2024-03-28T14:19:32Zhttp://uobrep.openrepository.com/oai/requestoai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1299172020-05-23T03:57:12Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Tourism, poverty and poverty reduction in Msambweni district, Kenya
Barasa, Davis Wekesa
tourism
Africa
economic conditions
N840 International Tourism
Kenya
poverty reduction
poverty
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, Faculty of Education, Sport & Tourism, in fulfilment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in June 2010.
This thesis examines the potential of tourism’s contribution to poverty reduction as perceived by local people in Msambweni district in Kenya. Whilst many studies in tourism have focused mainly on the macro-economic impacts of tourism in developing countries, there is little empirical work on understanding its effects upon poverty reduction. Furthermore, researches on how the poor or local people define poverty are also at their embryonic stage. The research utilises multiple qualitative methods and participatory approaches including focus group discussions and meetings. Key objectives of the research are: to critically analyse how poverty is conceptualised by local people; to identify the barriers to participation in the tourism industry and development process; and make recommendations on how to overcome them. The thesis reviews the theoretical framework of poverty within the discourse of development studies. Contrary to the conventional economic definition of poverty, poor people in Msambweni view it as a multidimensional concept. The understanding of the concept of poverty as perceived by the ‘poor’ themselves is critical for addressing barriers to their participation in the tourism development process and in designing meaningful tourism-led anti-poverty strategies. The thesis also reviews other relevant tourism concepts and development paradigms. The central argument of this thesis is that the current model of tourism development in Msambweni is not suitable for addressing poverty. The study identifies barriers to local people’s participation in tourism development in Msambweni. Key barriers include weak capacity in the context of physical, human, financial and institutional capital; corruption; poverty; lack of information; weak linkages with the local economy attributable to the lack of access to tourist markets; and the inability to develop and promote the ‘right’ types of tourism. Ecotourism, volunteer tourism and ‘philanthropy tourism’, although practiced on a small scale, are the most preferred types of tourism by local people. Philanthropy tourism, an emergent term of this study, involves tourists visiting local attractions, villages, and schools and making donations to support various projects. The study concludes that for tourism to have meaningful contribution to poverty reduction, barriers that limit local people’s participation must be addressed. There is also the need for a paradigm shift to embrace policies that facilitate the transfer of economic benefits from the macro-level towards the poor at the micro-level, combined with the development and promotion of the ‘right’ types of tourism as identified by local people.
2011-05-23
2011-05-23
2010-06
Thesis or dissertation
Barasa, D. (2010) Tourism, poverty and poverty reduction in Msambweni district, Kenya.
Unpublished Thesis (PhD), University of Bedfordshire.
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/129917
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1318982020-05-08T04:06:15Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Multidimensional perfectionism and motivation in sport : potential mediating and moderating variables
Hill, Andrew P.
Sport
Motivation
Perfectionism
C600 Sports Science
Recent research has found that self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism have distinct consequences for athletes. The purpose of the thesis was to extend this research by further examining their motivational consequences for athletes and identifying the psychological mechanisms that explain their divergent consequences. The first two studies suggested that the positive relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and athlete burnout was mediated by the tendency to engage in validation-seeking and utilise avoidant coping, whereas the inverse relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and athlete burnout was mediated by the tendency to utilise problem-focused coping and eschew avoidant coping. Because these initial studies provided little evidence to suggest that self-oriented perfectionism has negative psychological consequences for athletes, the nature of self-oriented perfectionism and its consequences were examined more closely in two subsequent studies. A comparative study examining similarities and differences in the correlates of selforiented perfectionism and conscientious achievement striving found that while both include a commitment to high standards, self-oriented perfectionism also includes a concern over mistakes, fear of failure and negative reactions to imperfection. An experimental study examining the response of student-athletes II higher in this dimension of perfectionism to successive failures further suggested that, in comparison to those with lower levels of self-oriented perfectionism, those with higher levels of self-oriented perfectionism experienced a more pronounced increase in threat following an initial failure and reported withdrawing effort from the subsequent performance. The final two studies suggest that the divergent consequences of these two dimensions of perfectionism may also be explained by differences in the controllability of sources of self-worth and evaluative standards. In addition, in some instances, perceptions of the achievement climate may influence the self-criticism experienced by perfectionists. Collectively, this series of studies suggest that socially prescribed perfectionism will invariably lead to motivational and psychological difficulties for athletes. In contrast, such difficulties may not be inevitable for those with higher levels of self-oriented perfectionism; however, it may render athletes vulnerable to psychological difficulties when personal standards are not meet.
2011-05-24
2011-05-24
2009-10
Thesis or dissertation
Hill, A. (2009) Multidimensional perfectionism and motivation in sport : potential mediating and moderating variablesUnpublished Thesis (PhD), University of Bedfordshire.
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/131898
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1323692020-05-08T04:05:48Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
The validity of two compartment model methods of body composition as compared to magnetic resonance imaging in Asian Indian versus Caucasian males
Davies, Ben Rhys
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
body composition
B190 Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology not elsewhere classified
MRI
Background: The two-compartment (2C) model is a relatively accessible, inexpensive and time efficient method for body composition measurement. There is very little validated research on the 2C model in Asian Indians: a high risk population in terms of obesity and related disorders. This highlights the need for valid estimates of body composition from the 2C model. Purpose: The goal was to compare 2C model (predictor) estimates of body composition to those from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (criterion), an established gold standard measure of total adiposity in order to determine the validity of the 2C model in the Asian Indian population. From this data it is hoped that a correction equation may be determined for more accurate prediction of Asian Indian body composition using 2C model methods. Methods: 21 males (10 Asian Indian and 11 Caucasian, aged 18-55 yrs) had estimates of percent body fat from 2C methods (sum of four skinfolds and anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis [Bodystat 1500 and Tanita segmental impedance analyser], air displacement plethysmography [Bod Pod] and hydrostatic weighing) compared to MRI measured body composition values. Agreement was assessed using multiple linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman plots. Differences were assessed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Regression analysis showed air displacement plethysmography predicts MRI body composition in Caucasian males (adjusted r2 = 0.74; SEE =3.27 ). In Asian Indians, tricep skinfold thickness and hydrostatic weighing predicted MRI body composition with a low prediction error (adjusted r2 = 0.90; SEE =1.75). Despite strong correlations and no significant difference between mean differences of the 2C methods, used in the prediction model, and MRI, BlandAltman plots revealed no acceptable limits of agreement between the methods. Asian Indian body composition was underestimated by all two compartment devices compared to MRI. Conclusion: There appears to be potential for the use of tricep skinfold thickness and hydrostatic weighing to predict an established reference measure (MRI) in the high risk Asian Indian population. The 2C model underestimated Asian Indian body composition, this suggests that un-validated, the 2C model may misidentify obesity and in turn health risk. However the small sample tested, has implications for the interpretation of the findings. Further investigation is required with a greater sample size to validate the 2C model against an established reference measure such as MRI as there is currently little published validation data in this ethnic group.
2011-05-31
2011-05-31
2010-11
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/132369
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1331132020-04-23T07:27:52Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Evaluation of the response capability of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the impact of natural hazards
Al Ghasyah Dhanhani, Hamdan
United Arab Emirates
hazards
natural disasters
disasters
B910 Environmental Health
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of
Bedfordshire
The UAE is an Islamic state which has undergone dramatic urbanization in the last 30 years. It is situated near the eastern margin of the Arabian tectonic plate, close to the seismically active collision zone between the Arabian and Eurasian Plates, marked by the Zagros Mountain belt of Iran. In the UAE the population of Dibba in Fujairah has felt tremors as recently as November 26 2009 and an earthquake with a magnitude (M) of 5 occurred in Masafi, Fujairah, in March 2002. The most recent earthquake was M 4.3, and awareness of seismic hazard is increasing. In addition to earthquakes, rapid heavy rainfall in the arid environment of the UAE typically results in high level of discharge and flooding. Tropical storms have also struck the Indian Ocean coast of the UAE and have caused damage in coastal areas. The impact of natural hazard events in Fujairah since 1995 and the responses of the authorities and affected communities illustrates the issues faced by the country and is discussed in the thesis. The Federal Plan to face disasters in the UAE prepared by the Civil Defence sets out the role of the government structures in the UAE to manage disasters with particular reference to the Ministry of Interior, which is the responsible body. A survey of UAE ministries and the Civil Defence shows that in practice there is lack of clarity between the roles of government bodies and there are many areas of confusion regarding jurisdiction and responsibility between the federal and individual emirate institutions. It was a concern that some supporting ministries were unaware of their role as set out in the overall plan. There is lack of evidence of an integrated approach and no testing of effectiveness of emergency procedures through simulation exercises. It is recognized that, not only are school children particularly vulnerable to natural disasters but also that education is an important mitigation tool through raising awareness of hazard exposure amongst the population. A survey of schools in Fujairah showed that there was little preparation for natural disasters and no framework to address this issue or to ensure the structural integrity of school buildings. The survey revealed that there is a willingness to learn among the school children and this was followed up by a pilot scheme to raise awareness. This is important as the survey also revealed that traditional views about losses are still common amongst parents, particularly in rural areas. The vulnerability of the communities to natural hazards is strongly influenced by cultural and social factors. A survey was undertaken of the population in the UAE to investigate their awareness of natural hazards, their perception of risk and how this might be mitigated. The survey revealed a low level awareness and what the role of government agencies would be in the event of a disaster. A majority considered that disasters were Acts of God, a punishment, and the most effective way to mitigate risk was through religious observance. It is clear that even in a developed Islamic country an effective response to mitigate risk needs to recognize and address the cultural and religious contexts. Finally the thesis evaluates the response capability of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the impact of natural hazards. This analysis shows that though there is a Federal Plan for Disasters there is little specific focus on natural hazards. Ministries not directly involved with the Civil Defence were sometimes unclear regarding their roles. At an operational level there is lack of clarity regarding responsibilities and lines of authority between different bodies and between Federal and emirate structures. The Civil Defence was very much focused on response with little effort devoted to reducing vulnerability through awareness-raising, hazard assessment and monitoring. These need to be addressed to minimize the risk from natural disasters.
2011-06-14
2011-06-14
2010-07
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133113
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1330952020-05-08T04:06:26Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Feminine identity as the site of struggle: the confrontation of different models of femininity in contemporary Spanish cinema directed by women (1990-2005)
García-López, Ana
Spanish cinema
identity
cinema
femininity
female identity
L216 Feminism
P303 Film studies
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
The last two decades have witnessed an unprecedented incorporation of women within the Spanish film industry. This is part of a general increase in newcomers since the beginning of the 1990s, when the industry was undergoing a deep restructuring. The media has celebrated this incorporation of women filmmakers, recurrently referring to their different sensibility, a feminine perspective noticeable in their films. Despite the socio-cultural interest of this incorporation, no thorough study of their work has been completed. This research project surveys the extent and scope of these women's incorporation within the industry, and explores the varied ways that their films engage with the main discursive trends that define femininity in Spanish cinema and mass media. Femininity is broadly understood here as the socio-cultural interpretations of what constitutes 'correct womanhood', but, also, discursively: as the space of struggle wherein individual (fictional) women engage with these constructions, by contesting and / or adopting some of their elements. Further attention is given to the ways that these new filmmakers's films engage with traditional and modern formulations of femininity, as articulated in implicit relation to, respectively, Francoism and postfeminism. In the core chapters, several detailed analyses are given of especially relevant films by these women, using a critical discourse analysis approach. These chapters address topics that are foregrounded in these women’s films and that have been central to feminine experience, namely: the family and motherhood, romanticism and sexuality, and the ‘Other’. From the study it emerges that these women’s films adopt a different perspective if only because they often render visible discriminatory behaviours (e.g. discrimination at work) and representational practices (e.g. the sexual objectification of women). Regarding their treatment of the aforementioned ‘feminine themes’ (i.e. family and romanticism), these filmmakers self-consciously engage with the conventions that have constructed femininity in the media.
