and analysed by using discourse analysis. Results indicate that the social housing system consists of six actor groups who all have different interpretations of sustainability. External pressures on the system consist mainly of central government policies. Niche innovations have not broken through to the system yet. Powerful actors consist of the construction and finance industry, who influence central government in terms of policy making. Power is closely aligned with financialisation of housing. Comparing results to research on transition pathways for sustainability, no such transitions can be observed in the social housing system. This study represents a first attempt to develop a theoretical framework where social housing is conceptualised as a system, investigating its key change processes. Recommendations are defined for key stakeholder groups regarding the relevance of the framework to investigate pathways for a transition to sustainable housing.
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Optimisation of care transitions: Understanding coping strategies of South Asian family carers of a relative with advanced dementiaBackground With an expected increase of seven to eight-fold in the UK in the number of people from a Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) heritage living with dementia, there will be a similar increase in the number of family carers. Whilst policy and research have discussed issues pertaining to awareness and access issues for minoritised ethnic communities, there remains an under-representation of these communities in services. A lack of understanding on the part of service providers as to how services could meet the needs of these carers, together with a mistrust of services, leads to bias and misconceptions about dementia care amongst South Asian families. Added to this, migrant communities are now well established in the UK, yet little is understood about the factors impacting on care and coping in the face of discrimination and prejudice. This adds to the complexities of caring for older relatives living with dementia. Aims The aim of this doctorate was to develop an understanding of how South Asian families cope with caring transitions connected with the care needs of advancing dementia. Emotional and physical coping strategies require some elements of individual capability but also some external elements, such as information, support and access to services. This research set out to identify what, and how, it influenced South Asian family carers’ ability to cope, especially in the light of a lack of culturally appropriate services. I set out to explore these influences, as they are especially salient in the cultural context. The research explored how South Asian carers coped with transitions in dementia care whilst taking into consideration factors such family dynamics, cultural perspectives, values (including faith) and service provision. Design and methods I undertook two studies, both using a phenomenological methodology, underpinned by a social constructivist approach. The first study gathered retrospective accounts from former carers to identify key transitions in their experience of providing dementia care, and to identify factors to explore in a subsequent longitudinal study. It included in-depth semi-structured interviews with former carers from 5 families. The interviews were transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis to identify key themes. These themes influenced the second study, where I interviewed carers from 7 South Asian families, who were actively caring for a relative living with advanced dementia. Four interviews took place bi-monthly with each family over a period of six months. Results Analysis identified a number of themes, which influence South Asian family carers’ ability to cope with the care needs of a relative living with advanced dementia. Study one identified five key themes, which were: stigma from family and community, access to information, appropriateness of services, expectations regarding caregiving, and attitudes arising from faith and religion regarding care provision. Family carers identified the transitioning aspects of South Asian communities themselves and how these influenced the adapting nature of culture, values and social norms in society. These include the changing nature and constructs associated with care and caregiving as care needs increase or become complicated, in relation to what is acceptable as care needs increase or become complicated. Study two incorporated findings of study one. Themes from the analysis identified some general factors, such as changing attitudes to cultural influences, faith-based impacts, carers’ own ability to cope with caring, coping as a family, gender-based influences, services and stigma as factors that impacted their coping experiences. Conclusion This PhD raised some interesting aspects relating to coping with care that included the value of nuanced approaches to understanding the needs of the family carers and their frustrations with barriers to accessing services that were associated with faith, gender and cultural expectations or obligations. There was a clear difference between the views of older South Asian family carers, who held more traditional values to providing care, and younger British-born carers, who saw their faith and values as not opposing their ability and desire to seek external sources of support, community or statutory services. The research therefore moves forward the previous discourse mainly restricted to awareness and attitudes. It moves it towards practical recommendations that can help support services to be more open-minded and tackle their own biases. Encouraging this, whilst taking into consideration aspects such as family-centred approaches or faith-based influences in supporting carers to better cope with the demands of caring for a relative with advancing dementia.