2011-06-14
2011-06-14
2009-08
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133095
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1330962020-05-15T01:59:02Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Changes in diversionary strategies within the youth justice system of England & Wales (1908-2010)
Randall, Vicki Louise
youth justice
M990 Law not elsewhere classified
A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
Youth justice in England and Wales is a highly politicised area of government policy and youth justice provision has always been a highly contested issue. The discourse of diversion stems from debates about the purpose and effectiveness of various types of penal regimes, and particularly their effect on children and young people in trouble with the law. The process of diversion aims to remove children and young people from the formal sanctions of the criminal justice system or minimize their penetration into it, and failing that it aims to avoid incarceration. Over the years diversion has taken many forms and the extent to which children have been diverted has varied. This thesis explores the various types of diversionary practice and how they have changed over time. It explores the political, administrative and professional conditions under which diversion has been a priority and those under which it has been effective. Bernard (1992) has argued that there is a ‘cycle of youth justice’ in which responses to youth crime move from the harsh to the more lenient before swinging back again. The thesis suggests that there is a ‘spiral’ of youth justice in which different paradigms are sometimes entangled together leading to the often contradictory and complex realities of youth justice and diversion without necessarily returning to the place of origin. It concludes that, given the current fiscal climate, there is a distinct likelihood that diversion policies will gain ascendancy. However, any developments will be fragile and susceptible to unintended consequences if the ‘real’ outcomes for children and young people are not part of the motivation for reform.
2011-06-14
2011-06-14
2011-03
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133096
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1330972020-05-14T03:39:43Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Understanding the role of tourism in poverty reduction, the case of communities adjacent to Mikumi National Park in Tanzania
Kalemo, Zacharia Revocatus
tourism
poverty
poverty reduction
participation of local communities in tourism
Mikumi National Park
Tanzania
N840 International Tourism
Africa
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Research in Tourism
For over three decades tourism has been said to have the potential to accelerate economic growth that can guarantee significant development especially in developing countries. To some extent, the notion seems to be gripping ground at national level, as many developing countries, including Tanzania have begun recording a relative increase in national incomes as a result of recent boom of tourism industry in these countries. Nevertheless, the notion seems to be off-track and perhaps unrealistic from local perspective, since until now there is little empirical evidence to suggest how much tourism is reducing poverty at household level and individual level. Given this lack of research into the effects of tourism on poverty, the study therefore aimed to contribute to the knowledge base on the role of tourism in poverty reduction, by evaluating how tourism is perceived as agent for improving the livelihoods of poor in communities adjacent to Mikumi National Park (MINAPA) in Tanzania. To achieve this goal, the study developed three key research questions to guide this investigation: How is poverty understood and experienced by the communities adjacent to MINAPA? How is tourism understood as an agent for reducing poverty in these communities? Do barriers to participation of the poor in tourism exist and how could these be overcome? Since this study intended to ascertain data on understandings and lived experiences of poverty, and the perceptions about the interaction of tourism with poverty, the overarching stance for this study is therefore interpretivist, with emphasis on understanding the subjective meaning of lived experiences, rather than explaining the objective aspect of lived experience as in positivist paradigm. The research involved amalgamating phenomenology and ethnography coupled with various research methods in order to gain rich data on phenomena investigated. Themes were identified by using thematic analysis method. The findings of this study suggest that at the moment tourism is having insignificant contribution on poverty reduction in communities investigated in this study. However, most research participants perceived tourism as a positive initiative that can help to improve the livelihoods of the poor in their communities. But a number of barriers were acknowledged that hinder their participation in tourism, including, lack of involvement and empowerment of local communities in the management and sharing of benefits accrued through tourism in MINAPA. This study has therefore recommended for the renewed cooperation between all stakeholders in tourism, which is built on the real realm of transparency should poverty reduction through tourism turned from theory to reality. The contributions of this study to the tourism poverty reduction knowledge base include information on how tourism is perceived by the resource poor; enhanced knowledge with findings indicating tourism is not improving the livelihoods of the poor in communities investigated in this study; just to mention few.
2011-06-14
2011-06-14
2011-03
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133097
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1335492020-05-08T04:03:22Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Compositional structures in mural design : towards a site-specific deconstructive mural methodology
Abdelrahman, Akmal H.H.
murals
site-specificity
architecture
W190 Fine Art not elsewhere classified
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Murals have been the formal visual interpretation of the cultural, social and political life of all ages. Throughout they have been consistently combined with their architectural setting, for example, in ancient Egyptian tombs, in Renaissance churches and on the external walls of buildings in Mexico in the twentieth century. This is a central feature of mural painting. However many contemporary murals do not integrate with their architectural settings, in other words, do not fulfil the site-specificity of the architectural spaces for which they were made. This means that the most important aspect that distinguishes murals from other types of painting is absent. I studied and analysed a number of murals produced in the Italian Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo as this particular period is considered to be not only one of the most significant in the history of art but also a period in which painting and architecture were very closely allied as practices. In particular the radical developments in painting of pictorial space took place along side the developments in architecture. I argue that Renaissance murals could be described, using the terminology of contemporary art, as site-specific art. By identifying the relationship between pictorial space, architectural space and compositional structure I was able to test, through my own practice, the importance of these relationships in understanding the site-specificity of the compositional structure of murals. To address the issue of sitespecificity in murals, I investigated and developed a set of compositional structures through my mural practice that could be applied in the design, execution, and teaching of contemporary mural design. I have developed the notion of a deconstructive method of mural design in which the illusory space of the mural derives its compositional structure from the architectural space in which it sited. I have applied it, tested it and refined it through the execution of a number of hypothetical and live mural commissions. I believe that the approach to the study and practice of mural design I have developed from the perspective of a practice lead researcher contributes to the furtherance of mural design as both a profession and field of study. In particular the identification of compositional structures in mural design and the proposal of a deconstructive method contributes to our understanding of what a mural is as well as current notions of site-specificity in contemporary art.
2011-06-17
2011-06-17
2009
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133549
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1335692020-05-12T03:10:30Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
The role and impact of the press in Bahrain in the process of democratisation : special reference to the discourse of pre and post reforms in Bahraini newspapers (1996-2006)
Al-Fadhel, Jehad Abdulla
Bahrain
democracy
newspapers
impact of press
democratisation
P500 Journalism
L222 Democracy
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
This dissertation sets out to investigate the role of the press in effecting political and socio-economic changes in the Bahraini society prior, during and after the Reform Act which was issued by King Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa in February 2001. To this end, the author has used qualitative and quantitative research methods. This was carried out through content analysis of archival data, questionnaires and in-depth structured interviews. The population was randomly selected from journalists, intellectuals, women in key positions as well as media specialists. Qualitatively, the results point to some dramatic changes in varied areas. The press has brought about enhancing the margin of freedom of expression which is depicted in both the coverage and discourse of newspapers discourse. More importantly, the press has a remarkable role in women political empowerment which had been almost absent prior to the Reform Act. Quantitatively, a wider range of topics and issues, some of which are quite sensitive, are now addressed with relative transparency. Another significant change is the increasing number of newspapers. Before the Reform Act there were only two Arabic newspapers, now there are seven Arabic and two English newspapers. Despite such promising changes, some informants continue to believe that the margin of freedom of expression is somewhat restricted and there are some topics and issues that cannot be approached adequately. In light of the results of this study, it can be concluded that the press has effected some major political, social, economic, educational, etc. changes in Bahrain, albeit not quite satisfactorily.
2011-06-17
2011-06-17
2009-03
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133569
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1335712020-05-12T03:10:50Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
An analysis of the involvement construct in the information processing of advertising messages
Danbury, Annie Hagen
advertising
information processing
N561 Advertising
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
This research investigated the role of felt involvement in processing advertising messages by means of a 3x2 factorial experiment with control. The experiment was designed to examine the effects of advertising exposure on the decoding process with a risk and pleasure treatment for three product categories. Overall, results from 583 respondents provide strong support for the influence of affective components of involvement in the evaluation of advertising information in both high and medium involvement situations. Specifically, risk and pleasure antecedents were examined to determine their relative impact on involvement, information processing, and outcomes of the decoding process in terms of recall and attitudes to the advertisement. The involvement construct was found to be relatively stable, but the affective antecedents, pleasure and sign, influenced the decoding process and its outcomes after advertising exposure. Evidence from this research suggests that cognitive processing of advertising messages is simpler than has been assumed in the advertising and consumer behaviour literature to date as information processing is driven predominantly by affect. Pleasure appeals were also found to be particularly effective across product categories. Purchase risk was perceived to be very low or non-existent at the time of advertising exposure. Insight into the underlying processes that influence the decoding of advertising is also provided. This suggests that advertising situations are specific and based on the relative importance of the product, the nature of involvement, advertising appeal, user status, proximity of the next purchase, attitude to advertising and potentially gender identification.
2011-06-17
2011-06-17
2007-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133571
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1335702020-05-13T02:12:55Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Examining perfectionism in elite junior athletes : measurement and development issues
Appleton, Paul Richard
perfectionism
junior athletes
sport
sports psychology
C600 Sports Science
The major theme of the current thesis was the definition, measurement, and development of perfectionism in elite junior sport. The first purpose was to examine the psychometric properties associated with Hewitt and Flett’s (1991) Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS-HF) when complete by a sample of elite junior athletes. In study one, a confirmatory factor analysis failed to support the original structure of 45-item MPS-HF. Subsequent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a more parsimonious 15-item factor structure representing self-oriented (SOP), socially prescribed (SPP), and other-oriented perfectionism (OOP). Having established a reconstituted version of the MPS-HF, a second purpose of the research programme was to consider the origins of perfectionism in elite junior athletes using a cross-sectional design. Initially, in study two a social learning model was supported, with 18%-26% of variance in athletes’ perfectionism predicted by parents’ perfectionism. Building upon this finding in study three, a structural equation model revealed that parenting styles, including empathy and psychological control, mediated the parent-athletic child SPP relationship. In study four, a significant pathway emerged between parents’ achievement goals and athletes’ dispositional perfectionism, offering support for a social expectations model of perfectionism development. Specifically, parents’ task and ego orientations were positively associated with athletes’ SOP. In contrast, athletes’ SPP was predicted by parents’ ego orientation. Study four also demonstrated the nature and form of motivational regulation associated with athletes’ SOP and SPP. That is, a pathway emerged between athletes’ SPP and controlled forms of regulation, while athletes’ SOP was correlated with self-determined and controlled motivation. Finally, in study five, the coach-created motivational climate accounted for approximately 19% of variance in athletes’ perfectionistic cognitions, highlighting the role of additional social agents in the development of athletes’ perfectionism. The results of this research programme contribute to existing knowledge of perfectionism by forwarding reliable measures of SOP and SPP for employment in sport, and revealing a complex array of pathways that underpin the development of perfectionism in elite junior athletes. Ultimately, by preventing the occurrence of such pathways, athletic children may be protected from the perils of perfectionism.
2011-06-17
2011-06-17
2009
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133570
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1335512020-05-14T03:42:17Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Development of a whole-cell based biosensor technique for assessment of bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals in soil
Ding, Yurong
biosensors
heavy metals
soil
toxicity
bioavailability
F853 Pollution Control
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
The aim of this study was to develop a suitable monitoring protocol for mediated amperometric whole-cell biosensors for in situ assessment of heavy metals in soil. E. coli 8277, Pseudomonas 9773, Pseudomonas 9046 and Pseudomonas 8917 were screened as biosensor catalysts to select the sensitive biosensor configurations to heavy metals. A new protocol was developed for monitoring heavy metals in defined solution, soil pore water, and in situ in soil. This study also demonstrated the applications of mediated amperometric bacterial biosensors for in situ assessing the bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals in freshly spiked soils or historically contaminated soils, and mixture toxicities of heavy metals. It was found that the biosensors incorporating selected bacterial strains were appropriately sensitive to copper, but less sensitive to Zn, Pb, and Hg, compared to Microtox assay. The advantage of the mediated amperometric bacterial biosensor system is its in situ application in soils. The present study demonstrated that soil pore water does not accurately reflect conditions of soil ecosystem, and that in situ bioassays are more reliable for determining the bioavailability and toxicity of heavy metals. This is the first reported use of disposable whole cell biosensors for in situ heavy metal bioavailability and toxicity assessment. The biosensor protocol developed here can be adapted to allow the incorporation of dfferent bacterial biocatalysts for applications in soil quality assessment, screening of sites for contamination ‘hot spots’, and the evaluation of soil degradation or rehabilitation from metal pollution. Mediated amperometric bacterial biosensors are not analyte specific, their response reflecting the metabolic impact of the combined chemical and physical properties of the environment to which they are exposed. In assessing the toxicity of soil samples from fields using these biosensors, it is vital to get appropriate control soil samples. The conditions of soil samples also need to be well defined. The sensitivity of the mediated amperometric whole-cell biosensors to heavy metals need to be further improved. Investigations are also required to determine how the natural conditions affect the application of the biosensor system in the field.
2011-06-17
2011-06-17
2009-05
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/133551
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1343702020-05-13T02:14:23Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Revisiting ‘street-level bureaucracy’ in post-managerialist welfare states : a critical evaluation of front-line discretion in adult social care in England
Ellis, Kathryn Ann
social care
bureaucracy
welfare state
social work management
social work assessment
L432 Welfare Policy
The thesis set out in this submission is drawn from six of the candidate’s publications, based in turn on empirical findings from four research studies of adult social care in England spanning the period 1992 2006. As a body of work, it interrogates the validity of Lipsky’s (1980) conclusions about the origins and nature of ‘streetlevel bureaucracy’ in the wake of subsequent welfare restructuring. The earlier studies pay particular attention to the impact of managerialisation on frontline assessment practice amongst adult social work teams following implementation of the 1990 National Health Service and Community Care Act. Later studies tackle a further challenge to Lipsky’s thesis of street-level bureaucracy, that is, the potential for a change in the nature of the exchange relationship between street-level bureaucrat and client in the light of the insertion of service user involvement, empowerment and rights into governance arrangements after 1990, including adult social care. The candidate argues that the ethnomethodological approach adopted in three out of the four studies has yielded rich data on frontline practice of a type screened out by much contemporaneous research on the impact of social care reforms. Taken together with the span of the research studies over some fifteen years, this has supported not only a detailed analysis of the relationship between the micropolitics of assessment practice and key features of the differing environments within which they occur but also their articulation with changing modes of welfare governance. Discourse analysis of interview findings from the remaining study has permitted insights into the way social workers integrate thinking about human and social rights into their everyday assessment practice. The candidate summarises her threefold contribution to the literature in a taxonomy derived from the research findings which serves, firstly, to articulate the relationship between core dimensions of the policy and practice environment and the differing forms of frontline discretion to emerge after 1990; secondly, to explore the impact of user empowerment and rights on the distribution of resources; and, thirdly, to evaluate the continuing relevance of ‘streetlevel’ bureaucracy for understanding frontline social work practice. She concludes by sketching out possible future directions for her work.
2011-06-24
2011-06-24
2009
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134370
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1343732020-05-11T01:59:27Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Practical design of optimal wireless metropolitan area networks: model and algorithms for OFDMA networks
Gordejuela Sánchez, Fernando
wireless metropolitan area networks
OFDMA
wireless networks
G420 Networks and Communications
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D.
This thesis contributes to the study of the planning and optimisation of wireless metropolitan area networks, in particular to the access network design of OFDMAbased systems, where different parameters like base station position, antenna tilt and azimuth need to be configured during the early stages of the network life. A practical view for the solution of this problem is presented by means of the development of a novel design framework and the use of multicriteria optimisation. A further consideration of relaying and cooperative communications in the context of the design of this kind of networks is done, an area little researched. With the emergence of new technologies and services, it is very important to accurately identify the factors that affect the design of the wireless access network and define how to take them into account to achieve optimally performing and cost-efficient networks. The new features and flexibility of OFDMA networks seem particularly suited to the provision of different broadband services to metropolitan areas. However, until now, most existing efforts have been focused on the basic access capability networks. This thesis presents a way to deal with the trade-offs generated during the OFDMA access network design, and presents a service-oriented optimization framework that offers a new perspective for this process with consideration of the technical and economic factors. The introduction of relay stations in wireless metropolitan area networks will bring numerous advantages such as coverage extension and capacity enhancement due to the deployment of new cells and the reduction of distance between transmitter and receiver. However, the network designers will also face new challenges with the use of relay stations, since they involve a new source of interference and a complicated air interface; and this need to be carefully evaluated during the network design process. Contrary to the well known procedure of cellular network design over regular or hexagonal scenarios, the wireless network planning and optimization process aims to deal with the non-uniform characteristics of realistic scenarios, where the existence of hotspots, different channel characteristics for the users, or different service requirements will determine the final design of the wireless network. This thesis is structured in three main blocks covering important gaps in the existing literature in planning (efficient simulation) and optimisation. The formulation and ideas proposed in the former case can still be evaluated over regular scenarios, for the sake of simplicity, while the study of latter case needs to be done over specific scenarios that will be described when appropriate. Nevertheless, comments and conclusions are extrapolated to more general cases throughout this work. After an introduction and a description of the related work, this thesis first focuses on the study of models and algorithms for classical point-to-multipoint networks on Chapter 3, where the optimisation framework is proposed. Based on the framework, this work: - Identifies the technology-specific physical factors that affect most importantly the network system level simulation, planning and optimization process. - It demonstrates how to simplify the problem and translate it into a formal optimization routine with consideration of economic factors. - It provides the network provider, a detailed and clear description of different scenarios during the design process so that the most suitable solution can be found. Existing works on this area do not provide such a comprehensive framework. In Chapter 4: - The impact of the relay configuration on the network planning process is analysed. - A new simple and flexible scheme to integrate multihop communications in the Mobile WiMAX frame structure is proposed and evaluated. - Efficient capacity calculations that allow intensive system level simulations in a multihop environment are introduced. In Chapter 5: - An analysis of the optimisation procedure with the addition of relay stations and the derived higher complexity of the process is done. - A frequency plan procedure not found in the existing literature is proposed, which combines it with the use of the necessary frame fragmentation of in-band relay communications and cooperative procedures. - A novel joint two-step process for network planning and optimisation is proposed. Finally, conclusions and open issues are exposed.
2011-06-24
2011-06-24
2009-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134373
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1343552020-05-11T01:57:28Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
An investigation into performance based pay in Nigerian financial institutions
Maycock, Eno Amasi
Nigeria
financial institutions
individual performance related pay
team pay
team working
business culture
performance related pay
performance management
job satisfaction
N690 Human Resources not elsewhere classified
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
PURPOSE – To critically investigate the effect/impact the implementation of both team and individual based pay has when responses are measured in terms of teamworking, job satisfaction, culture and commitment in 2 Nigerian financial institutions. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH – The study presents the first empirical case-study research carried out in Nigeria. The data are based on 2 Nigerian financial institutions surveys from 2002 to 2006. The analysis addresses the impact of the introduction of PRP within these institutions. Questionnaires were sent out to the 226 employees. Interviews and focus groups were also carried out with both managers and employees across both organisations. FINDINGS – The findings indicate the importance of valence for monetary incentives, the instrumentality of performance for the monetary incentives and clear individual and group objectives for improving performance. On the basis of the analysis of the data from employees covered by the scheme, the results suggests that there are clear indications that it has raised motivational levels, though employees prefer working with individual performance related pay than in teams, but would not mind working in teams if it is linked to a reward, but the responses indicate that individual performance related pay has damaged the concept of team working. The results indicated a positive link of PRP having a positive effect with employees on higher grade levels; this result support other results from a number of earlier UK studies. The results also indicate that the introduction of PRP can enhance culture change and enhanced performance but may not ultimately lead to commitment from employees. The findings also indicate a positive link between PRP, improved individual and organisational performance, change in culture and job satisfaction. Though the research indicates positive outcomes from one organisation it also indicates negative outcomes from the other organisation. Why would that occur, as both organisations operate the same form of individual PRP? It leads the researcher to conclude that PRP must be modified to take into account the cultural (national & organisational) implications of the transference western management practices into non-western organisations. The research finishes by listing out implications for management and recommendations. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS – As this study utilises data from Nigerian financial institutions only, its results cannot be generalised to other sectors and countries characterised by different cultures and contexts. However, what is critical though is that the approach used to finding these results can be applied in a wide variety of situations, thus enabling the examination of external validity. ORIGINALITY/VALUE – This study is one of the first to explore the effect/impact of the introduction of performance related pay in Nigerian financial institutions and reflecting on the historic cultural context of gift giving and culture within organisations and the impact this has on the success or failure of PRP schemes. It also provides a new empirical evidence on the use of performance related pay. The results also show a link between the introduction of performance related pay and a change in the psychological contract from a relational contract to a transactional psychological contract, where commitment (bought) and loyalty is based on the monetary aspects of the relationship. The results supports an interpretation of incentive pay as motivated by expectancy theory and provides new evidence on the relationship between the success of performance related and its use by employees as a bargaining tool for salary increases and new job roles. Its implications should be of interest to human resource managers when designing reward strategies for their organisations.
2011-06-24
2011-06-24
2009-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134355
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1343752020-04-23T07:29:16Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
A study of the theme of borderland in Nadine Gordimer's fiction
Mazhar, Syeda Faiqa
borderland
Nadine Gordimer
South Africa
colonialism
Q322 English Literature by author
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
This doctoral project is an analytical study of South African writer, Nadine Gordimer's fiction produced from 1949 to 1994. She presents a theme similar to the post-colonial critic, Homi Bhabha's notion of borderland which he propounds as a place of creativity and cultural hybridity in his work The Location of Culture (1994). The "borderland" in Gordimer's fiction acts as a liminal space and becomes a connective tissue in her characters' lives. It emerges in the form of crossing physical frontiers and mental barriers which existed in South African society. Through moments of transition, Gordimer makes her characters aware of a liberal person's marginal position, between the reactionary colonial past and the "inbetween-ness" of the borderland in radical future of South Africa. Along with this introductory background, Chapter One establishes the dual working of physical and psychological processes through which Gordimer develops the theme of "borderland" in her fiction. The subsequent three chapters focus on the variety in the presentation of "borderland" encounters in her fiction written before and after Sharpeville (1960). The thesis concludes that the dual development of physical and psychological processes is a central narrative strategy which determines a link between chronology and the presentation of "borderland" in Gordimer's fiction.
2011-06-24
2011-06-24
2007-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134375
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1343602020-05-11T01:59:34Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Studies on the effect of cryopreservation on gene expression in zebrafish blastomeres
Lin, Chia-Hsin
Institute of Research in the Applied Natural Sciences
cryopreservation
zebrafish
DNA damage
gene expression
C410 Applied Genetics
Danio rerio
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Cryopreservation is now a common practice in the fields of aquaculture, conservation and biomedicine. The success of cryopreservation is usually analysed in terms of cell survival, although there are other potential adverse effects that don’t necessarily result in cell death. These include DNA damage, which could result in altered gene expression. The aim of this study is to discover if cryopreservation has an impact on gene expression using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as the model organism. As the whole embryo cannot yet be successfully cryopreserved, isolated blastomeres from the embryos were used to investigate the impact of cryo-treatment on gene expression. This study sets out firstly to determine an optimum cryopreservation protocol for 50% epiboly blastomeres (Epiboly displaces the blastoderm margin to 50% of the distance between the animal and vegetal pole). Blastomeres had the highest survival level (70.2 ± 3.2%) when a mixture of 1.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 0.1 M sucrose were used as cryoprotectants. As quantitative analysis of gene expression using real-time PCR requires the use of a housekeeping gene as an internal control to normalize date, the second study aimed to identify and validate housekeeping genes for use in cryopreservation studies of zebrafish blastomeres. Seven potential housekeeping genes were analysed across a range of embryo stages and isolated blastomeres using the GeNorm and NormFinder software packages. Results indicated β-actin and EF1α housekeeping genes to be the most appropriate for cryopreservation studies on zebrafish embryos and blastomeres, and these housekeeping genes were used in the third study, the effect of cryopreservation on Pax gene expression. The results indicated that the trends (profile changes) in expression of Pax2a and Pax5 occurred to a lesser extent in frozen-thawed blastomeres than in fresh blastomeres whilst the opposite was true for Pax8. The trends in expression of Pax2b were delayed in frozen-thawed blastomeres compared to fresh blastomeres. Cryopreservation can therefore disrupt normal gene expression patterns in zebrafish embryos which could have a detrimental effect on embryo development. This is the first study on the stability of housekeeping and transcription factor genes in chilled and cryopreserved embryonic cells of the zebrafish. This work will significantly enhance future studies investigating the impact of cryopreservation on gene expression in zebrafish embryos.