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Behaviour of buried pipes adjacent to ground voids under dynamic loadingProtection of buried pipes is a serious issue that concerns countries around the world. Therefore, there is a need for new soil improvement techniques such as geosynthetic materials installation to protect these pipes from damage. This study used large-scale laboratory tests to study the behaviour of buried pipes. A total of 22 large-scale tests were performed to study the behaviour of buried flexible HDPE pipes with and without void presence under the protection of the geogrid reinforcing layers subjected to incrementally increasing cyclic loading. The presence of voids located at the spring-line of the flexible buried pipes, led to a considerable increase in the soil surface settlement, pressure recorded at the pipe crown, spring-line and invert, pipe deformation and strain recorded in the pipe wall. Increasing the pipe burial depth contributed to significant reductions in the soil surface settlement, pressure recorded at the pipe crown and invert, pipe deformation and strain recorded in the pipe wall. However, the void presence limited the contribution of increasing the pipe burial depth. The inclusion of a geogrid reinforcing layer contributed to a considerable reduction in the soil surface settlement, pressure recorded at the pipe crown, spring-line and invert, pipe deformation and strain recorded in the pipe wall. The use of a combination of geogrid reinforcing layers and increasing the pipe burial depth contributed in diminishing the ground void presence effect, where better pressure distribution inside the system was achieved. Consequently, more protection was provided to the buried pipe.
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A State-of-the-Art Artificial intelligence model for Infectious Disease Outbreak Prediction. Infectious disease outbreak have been predicted in England and Wales using Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, and Fast Fourier Transform for COVID-19.The pandemic produced by the COVID-19 virus has resulted in an estimated 6.4 million deaths worldwide and a rise in unemployment rates, notably in the UK. Healthcare monitoring systems encounter several obstacles when regulating and anticipating epidemics. The study aims to present the AF-HIDOP model, an artificial neural network Fast Fourier Transform hybrid technique, for the early identification and prediction of the risk of Covid-19 spreading within a specific time and region. The model consists of the following five stages: 1) Data collection and preprocessing from reliable sources; 2) Optimal machine learning algorithm selection, with the Random Forest tree (RF) classifier achieving 94.4% accuracy; 3) Dimensionality reduction utilising principal components analysis (PCA) to optimise the impact of the data volume; 4) Predicting case numbers utilising an artificial neural network model, with 52% accuracy; 5) Enhancing accuracy by incorporating Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) feature extraction and ANN, resulting in 91% accuracy for multi-level spread risk classification. The AF-HIDOP model provides prediction accuracy ranging from moderate to high, addressing issues in healthcare-based datasets and costs of computing, and may have potential uses in monitoring and managing infectious disease epidemics.
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Predicate Calculus for Perception-led AutomataArtificial Intelligence is a fuzzy concept. My role, as I see it, is to put down a working definition, a criterion, and a set of assumptions to set up equations for a workable methodology. This research introduces the notion of Artificial Intelligent Agency, denoting the application of Artificial General Intelligence. The problem being handled by mathematics and logic, and only thereafter semantics, is Self-Supervised Machine Learning (SSML) towards Intuitive Vehicle Health Management, in the domain of cybernetic-physical science. The present work stems from a broader engagement with a major multinational automotive OEM, where Intelligent Vehicle Health Management will dynamically choose suitable variants only to realise predefined variation points. Physics-based models infer properties of a model of the system, not properties of the implemented system itself. The validity of their inference depends on the models’ degree of fidelity, which is always an approximate localised engineering abstraction. In sum, people are not very good at establishing causality. To deduce new truths from implicit patterns in the data about the physical processes that generate the data, the kernel of this transformative technology is the intersystem architecture, occurring in-between and involving the physical and engineered system and the construct thereof, through the communication core at their interface. In this thesis it is shown that the most practicable way to establish causality is by transforming application models into actual implementation. The hypothesis being that the ideal source of training data for SSML, is an isomorphic monoid of indexical facts, trace-preserving events of natural kind.