2011-06-24
2011-06-24
2009-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134360
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1343792020-05-15T02:01:16Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
The development of an intelligent ray launching algorithm for wireless network planning
Lai, Zhihua
propagation simulation
path loss
discrete ray launching
multipath
delay spread
wireless network planning
parallel
POP-C++
wireless networks
G420 Networks and Communications
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the dgree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
Current propogation models are no longer sufficient for wireless network planning. They are neither accurate (empirical) nor fast enough (deterministic) to be applicable in the applications of Automated Cell Planning. This thesis focuses on the development of a new method, namely Intelligent Ray Launching Algorithm (IRLA), which is based on a fast, accurate and robust algorithm that is especially suitable for wireless network planning. The infrastructure of IRLA is thoroughly analysed in this thesis and the results are presented. Foster's design methodology has been used to parallelise the new model. Various scenarios for outdoor, indoor, indoor-to-outdoor and outdoor-to-indoor settings have been employed to test the effectiveness and efficiency of IRLA. The field strengths (path loss) and multipath information were calculated, which were used to demonstrate the application of IRLA. The accuracy of IRLA is guaranteed via the use of a meta-based heuristics calibration procedure. In order to achieve a simulation within a realistic time scale, acceleration techniques such as avoid double marking, multi-threading and the use of Parallel Object-Oriented Programming C++ have been employed. Since multipath for a large number of receiver locations can be easily obtained via IRLA, the study of delay spread has been presented. The success of the integration with a wireless network planning platform exemplifies that IRLA is suitable for wireless network planning and optimisation, which is beneficial to relevant academics and industries. Testing demonstrated that depending on various scenarios, IRLA obtains industrially-recognised accuracy ranging from 5 to 8 dB Root-Mean-Square-Error. This model is highly-efficient because its required runtime for most simulations is from a few seconds to a few minutes.
2011-06-24
2011-06-24
2010-06
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134379
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1343712020-04-23T07:27:55Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Adaptive intelligent tutoring for teaching modern standard Arabic
Kseibat, Dawod
intelligent tutoring systems
Arabic
language learning
Q420 Classical Arabic
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
The aim of this PhD thesis is to develop a framework for adaptive intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) in the domain of Modern Standard Arabic language. This framework will comprise of a new approach to using a fuzzy inference mechanism and generic rules in guiding the learning process. In addition, the framework will demonstrate another contribution in which the system can be adapted to be used in the teaching of different languages. A prototype system will be developed to demonstrate these features. This system is targeted at adult English-speaking casual learners with no pre-knowledge of the Arabic language. It will consist of two parts: an ITS for learners to use and a teachers‘ tool for configuring and customising the teaching rules and artificial intelligence components among other configuration operations. The system also provides a diverse teaching-strategies‘ environment based on multiple instructional strategies. This approach is based on general rules that provide means to a reconfigurable prediction. The ITS determines the learner‘s learning characteristics using multiple fuzzy inferences. It has a reconfigurable design that can be altered by the teacher at runtime via a teacher-interface. A framework for an independent domain (i.e. pluggable-domain) for foreign language tutoring systems is introduced in this research. This approach allows the system to adapt to the teaching of a different language with little changes required. Such a feature has the advantages of reducing the time and cost required for building intelligent language tutoring systems. To evaluate the proposed system, two experiments are conducted with two versions of the software: the ITS and a cut down version with no artificial intelligence components. The learners used the ITS had shown an increase in scores between the post-test and the pre-test with learning gain of 35% compared to 25% of the learners from the cut down version.
2011-06-24
2011-06-24
2010-06
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134371
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1343542020-05-13T02:14:09Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Facilitating organisational creativity : exploring the contribution of psychological, social and organizational factors
Loewenberger, Pauline Anne
innovation
creativity
organisations
N212 Creative Management
Towards the end of the first decade of the 21st century the economic downturn increases the significance of creativity and innovation to business success. As the seed of innovation or fuel for the innovation engine creativity is important throughout the process in distinguishing successful innovations. However, many organisations struggle to transform the rhetoric of creativity and innovation into reality because of a lack of understanding of what this means or how to achieve this. Fragmentation of existing research leads to ambiguous evidence with a danger of spurious relationships or confounding of factors that is inadequate to advance theoretical understanding and inform practice. This investigation provides a number of valuable contributions to overcome such limitations through systemic analysis of individual, social and organisational factors that support creativity based on a research strategy of multiple case studies and employing quantitative and qualitative techniques. Empirical investigation employing both the KEYS assessment of creative climate and personality characteristics is rare. Findings reinforce the contribution for four of five factors deemed most important to supporting creativity together with the Openness to Experience personality dimension. The presentation of a general linear model explains 47% variance based on Organisational Encouragement, Challenging Work, Work Group Support, Organisational Impediments, and Openness to Experience. Alternative models suggest Openness to experience moderates the significance of climate factors. For individuals very high on this personality dimension the interaction of Challenging Work and Work Group Support contributes 60% variance in creativity. Qualitative investigation extends the variance contributed by the general linear models to include the significance of shared understanding and meaning, the need for continuous active stimulation and supportive mechanisms, passion or love for one’s work and freedom to voice ideas. Finally, synthesis of creativity theories with HRM and HRD extend and advance theory and practice in a number of ways that have implications for the limitations of KEYS and for models of SHRM. Results extend existing knowledge and understanding of facilitation and implications are explored in-depth for organisations aspiring to creativity and innovation.
2011-06-24
2011-06-24
2009-12
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134354
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1345532018-10-19T13:14:49Zcom_10547_132193col_10547_132217
Organ donation and transplantation - meeting the needs of a multi-ethnic and multi-faith UK population
Randhawa, Gurch
2011-06-27
2011-06-27
2011
Book chapter
Randhawa G. (2011) 'Organ donation and transplantation - meeting the needs of a multi-ethnic and multi-faith UK population' in 'Organ shortage: ethics, law and pragmatism', edited by Farrell AM, Price D, Quigly M, Cambridge University Press
9780511973536
10.1017/CBO9780511973536
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134553
en
http://ebooks.cambridge.org/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9780511973536&cid=CBO9780511973536A018
Cambridge University Press
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349492020-05-14T03:42:25Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
The systemic determinants of levels of child incarceration in England and Wales
Bateman, Tim
prison
criminal justice
child incarceration
youth justice
L560 Probation/After Care
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire for the degree of Professional Doctorate in Youth Justice
For a brief moment in the 1980s, a number of local authorities across England and Wales declared themselves ‘custody free zones’ (Rutherford, 2002), symbolising an intent that children should not be incarcerated for their offending behaviour within the local authority boundary. While this lofty aspiration was not always fulfilled, on occasion it was. More importantly, such declarations can be seen as manifestations of a widespread commitment, extending well beyond those ‘zones’, to the idea that the use of custody for children should be avoided wherever possible. During the course of the decade, that commitment found expression in an unprecedented fall in the number of young people deprived of their liberty by the criminal courts. The 1990s proved to be very different. A sea-change in the treatment of children in conflict with the law led to an escalation in custody every bit as sharp as the decline that had preceded it. This thesis seeks to explain that shift in order to understand the implications for practice if the imprisonment of children is to be reduced. The explanatory account is set against a longer term background of social, economic and political change that yielded what Garland (2002) has characterised as the ‘crisis of penal modernism’. It invokes what Foucault (1991) calls a ‘history of the present’ in which patterns of incarceration since the late 1960s are analysed to shed light on the systemic determinants of the current high level of youth custody. Local variations in the use of child imprisonment are also interrogated in the context of the historical experience to ascertain the nature of political, systemic and cultural factors that are consistent with lower rates of detention. The thesis concludes that the recent rise in custody cannot be understood in isolation: the same underlying dynamic that fuelled the carceral explosion impacted equally on other aspects of the youth justice system; and necessitated a significant cultural shift on the part of the those who might previously have been expected to resist the use of detention. Without an understanding of these corresponding changes, strategies for custody reduction that rely heavily on the provision of ‘robust’ community based alternatives, or those that seek to reduce the population of the secure estate simply by ‘nipping in the bud’ (Straw, 1997) children’s offending, are unlikely to lead to the desired outcome.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2010-04
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134949
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349312020-05-14T03:38:12Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Studies in equine reproduction
Wilsher, Sandra Ann
horse breeding
equine reproduction
embryo transfer
equine fertility
D390 Veterinary Sciences not elsewhere classified
A report submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Publication
The papers put forward by the candidate represent a significant contribution to three main areas within the body of knowledge of equine reproduction. Namely, i) epidemiological surveys of the efficiency of Thoroughbred racing and breeding, ii) the morphology and functions of the equine placenta and, iii) embryo transfer in the horse. Two extensive surveys on reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred mares and stallions at stud and factors associated with the failure of Thoroughbred horses to train and race demonstrated that increasing mare age is the greatest limiting factor to an otherwise high rate of fertility in English Thoroughbreds although a high incidence of early embryonic death remains a significant loss to the breeding industry. The racing wastage survey showed little change over the past 20 years in the percentage of 2- and 3-year-old horses that fail to run, the percentage that are never placed in a race and the number that suffer significant injury or illness during their racing careers. Radical and innovative changes to training methods are needed to overcome these problems. The morphology of the equine placenta was examined using gross measurements, stereological-techniques, vascular casting and immunohistochemistry and the findings related to fetal development and postnatal growth. Stereological measurements applied to term placentae established reference parameters such as surface area per unit volume of placental microcotyledons, the total microscopic area of contact between mother and fetus at the placental interface, and placental VI efficiency. Maternal age, parity, size, genotype and nutrition were all shown to alter placental morphology and, hence, pre- and postnatal fetal development. A novel pair of cervical forceps were designed and marketed to provide a simple and practical method for undertaking transcervical embryo transfer in the horse which enables inexperienced operators to transfer horse embryos successfully. These Wilsher Equine Embryo Transfer Forceps have won widespread acclaim and commercial application in the equine veterinary and scientific communities. A pharmacological method to extend donor-recipient synchrony was developed with both commercial and scientific application. Further work also showed the unique ability of the equine embryo to tolerate a very wide window of donor-recipient asynchrony and it provided a valuable research tool with which to study the relevant roles of the conceptus and uterine environment in regulating embryonic differentiation and fetal growth in the mare.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-04
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134931
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349322020-05-29T03:44:57Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
“Other spirit voices in the air” : community radio, mobile phones and the electromagnetic spectrum
Gordon, Janey
community radio
mobile telephony
communications media
P302 Radio studies
H641 Telecommunications Engineering
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by published works of the University of Bedfordshire
This collection of published scholarly work concerns the growth and development of community radio and mobile telephony during the period 2000-2009, with reference to specific examples and case studies. The associated report examines the extent that the public are using these media to the benefit of individuals and communities and also suggests that the public have regained use of the electromagnetic spectrum through the use of community radio and mobile phones. The over arching hypothesis is that both community radio and mobile telephony are: • providing benefits to society, rangmg from improving daily life and avoiding inconveniences, to ameliorating critical or life-threatening situations and resisting oppression, • re-establishing rights of usage in the electromagnetic spectrum for ordinary members of the public which were surrendered to governmental authorities in the early years of spectrum experimentation, • using the electromagnetic spectrum as a tool for activism, political discussion, social engagement and exchange of information about matters of common interest, • worthy of research and examination to investigate how these two forms of communications media are impacting on the lives of individuals and society as a whole.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2010-06
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134932
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349332020-05-13T02:14:16Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Studies on cryopreservation of zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocytes using controlled slow cooling and vitrification
Guan, Mo
cryopreservation
zebrafish
oocyte viability
C410 Applied Genetics
Danio rerio
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Cryopreservation of gametes provides a promising method to preserve fish genetic materials, which offers many benefits to the fields of aquaculture, conservation and biomedicine. Although successful cryopreservation of spermatozoa of about 200 fish species has been achieved, systematic studies on cryopreservation of fish oocytes have only recently been undertaken. The objective of the present studies was to use zebrafish as a model system to develop a cryopreservation protocol for fish oocytes and to develop reliable viability assessment methods for monitoring zebrafish oocyte viability both before and after cryopreservation. A simple and rapid enzymatic method for zebrafish oocytes isolation was developed and the investigations on cryopreservation of zebrafish oocytes using improved controlled slow cooling and vitrification were carried out. Oocyte viability following cryopreservation was investigated by ATP assay, oocyte viability molecular signature (OVMS) and cryomicroscopic observation in addition to staining methods. The optimum conditions for oocyte enzymatic separation were identified as 0.4mg/ml collagenase or 1.6mg/ml hyaluronidase treatment for 10min at 22ºC and this method can be used for oocytes at all stages. The use of sodium free medium (KCl buffer), fast warming and 4-step removal of cryoprotectants in an improved controlled slow cooling protocol significantly enhanced oocyte viability (67.5 ± 1.7%) when compared with a previous study (16.3 ± 2.3%) in this laboratory. Mixtures of cryoprotectants (methanol, Me2SO and propylene glycol), stepwise addition and removal of cryoprotectants in combination of a new vitrification system (CVA65 vitrification system) were used in vitrification studies. Oocyte survivals after vitrification assessed by trypan blue staining were relatively high (76.5 ± 6.3%) shortly after warming in KCl buffer. Furthermore, the result of ATP assay showed that ATP levels in oocytes decreased significantly after cryopreservation indicating the bioenergetic systems of oocytes were damaged. Cryomicroscopic observations demonstrated that Intracellular ice formation (IIF) is the main factor causing injuries during cryopreservation of zebrafish oocytes. The results provided by the present study will assist successful protocol design for cryopreservation of fish oocytes in the future.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-03
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134933
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349372020-05-15T02:00:53Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Personal knowledge development in online learning environments : a personal value perspective
Haag, Markus
personal knowledge development
online learning environments
organisational knowledge creation
knowledge management
online learning
C812 Educational Psychology
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
This thesis investigates personal knowledge development in online learning environments and the impact that personal values have on it. Personal knowledge development was investigated from the perspective of Nonaka’s SECI model of organisational knowledge creation. This model served as the basis for an adapted model that conceptualises personal knowledge development in online learning at the individual level. The personal value types of the Schwartz Value Survey and the Portrait Values Questionnaire were adopted to measure personal values and their impact on personal knowledge development in online learning environments. Three data collection approaches were used. First, an exploratory study was conducted which elicited online learners’ experiences of their personal knowledge development in online learning; this study used online discussion forums for data collection. Second, a Delphi study was carried out. Experts were asked which of the ten individual-level value types by Schwartz are likely to be particularly relevant in the context of online learning. Third, an online survey was created. Its aim was to measure the impact that personal values and background variables, such as gender and age, have on personal knowledge development in online learning. A measurement instrument was devised that measures three of the SECI modes, namely Externalisation, Combination and Internalisation. This instrument measures the magnitude of online learners’ Externalisation and Combination activities as well as their level of Internalisation, i.e. the outcomes of personal knowledge development. Results of the exploratory study show that there are widely diverging experiences of personal knowledge development in online learning. The literature review suggests that the cultural situatedness of an online learning environment is an important influencing factor on personal knowledge development. The results of the Delphi study suggest that Self-Direction, Stimulation, and Achievement are particularly relevant value types in the context investigated here. Finally, the online survey confirms this view, as all three value types were found to be positively correlated with Externalisation, Combination, and Internalisation, with the exception of the Achievement-Combination relationship. A modified version of the SECI model is proposed, which extends the applicability of the original SECI model from the organisational to the individual level. It is argued that this model is suitable to describe personal knowledge development in the context of online learning. The study also contributes to closing the gap in research on the impact of personal values in the context investigated in this study. Moreover, a measurement instrument was created that can be used to measure Externalisation and Combination, i.e. personal knowledge development processes, and Internalisation, i.e. personal knowledge development outcomes.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2010-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134937
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349392020-05-15T02:01:39Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Policing in the iron cage : the tensions between the bureaucratic mandate and street level reality
Hallam, Stephen A.
crime recording
policing
police reporting
bureaucracy
crime statistics
M211 Criminal Law
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
In April 2002 a National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced across police forces in England and Wales. The intention of this standard, resultant of two highly critical reports regarding police recording of crime, was to improve crime data and promote a victim focussed approach. Research in the field of crime recording emphasises police reporting and recording mechanisms, with a significant reliance placed on police data. However, inter-personal and situational factors determining the ways in which notification of an event is, or is not, translated into a crime record are often inadequately explored. Consequently, there is little recent knowledge regarding the views of individuals reporting an event and the way in which they, through the interactions with the police, affect recording rates. This thesis explores these effects and investigates the impact of deviation from the rules governing crime recording upon service user experiences and satisfaction. Incident logs from three forces were analysed, officer focus groups and questionnaire-based surveys were undertaken and interviews were conducted with service users. Perceptions of service users and police officers vis-à-vis the effectiveness of police intervention were examined, together with the efficacy of previous research methodologies employed to gauge recording rates, the rules regarding crime recording and the existent performance frameworks. The findings suggest that previously reported recording rates are inevitably unreliable owing to a lack of detail within incident logs and the complexities involved in the recognition and labelling of events as crimes. Whilst easing of workloads is a common theme highlighted in previous research, there is notably less emphasis and recognition of other factors. The response, by officers at street level, to the realities of the social world, the conflicting priorities brought about by managerial dictum and the bureaucratic rules governing the recording of crime is to ‘define down crime’. The findings fill the considerable knowledge gap regarding diverse service user requirements and conflicting priorities faced by service providers prior to the introduction of the NCRS, suggesting that the imposition of managerial ideals, the accompanying bureaucratic rules and the corollary, the diminution of discretion, has a detrimental effect on service delivery.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134939
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349502020-05-14T03:42:03Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Incremental high quality probabilistic roadmap construction for robot path planning
Li, Yueqiao
robotics
path planning
roadmap construction
robot path planning
H671 Robotics
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
In robotics, path planning refers to the process of establishing paths for robots to move from initial positions to goal positions without colliding into any obstacle within specified environments. Constructing roadmaps and searching for paths in the roadmaps is one of the most commonly used methodologies adopted in path planning. However, most sampling-based path planners focus on improving the speed of constructing roadmaps without taking into account the quality. Therefore, they often produce poor-quality roadmaps. Poor-quality roadmaps can cause problems, such as time-consuming path searches, poor quality path production, and even failure of the searching. This research aims to develop a novel sampling-based path planning algorithm which is able to incrementally construct high-quality roadmaps while answering path queries for robots with many degrees of freedom. A novel K-order surrounding roadmap (KSR) concept is proposed in this research based on a thorough investigation into the criteria of high-quality roadmaps, including the criteria themselves and the relationships between them. A KSR contains K useful cycles. There exist a value T for which we can say, with confidence, that the KSR is a high quality roadmap when K=T. A new sampling-based path planning algorithm, known as the KSR path planner that is able to construct a roadmap incrementally while answering path queries, is also developed. The KSR path planner can be employed to answer path queries without requiring any pre-processing. The planner grows trees from the initial and goal III configurations of a path query and connects these two trees to obtain a path. The path planner retains useful vertices of the trees and uses these to construct the roadmap and adds useful cycles to the existing roadmap in order to improve the quality. The roadmap constructed can be used to answer further queries. With the KSR path planner algorithm, there is no need to calculate the value of K to construct a high quality roadmap in advance. The quality of the roadmap improves as the KSR path planner answer queries until the roadmap is able to answer any path queries and no further useful cycles can be added into the roadmap. If the number of path queries is infinite, a high quality KSR can be constructed. The novelty of this KSR path planner is twofold. Firstly, it employs a vertex category classifier to understand local environments where roadmap vertices reside. The classifier is developed using a decision tree method. The classifier is able to classify vertices in a roadmap based on the region information stored in the vertices and their neighbours within a certain distance. The region information stored in the vertices is obtained while the edges connecting the vertices are added to the roadmap. Therefore, employing the vertex category classifier does not require much additional execution time. Secondly, the KSR path planner selects suitable developed strategies to prune the existing roadmap and add useful cycles according to the identified local environments where the vertices reside to improve the quality of the existing roadmap. Experimental results show that the KSR path planner can construct a roadmap and improve the quality of the roadmap incrementally while answering path queries until the roadmap can answer all the path queries without any pre-processing stage. The roadmap constructed by the KSR path planner then achieves better quality than the roadmaps constructed by Reconfigurable Random Forest (RRF) path planner and traditional probabilistic roadmap (PRM) path planner.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134950
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349512020-04-23T07:35:29Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Novel, robust and cost-effective authentication techniques for online services
Norrington, Peter
authentication
visual passwords
passwords
computer security
visuo-cognitive authentication
G920 Others in Computing Sciences
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D.
This thesis contributes to the study of the usability and security of visuo-cognitive authentication techniques, particularly those relying on recognition of abstract images, an area little researched. Many usability and security problems with linguistic passwords (including traditional text-based passwords) have been known for decades. Research into visually-based techniques intends to overcome these by using the extensive human capacity for recognising images, and add to the range of commercially viable authentication solutions. The research employs a mixed methodology to develop several contributions to the field. A novel taxonomy of visuo-cognitive authentication techniques is presented. This is based on analysis and synthesis of existing partial taxonomies, combined with new and extensive analysis of features of existing visuo-cognitive and other techniques. The taxonomy advances consistent terminology, and coherent and productive classification (cognometric, locimetric, graphimetric and manipulometric, based respectively on recognition of, location in, drawing of and manipulation of images) and discussion of the domain. The taxonomy is extensible to other classes of cognitive authentication technique (audio-cognitive, spatio-cognitive, biometric and token-based, etc.). A revised assessment process of the usability and security of visuo-cognitive techniques is proposed (employing three major assessment categories – usability, memorability and security), based on analysis, synthesis and refinement of existing models. The revised process is then applied to the features identified in the novel taxonomy to prove the process‘s utility as a tool to clarify both the what and the why of usability and security issues. The process is also extensible to other classes of authentication technique. iii Cognitive psychology experimental methods are employed, producing new results which show with statistical significance that abstract images are harder to learn and recall than face or object images. Additionally, new experiments and a new application of the chi-squared statistic show that users‘ choices of abstract images are not necessarily random over a group, and thus, like other cognitive authentication techniques, can be attacked by probabilistic dictionaries. A new authentication prototype is designed and implemented, embodying the usability and security insights gained. Testing of this prototype shows good usability and user acceptance, although speed of use remains an issue. A new experiment shows that abstract image authentication techniques are vulnerable to phishing attacks. Further, the testing shows two new results: that abstract image visuo-cognitive techniques are usable on mobile phones; and that such phones are not, currently, necessarily a threat as part of observation attacks on visual passwords.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134951
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349532020-05-13T02:12:45Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Developing a model for investigating the impact of language assessment within educational contexts by a public examination provider
Saville, N.D.
language assessment
ESOL
English language testing
English language assessment
examinations
Q330 English as a second language
language testing
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
There is no comprehensive model of language test or examination impact and how it might be investigated within educational contexts by a provider of high-stakes examinations, such as an international examinations board. This thesis addresses the development of such a model from the perspective of Cambridge ESOL, a provider of English language tests and examinations in over 100 countries. The starting point for the thesis is a discussion of examinations within educational processes generally and the role that examinations board, such as Cambridge ESOL play within educational systems. The historical context and assessment tradition is an important part of this discussion. In the literature review, the effects and consequences of language tests and examinations are discussed with reference to the better known concept of washback and how impact can be defined as a broader notion operating at both micro and macro levels. This is contextualised within the assessment literature on validity theory and the application of innovation theories within educational systems. Methodologically, the research is based on a meta-analysis which is employed in order to describe and review three impact projects. These three projects were carried out by researchers based in Cambridge to implement an approach to test impact which had emerged during the 1990s as part of the test development and validation procedures adopted by Cambridge ESOL. Based on the analysis, the main outcome and contribution to knowledge is an expanded model of impact designed to provide examination providers with a more effective “theory of action”. When applied within Cambridge ESOL, this model will allow anticipated impacts of the English language examinations to be monitored more effectively and will inform on-going processes of innovation; this will lead to well-motivated improvements in the examinations and the related systems. Wider applications of the model in other assessment contexts are also suggested.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134953
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349542020-05-12T03:10:02Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
The role of tourism in poverty reduction in Elmina, Ghana
Sonne, Joel
Ghana
tourism
poverty
poverty reduction
Elmina
N840 International Tourism
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
Governments and donor agencies are increasingly advocating tourism as a viable poverty reduction option in developing countries. However, the debate surrounding tourism development mechanisms and benefits to local people is based upon limited empirical evidence. Much of the literature has focused on the socio-economic impacts of tourism in developing countries, but there is comparatively limited investment of the relationship between tourism and poverty reduction from the perspectives of the stakeholders, particularly local people. To build knowledge about this relationship, this research study examines the role of tourism in poverty reduction in Elmina, Ghana. The core aim of the research is to analyse the inter-relationship between poverty reduction and tourism from the perspective of local people and stakeholders. The research focuses upon the importance of tourism as a developmental strategy to tackle poverty. The research methodology was formulated within an interpretive paradigm utilising qualitative techniques to investigate tourism and poverty in Elmina. Stakeholders who participated in the study included: Government; Donor Agencies; Local People; Tourists; and the Private Sector. The data was analysed using thematic data analysis methods. Researcher reflexivity is also integrated into the study in view of the researcher’s experience of employment in a public sector tourism organisation in Ghana. The thematic findings contribute to knowledge about the relationship between tourism and poverty reduction in Elmina and are categorised into three main themes. Firstly, local people in Elmina define and understand poverty and tourism opportunities in multiple ways, which differ from other stakeholders; however, differences in meanings and understandings exist between and within individuals and groups in Elmina. The attributes accounting for the differences in views include: level of education; access to the tourism market; participation in decision-making; and type of businesses. Secondly, local people participate in tourism mainly as owners of informal tourism businesses and employees. ii However, a group of marginalised people, the ‘Castle Boys’, also benefit from the support received from philanthropic tourists through the activities of begging and informal tour guiding as ways of earning income to escape from poverty. Finally, several barriers to participation for local people in tourism exist in the Elmina community, which marginalises and excludes a cross-section of the locals from the advantages of socio-economic opportunities. These barriers include: a low level of education attainment; a lack of availability of and access to credit facilities; and a lack of ‘voice’ in the decision-making process, indicating a general need for capacity building. Government and donor agencies’ neoliberal policy objectives of utilising cultural tourism for development has failed to achieve poverty reduction in Elmina. This issue has given rise to evolving questions of the use of tourism as a developmental tool to reduce poverty and how to empower local people to actively participate in emerging socio-economic opportunities. This research subsequently contributes to furthering the understanding of the role of tourism in poverty reduction, and theoretically comprehending the role of tourism as a development strategy to combat poverty in local communities.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2010-05
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134954
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349572020-05-12T03:10:21Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
A leader’s journey to engage : an interpretive study
Trinder, Jane
leadership
engagement
change management
N210 Management Techniques
N214 Change Management
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Of the University of Bedfordshire
This research focuses on the perspectives and capabilities held by leaders as they seek to develop an effective engagement strategy when leading change. It has brought together aspects of change, leadership, engagement and leadership development theory in seeking to understand what helps and hinders leaders in developing engagement capabilities. The concept of engagement has taken on increasing significance in recent years, due to its link with higher performance and profitability in organisations. Much existing literature focuses on processes that encourage the involvement of others, and measuring engagement using survey questions. The surveys tend to focus on identifying if someone finds meaning in their role, and whether the environment they operate in enables engagement. This research has sought to use research methodologies based on action learning that encourages the development of capabilities enabling engagement, whilst examining the psychological and contextual factors that help and hinder development. The research draws on adult maturity theory which is used as a framework to aid analysis. This theory suggests that the capability to engage may unfold with the maturing process. This theory aligned with the findings resulting in a profile of what engagement looked like at various levels of maturity. This is useful in that by understanding the capabilities associated with engagement at various levels of maturity it supports leaders and HR consultants to identify development required, and potentially can aid the choice of leader for running change programmes. Four key themes were identified during the analysis. Firstly, the impact of context and how it impacts choices made. Secondly, the importance of capabilities associated with authenticity. Thirdly, the link with emotional intelligence. Finally, the importance of developing a learning practice. The implication of this research is that intent to engage is insufficient as is the focus on process and policy aspects of engagement. Engagement capabilities can be developed and the development of the individual needs as much consideration as the need to ensure strategy, policy and process is appropriate for the engagement strategy. It suggests that when considering major change in organisations focus should be placed on the mindset and capabilities of potential change leaders, to identify whether they have the capabilities likely to align to a particular engagement strategy and to support their understanding of their development needs.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2010-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134957
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349602020-05-16T03:00:15Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Development of cryopreservation techniques for early stages zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocytes
Tsai, Sujune
zebrafish
oocyte viability
oocytes
cryopreservation
C410 Applied Genetics
Danio rerio
A thesis submitted to the university of Bedfordshire in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Cryopreservation of germplasm of aquatic species offers many benefits to the fields of aquaculture, conservation and biomedicine. Although successful fish sperm cryopreservation has been achieved with many species, there has been no report of successful cryopreservation of fish embryos and late stage oocytes which are large, chilling sensitive and have low membrane permeability. In the present study, the sensitivity to chilling and toxicity of cryoprotectants of early stage zebrafish ovarian follicles were studied before designing protocols for their cryopreservation using controlled slow cooling. The effect of cryoprotectant, freezing medium, cooling rate, method for cryoprotectant removal, post-thaw incubation time and ovarian follicle developmental stage were investigated. In vitro culture method for early stage zebrafish ovarian follicles were also developed. The studies showed that stage I and II ovarian follicles are less sensitive to chilling than stage III follicles and methanol was the least toxic cryoprotectant. 4M methanol in potassium chloride (KCl) buffer was found to be the optimal cryoprotective solution and the optimum cooling rate was 4 °C/min for stage I and II follicles. Although the highest survivals after 2 h post-thawed incubation were 50.7 ± 4.0% for stage II ovarian follicles obtained with FDA+PI staining, ADP/ATP ratios of the cryopreserved follicles were significantly increased indicating increased cell death. Furthermore, in vitro culture experiments showed that there was no growth for stage I and II ovarian follicles after cryopreservation, indicating that successful cryopreservation of early stage zebrafish ovarian follicles at liquid nitrogen still remains elusive. From in vitro culture study, 90% L-15 medium at pH 9.0 containing 10 IU/ml hCG was effective for in vitro culture of stage I and II ovarian follicles. Systematic study on cryopreservation of early stage fish ovarian follicles at liquid nitrogen temperature is reported ii here for the first time. The results will provide useful information on the future development of protocol design for successful cryopreservation of early stage fish ovarian follicles.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134960
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349722020-05-08T04:06:36Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Mothering by the book : constructions of mature student mothers’ identities in the context of mothering and study practices and Mother/Child relationships
Visick, Amanda
motherhood
mature students
mother-child relationship
L310 Applied Sociology
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
This project investigates the development of mature student mothers’ identities in the dual contexts of constructions of the women’s at-home study practices and of their ‘responsibilities’ for their children’s development. Interviews were conducted with 23 women – all ‘new university’ students – and with their schoolaged children. I used discourse analysis focussing on language as performative and constitutive in order to understand positioning of, and by the women. I also drew upon critical developmental psychological theory and the concepts of discourse, intersubjectivity and dialogicality as epistemological resources in order to understand the women’s and children’s accounts. The methodology yielded a diversity of constructions of the women, these drawing upon a variety of discourses. The first empirical chapter addresses constructions of mature student mothers, the second, constructions of child development and the third, constructions of ‘influence’. The organisation of the empirical chapters reflects not only the importance I accorded to particular themes, but also the idea that separating mothers’ concerns and those of their children can be less fruitful in examinations of identity construction than addressing these together. The key issues that are a thread connecting the empirical chapters are time (requiring ‘balancing’ of social positions); change (in mothering practices and confidence); perceived ‘influence’ on children’s development, and relationships (including the ways in which identities are constructed in the ‘space in the middle’). Participants addressed these issues in different ways with some women positioning not spending ‘quality’ time with their children as meeting children’s developmental needs (addressed in Chapter Seven). Other important themes were mothering constructed as mundane and undervalued (in Chapter Five), children’s constructions of ‘roles’ as helpers (in Chapter Six) and perceived intersubjectivity in mother/child interactions (examined in Chapter Seven). In the concluding chapter I discuss the implications of the findings in terms of the contribution of the research to theoretical debates about motherhood, mothering and child development. I also reflect on my position as a mature student mother, examining my involvement in the research process and finally, suggest applications for the findings reported in the thesis.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134972
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349622020-05-13T02:10:37Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Understanding change in Chinese undergraduate students’ language learning motivation : during the transition to UK higher education
Zhang, Qian
language learning
ESOL
motivation
Chinese students in UK higher education
academic English
English language teaching
Q330 English as a second language
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
This thesis investigates changes in Chinese undergraduate students’ language learning motivation during the transition from their home cultural setting to the host cultural setting, while studying on a China-UK 2+1 collaborative programme at the University of Bedfordshire. Since the 1990s, there has been growing attention to research on L2 motivation in classroom or other educational settings. To bridge the gap between general and L2 motivational theories, a number of theoretical frameworks have been developed. The most comprehensive of these is Dörnyei’s (1994a) three-level motivational framework. However, there is as yet little empirical evidence to verify this. The study employed mixed methods. Firstly, in order to identify whether these students’ language learning motivation changed over time, a two stage questionnaire survey was carried out with 158 students. Questionnaires were first administered in October shortly after students arrived in the UK to begin their courses and again in May when they were close to completing their degrees. Factor analysis was used to verify the structure of the questionnaire. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate whether significant changes had occurred in each of the motivational dimensions addressed. Secondly, in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 14 of the questionnaire respondents. The interviews explored motivational change in more open-ended fashion and in greater depth. Students’ comments were transcribed, translated and categorised on the basis of Dörnyei’s (1994a) framework. The conclusions, triangulated by both the key findings and the interview results, indicate that Chinese students have strong instrumental orientations and that their language learning motivation changes significantly at the Learner Level and Language Learning Situation Level of the framework. Some patterns underlying these changes were also discovered. The research findings additionally served to support the applicability of the Dörnyei (1994a) framework. Based on the empirical research findings, some practical recommendations are offered respectively for Chinese students and academic staff. These include: 1) The university should provide more information, or relevant training, about the British academic system and culture. 2) Academic staff need to understand Chinese students more fully and might adjust their teaching style to accommodate them. 3) There is a need for the university to redesign the academic English module to help students efficiently cope with their studies in the UK.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2008-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134962
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349742020-05-15T02:01:25Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Drowsiness detection based On Gegenbauer features
Zhang, Xiaoliang
drowsiness
Gegenbauer features
drowsiness detection
G761 Automated Reasoning
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) official reports, many traffic accidents have been caused due to drivers’ drowsiness. Previous work based on computer vision techniques achieved drowsiness detection, usually with special hardware that depended on laboratory environments. To overcome limitations of these approaches, a natural light based surveillance system is proposed. The system achieves drowsiness detection in three stages: face segmentation, drowsiness feature extraction and classification. To segment faces, a simplified skin colour model is developed to compute colour distance maps from original facial images. Candidate faces are located using colour distance maps in conjunction with centres of gravity of individual faces. Gegenbauer features are then applied to capture shape information that is related to drowsiness. The computation of these features is based on moments derived from coefficients of Gegenbauer polynomials. To detect the behaviour of a subject, image sequences of his/her face are classified into drowsy and nondrowsy states by a Hidden Markov Model using Gegenbauer features. A sequence is classified as drowsy if the number of drowsy states in the Hidden Markov Model reaches a pre-defined threshold. To evaluate the proposed system, experiments are conducted using 65 video clips that contained a mixture of 54 drowsy and 11 non-drowsy behaviours. The proposed system detected 47 drowsy behaviours from these video clips successfully, and thus resulting in a detection rate of 87%. This proposed system is independent of infrared illuminators that were found to be unreliable in previous systems. Furthermore, the new system deploys multiple facial features and presents a more accurate description of drowsiness rather than a single facial feature proposed by previous authors.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2008-03
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134974
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349402020-05-12T03:10:11Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Automated processing and analysis of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry screening data
Hitchcock, Jonathan James
gas chromatography
chromatography
mass spectrometry
sports drug surveillance
B290 Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy not elsewhere classified
F151 Pharmaceutical Chemistry
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D.
The work presented is a substantial addition to the established methods of analysing the data generated by gas chromatography and low-resolution mass spectrometry. It has applications where these techniques are used on a large scale for screening complex mixtures, including urine samples for sports drug surveillance. The analysis of such data is usually automated to detect peaks in the chromatograms and to search a library of mass spectra of banned or unwanted substances. The mass spectra are usually not exactly the same as those in the library, so to avoid false negatives the search must report many doubtful matches. Nearly all the samples in this type of screening are actually negative, so the process of checking the results is tedious and time-consuming. A novel method, called scaled subtraction, takes each scan from the test sample and subtracts a mass spectrum taken from a second similar sample. The aim is that the signal from any substance common to the two samples will be eliminated. Provided that the second sample does not contain the specified substances, any which are present in the first sample can be more easily detected in the subtracted data. The spectrum being subtracted is automatically scaled to allow for compounds that are common to both samples but with different concentrations. Scaled subtraction is implemented as part of a systematic approach to preprocessing the data. This includes a new spectrum-based alignment method that is able to precisely adjust the retention times so that corresponding scans of the second sample can be chosen for the subtraction. This approach includes the selection of samples based on their chromatograms. For this, new measures of similarity or dissimilarity are defined. The thesis presents the theoretical foundation for such measures based on mass spectral similarity. A new type of difference plot can highlight significant differences. The approach has been tested, with the encouraging result that there are less than half as many false matches compared with when the library search is applied to the original data. True matches of compounds of interest are still reported by the library search of the subtracted data.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-04
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134940
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349522020-05-11T01:59:42Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Managing in the middle, the practice of managing change in English Universities
Sarchet, Christopher
higher education management
change management
university management
middle management
higher education administration
N214 Change Management
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration of the University of Bedfordshire
Higher Education Institutions are worth £45 billion to the UK economy, according to a report published in 2006 by Universities UK (UUK), the representative organization of the United Kingdom’s universities. The higher education sector has undergone considerable change with the introduction of the marketplace, tuition fees and business management structures and methods. Managing change as a middle manager is acknowledged to be important activity (see for example, Beer, Eisenstat and Spector, 1990) and yet there is a limited amount of empirically research that has been conducted to discover how change is managed in the higher education sector in England by these staff. This study explores the perceptions of higher education managers about their role in managing change in the higher education sector. It is an exploratory study based on thirty-one interviews with managers in nine universities from across the higher education sector in England. The universities were chosen to ensure there was a representative sample from the main groups within the sector and a geographical spread across the country’s regions. The literature review found a wide range of contrasting viewpoints that provided a myriad of support and confusing messages. There was a lack of information about how higher education managers manage and, in particular, how they manage change. Managers, and those who seek to help them, face challenges in seeking and providing guidance and improving practice. The middle manager has to manage change and use a variety of means to achieve it. They are caught in the middle between senior managers and staff and other stakeholders. They have primarily learned from experience but need support and guidance when they come across change projects of which they have no knowledge. This can be provided by access to case based practice and a network of experienced experts. This research recommends the creation of such support using new media available via the internet provided through professional associations such as the Association of University Administrators (AUA).
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-04-30
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134952
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349552020-05-15T02:01:04Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Improving the performance of Six Sigma : a case study of the Six Sigma process at Ford Motor Company
Thompson, Steven James
Six Sigma
Ford Motor Company
quality control
quality management
N210 Management Techniques
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DBA
This thesis concerns the question, "Why is the performance of Six Sigma within The Ford Motor Company below that experienced in other companies, and what can be done to improve it?" The aim of the thesis was to make recommendations that would improve the performance of Six Sigma within the Ford Motor Company. Results from the literature were categorised according to headings found in the European Foundation for Quality Model (EFQM): strategy, people, process and leadership. The key factors identified from the literature review as being significant for a successful Six Sigma deployment were that projects were aligned to the strategy of the organisation, individuals were clear on their role and had appropriate skills, processes were well defined and understood and leadership team was committed to Six Sigma. The research started with a review of the results from two employee surveys. The first was given to Black Belts and asked questions concerning Six Sigma. The second was given to all the employees in the organisation. The survey data failed to identify the cause of lower than expected results, and so the investigation followed with a series of twelve interviews. When these also failed to identify the factor or factors responsible for deployment performance, the project database was reviewed. The Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control steps (DMAIC) were then analysed using Gardner’s Model of Process Maturity. The thesis concluded that the main influence driving Six Sigma performance was the low process maturity of the project selection and scoping processes and this gave rise to variable project performance. The thesis then presents material to improve project performance including a process map, a process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) of the project selection and scoping process, a control plan that ensures that the projects are on track and a macro using Excel and Minitab that works within the Ford Motor Company system to provide automatic evaluation of projects.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2007
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134955
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349612020-05-14T03:39:20Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371col_10547_129931
Development of new methods to assess the quality of zebrafish (Danio rerio) ovarian follicles
Zampolla, Tiziana
zebrafish
oocytes
cryopreservation
oocyte quality
C410 Applied Genetics
Danio rerio
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
High quality fish oocytes are essential for in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols, and for use in cryopreservation. It is important to develop methods for assessing oocyte quality for applications in aquaculture, the preservation of endangered species and managing fish models used in biomedical research. The lack of reliable methods of evaluating oocyte quality limits progress in these areas. The present study was undertaken to develop new methods to assess ovarian follicle viability and quality of stage III zebrafish (Danio rerio) ovarian follicles. The methods developed were then applied to study the impact of cryoprotectant and/or cryopreservation procedures. A vital staining procedure, not previously used with zebrafish oocytes, has been investigated. FDA-PI (Fluorescein diacetate-Propidium Iodide) staining was found to be a more sensitive then currently used viability tests and it could also be applied to all ovarian follicles developmental stages. Mitochondrial activity and distribution as biological markers was investigated with the mitochondrial membrane potentialsensitive dye JC-1- (5,5’,6,6’-tetrachloro-1,1’,3,3’-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide). Confocal microscopy, Cryo-scanning and electron microscopy studies were undertaken to determine mitochondria distributional arrangement within the ovarian follicle. This provided new information on zebrafish ovarian follicle structure, and showed that mitochondria exhibited a contiguous distribution at the margin of the granulosa cell layer surrounding stage III zebrafish oocytes. Cryoscanning results showed a polygonal structure of the vitelline envelope, which is reported here for the first time with the mitochondrial distributional arrangement in the granulosa cell layer. Mitochondrial distribution and the evaluation of mitochondrial activity proved to be sensitive markers for ovarian follicle quality, providing more detailed information on cryoprotectant impact. The measurement of ATP levels, ADP/ATP ratio and mtDNA copy number were also undertaken following cryoprotectant exposure. These findings, together with the observation of mitochondrial distribution, suggested that even cryoprotectant treatments that are considered to have little or no toxicity can have a deleterious effect on mitochondrial activity, potentially compromising oocyte growth and embryo development. Therefore, a further optimization of the currently used protocol may need to be considered. The study of organelle distribution and organisation would support in vitro maturation and oocyte development fields, as well as their use as biological markers for quality determination. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of oogenesis/folliculogenesis processes in fish.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2009-03
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134961
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349752020-05-13T02:13:20Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
The role of the TGfU pedagogical approach in promoting physical activity levels during physical education lessons and beyond
Smith, Lindsey Rachel
physical education
teaching games for understanding
physical activity
X330 Academic studies in Secondary Education
C600 Sports Science
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
The study was designed to initially determine levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) occurring during physical education in 11-12 year olds using appropriate objective methods. Subsequently, the potential of a pedagogical method; ‘teaching games for understanding’ to increase PA levels and self determined motivation during PE lessons, and habitual physical activity during leisure time was examined. The most reliable and valid PA measurement tool for the chosen age group was the RT3 ® triaxial accelerometer. PA levels during PE lessons fell short of the recommended 50% (20 minute) criterion, with children accumulating 16.4 ± 2.3 minutes (44.9 ± 5.6%) of mean MVPA during lesson time. Seven day habitual activity monitoring revealed that time spent in MVPA on a PE day was significantly higher (P <0.05) than on a weekend day. This study also highlighted that on non PE days the lack of PE-related activity was not compensated by engagement in other activity. An investigation into the effects of a 12 week TGfU pedagogical strategy on MVPA and elements of Self Determination Theory during PE lessons revealed that boys assigned to the intervention displayed significantly higher (P <0.01) levels of MVPA, and significantly higher levels of autonomy (P < 0.05) post-intervention versus the control group. In addition, a non significant trend for an increase in habitual PA for boys assigned to the intervention lessons was revealed. No significant differences were displayed in the constructs of the TPB pre-post intervention and no significant benefits of TGfU were noted for girls. The reported increases in MVPA and levels of autonomy during PE lessons in boys using a TGfU approach are novel and promising. However it is suggested that future research incorporates such strategies in a health-promoting PE environment in addition to the traditional skills-based activities. This may have potential in enhancing MVPA during PE in girls and boys, and may promote greater transference to habitual physical activity levels. The potential for self determined environments positively impacting upon motivation and intentions to be physically active both during and outside of PE lessons warrants further exploration but over longer time periods.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2010-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134975
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349642020-05-13T02:13:51Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
How do preschool children develop literacy skills? : an exploration of parents' views on how they promote early learning
Mupemba, Karen
preschool children
preschool literacy
school readiness
social skills
literacy
early years
Submitted in part fuJiJ.lment for the award of MSc Public Health
Preschool literacy and social skills are crucial in promoting educational and social trajectories especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds (Olsen and Deboise, 2007). Early childhood interventions in the United Kingdom aim to equip preschool children with skills to prepare them for school and to form a base for future development (potter, 2007). Human beings are known to develop rapidly in the first five years of life, indeed parents are acknowledged as children's first educators, and they can capitalise on this crucial period by providing stimulating and educationally rich environments (Shonkoff and Meisels, 2003). This study sought to assess preschool children's literacy skills and explore the views of their parents on their role in promoting early literacy, their involvement in preschool activities and their expectations from nursery schools. The study also tried to establish a link between the parents' practices and their children's performance in nursery school. Grounded theory approach was used because of the need to explore parents' perceptions, views and attitude with regards to promoting preschool literacy skills. Twelve preschool children were observed at play in nursery school using the Schedule for Growing Skills 11 (1996) mainly focusing on verbal comprehension, manipulative skills and social and emotional development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve parents of preschool children to gain insight into their views on promoting preschool literacy in the home. Findings revealed that although some parents with low level education and those with low income valued preschool literacy, they did not engage in structured play and interaction with their children to promote literacy skills, citing time constraints and low self efficacy. The children who did not speak English as a first language at home showed significant communication difficulties, suggesting that language was a barrier to the development of school readiness. Findings also indicated that the children whose parents engaged in home learning activities demonstrated preschool competences that prepared them very well for formal education. Some parents who took measures to promote early literacy felt their children did not have much instruction from nursery school on reading, writing and counting, but gained good social skills. The study recommended conceptualising new ways for early years practitioners such as health visitors, nursery nurses and school based family support workers, to help parents engage more aggressively and effectively on strategies that promote early literacy skills. Health visitors and General Practitioners can work together to identify developmental delays and speech and language difficulties to ensure early interventions by specialist services like Speech and Language Therapy. In nursery schools, more resources and capacity are required to ensure that children who need extra support are offered one to one interventions to ensure that they catch up with their peers. Another recommendation drawn from the findings is for early years professionals to encourage and support non-English speaking parents to attend English classes so that they can help their children communicate better in English. Adult literacy programmes can also help parents with low education levels and low self-efficacy to gain confidence in helping their children to learn. The implications of the findings also indicate a need for closer working relationships between agencies such as social care, health and education to provide seamless support to children and families, especially with difficult social circumstances (Department for Health, 2008). It is also hoped that the findings will have implications on designing of targeted interventions for structured parent child interactions especially for parents who lack self efficacy in guiding education related behaviours at home.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2008-10-08
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134964
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1349632020-05-29T03:47:10Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
The role of linguistics in the learning, teaching and assessment of mathematics in primary education : a case study of a lower school in the United Kingdom
Raiker, Andrea
linguistics
mathematics teaching
mathematics learning
mathematics assessment
X320 Academic studies in Primary Education
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
This doctoral research was concerned with the role of language and its implications for the learning, teaching and assessment of mathematics for children aged 4-9 years. Earlier research by the author had established language and assessment as bridges enabling learning although they had the potential to increase the divide between teacher and learner. Reflection raised the question on how children achieved in mathematics despite potential difficulties with language and assessment. Review of the literature concluded that resources and sociocultural norms were also bridges between learner and teacher. A model was established of the relationships and processes between all perceived variables that provided an external, theoretical structure to be evaluated against structuralist, pragmatic and integrational linguistic approaches and empirical outcomes. The overarching approaches adopted were institutional ethnography and case study. An appropriate methodology was devised whereby sophisticated ICT equipment captured all visual and speech events during classroom interactions. Frequency analysis at word level, content analysis at utterance level and discourse analysis at total speech level triangulated with content analysis of interviews and evaluation of documentation completed the empirical research. Data analysis revealed five registers of children’s talk. Evidence suggested that the peer-peer ‘conditioned talk’ used in focused group work was the most effective for learning as it enabled them to discern the small steps in the inferential leaps in discourse made by their teachers, work out problems together, inform their peers, share findings and reinforce each others’ learning. Learners’ language showed aspects of structural, pragmatic and integrational linguistics, confirming a conclusion of the literature review that the various linguistic approaches discussed should be used to support and not exclude each other. The contribution made to knowledge is the ethnomethodology provided by the model, ICT resource and the five registers of talk revealed by the linguistic approach to discourse analysis. Teachers would be able to understand nuances of language used by their pupils and acquire essential skills and tools to put into effect the personalised learning agenda. Peer-peer observation of teachers would be an appropriate platform for the observation of the different registers used by learners, the resources that generate those registers, and their most effective use to close the gap between natural language and the subject specific language of mathematics.
2011-06-30
2011-06-30
2008-02
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/134963
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1350692020-05-13T02:13:11Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
An investigation into how ICT is used in teaching and learning by Initial Teacher Educators on the Primary BEd and PGCE courses in the School of Education at a British University
Hudson, Kate
education
computers in education
teacher training
ICT
MA Education
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of ICT in teaching and learning by initial teacher educators, on Primary PGCE and BEd courses, in one British university. The aim was to determine what and where good practice with ICT already existed on the Primary education courses and to identify points of action to make improvements. The world now is technology-rich and as such beginning teachers need to be prepared for the ever-changing demands of ICT in their future careers in schools, especially as their pupils are becoming ever-more digitally 'native'. This study wanted to find out what it meant to use ICT well in teaching and learning on an Initial Teacher Education course for the primary age ranges. It also wanted to ascertain the barriers to the successful embedding of ICT into the curriculum of the Primary education course. Finally, it sought to make recommendations to the case study institution as to what and how improvements could be made. The research was carried out through a thorough review of current literature as well as an analysis of the policy documents at both a local and national level. Staff who taught on the Primary education courses completed a questionnaire which allowed them to comment on their attitudes, views and usage of ICT in their teaching and learning. These results were then cross-referenced to PGCE students' evaluations of the ICT on their course, from the previous year. It was found that ICT in teaching and learning should be made explicit through the sharing of aims for learning. These aims should include as a minimum, coverage through subject areas of national curriculum for ICT for Key Stages 1 and 2, allowing students to see how ICT is supported in a particular field. Also, the curriculum should include the explicit modelling of ICT for teaching and learning in university sessions and also including activities for school experience which will strengthen students' understanding further. This will involve a curriculum review. In order to ensure that staff are competent, both at a personal level and for their embedding of ICT in their curriculum planned CPO at an appropriate level and in a meaningful context will be necessary, on an ongoing basis to keep up with the changes in technology. This would be supported by time for collaboration between colleagues to develop ideas for the curriculum.
2011-07-01
2011-07-01
2008
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135069
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352312020-05-13T02:13:33Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
An online sharable diary system using Sun Technologies
Farrow, Roger
Sun Technologies
online diary
OpenSolaris
Netbeans
MySQL
GlassFish
MSc Computer and Internet Applications
The need for an online sharable diary came from a company who were having trouble keeping track of their employees during the day using a traditional paperbased diary solution, they had tested a variety of software solutions (Outlook and iCal) but these solutions didn't gel well across the variety of operating systems employed by the company. So a solution was sought that was free of operating system dependency yet robust and secure. The technologies chosen for this implementation were those owned by Sun and include OpenSolaris, Netbeans, MySQL and GlassFish. With Servlet and JSP being the intended programming and scripting approaches. This was for a variety of reasons but predominantly because they are available free, are enterprise level software, and because Sun offers comprehensive support options. Initial research was collected from the company in the form of questionnaires and diary samples and these contributed heavily to the development. The methodology chosen for this implementation was prototyping which worked well and enabled communication between the client and developer on a variety of issues, it helped the client feel more involved and that they would receive a useful product at the end. The implementation undertaken suffered a wide range issues both software and hardware that resulted in the program not being completed successfully. This caused changes to be made in both the development process and for the developer to have to favour JSP over Servlet for programming approach. However the HTML, CSS, database, logo and branding components were completed. An unexpected but positive outcome was also the development of a five bit binary style access control system, that reduced the number of database records and interactions required. Whilst it is impossible to state that this project was a success for either the client or the developer. The client although they are still looking for an adequate solution were interested in the development process undertaken as a means to producing criteria that would inform a decision on a solution they were also interested in the combination of use of Google calender and Doodle as means to share diary events, and to smooth the organisation of events. The developer found the taking of client requirements and using them to shape the development process was very informative, and the use of Prototyping was successful and contributed to good communication between the client and developer, there were also significant learning points relating to testing and establishing a development environment. The unexpected benefit of the creation of a binary style access control was also interesting although more development is required.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2009-10
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135231
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352322020-05-15T02:01:32Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
A study on efficiency of Femtocells
Vaka, Rajesh
Femtocells
mobile telephony
Femtocells are the emerging and the fast upcoming technology in the telecommunication industry as there is an heavy competition in the operators are researching various methods to keep their costumers remain with them while this research Femtocell was developed the main aim of developing Femtocell is to provide efficient mobile or cellular services to the subscribers. My thesis demonstrates various parameters of the Femtocell development like what exactly is Femtocell the features and advantages of the Femtocell in general. My thesis also demonstrates the how Femtocell works by the deployment and installation. Also carried out research work on the overview concept which discuss the security issues in Femtocells and the benefits to the both consumer and the operator. My work includes the artefact of Femtocell using virtual machine and the network is designed using OPNET in which I verified delay, connectivity and throughput by taking few mobile services.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2010
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135232
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352332020-05-11T01:59:49Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Security threats and intrusion detection models in WLAN
Gambiraopet, Chandra Shekar
wireless networks
Wireless Local Area Networks
computer security
MSc Computer Science
In this world of high speed data networks the Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) have steadily come into popularity because of its flexibility, easy to install, cost efficient and most importantly less time consuming (since it does not involve laying of wires like that of the wired networks) when compared to the traditional wired LANs and therefore enterprises and home owners alike are switching to the wireless technology. Though this network solves some of the problems faced by the wired LANs, such as the cost factor, it has its own drawbacks; security being the main issue. Both wired and wireless LANs have security issues, but since the data transmission in a WLAN takes place in a wireless medium, it has some additional security threats. This report gives a clear insight into the security issues of the WLANs and gives the counter measures to be taken to minimize those threats. The other issue is the „intrusion in the network‟. This issue is also dealt with by providing a concise report about the intrusion detection system, its methods and models.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2009-10
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135233
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352352020-05-16T03:00:07Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Partnerships - cracking under the pressure of organisational change?
Smith, Sally
business partnerships
partnership
organisational change
A dissertation submitted to the Business School of University of Bedfordshire, in
partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Human
Resource Management
The concept of partnership and its success or failure has attracted much debate since its inception as a model in the early 1990s. It has become apparent that partnership can entail changing deeply held beliefs and attitudes on both the management and union sides of the relationship. The pace of change has increased exponentially in recent times, necessitating new organisational responses. These responses can be seen by some as sympathetic to the development of partnership work, but at the same time it is acknowledged that organisational change can become a pressure on partnership. The purpose of this research is to look at existing partnerships as they experience the pressures of organisational change over a period of time, and analyse the effect these pressures have on both managers and union representatives, the partnership itself, and the success of organisational change. Extrapolated from key literature, theoretical models were developed to demonstrate the changes in partnership. Using an explanatory causal comparative case study approach, across two organisations; the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust; and the Royal Mail. The research uses primary and secondary data obtained through a series of semi-structured questionnaires completed by key leads involved in the partnership, on both the union and management sides; and study of academic and professional literature with a key focus on both partnerships in the subject organisations. The resulting data was analysed using a matrixed pattern matching technique. The research identifies that there are many influences involved in the deterioration, or stability of partnership: whether the approach to the creation of partnership is cynical or positive; whether management and union attitudes are allowed to deteriorate, or the partnership seeks for ways to overcome these pressures; the strength of the partnership does help it to endure, but there are contributing factors to this strength, such as the embedding of partnership, and equal voice to management. The research concludes that partnership does not necessarity deteriorate under the pressure of organisational change, but rather establishes that they can survive these pressures through a focused application of partnership strategy on both the management and union sides. The existing typologies for definition of the strengths of partnership were demonstrated to have neglected the wider more complex variables existing that make a partnership weak or strong, and rather that the theoretical models proposed, demonstrated a more valid theory of this complex environment and therefore could be said to demonstrate what occurs to partnerships enduring the pressures of organisational change, and therefore could be used for prediction purposes. It is suggested that this presents an opportunity for further research focused on the stability of partnership, utitising the validated models proposed herewith.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2007-10
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135235
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352402020-05-12T03:05:14Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Studies on cryopreservation of early stage zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocytes using controlled slow cooling
Nwankwo, Judith N.
zebrafish
cryopreservation
oocyte viability
oocytes
Danio rerio
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in accordance with requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Research
In the last three decades, much effort has been made toward the successful cryopreservation of fish gaments. The spermatozoa from many species including salmonid, cyprinids, and acipenseridae has been successfully cryopreserved and well documented. Systematic studies on fish oocytes cryopreservation has not been carried out until recently. In this study, the effect of cryoprotectant toxicity on stage I and II zebrafish oocytes were studied and the controlled slow cooling was used at different cooling rates to identify the optimal cooling rate for these oocytes and the optimal conditions for removing cryoprotectant. Methanol was found to be the least toxic CPA for zebrafish oocytes and 4M methanol in potassium chloride (KCI) buffer was used as the cryoprotective solution. Oocytes were cooled with programmable cooler (Planner KRYO 550) using controlled slow cooling at 0.3, 0.5 and 1°C/min rates, combined with seeding at -12.5°C and plunge into liquid nitrogen at -80°C. 1°C/min was identified to be the optimal condition for cryopreservation of stage I and II oocytes. High survival rate were obtained after cooling to -196°C assessed with TB staining which were 87.8 ± 4.9% and 86.8 ± 6.5% for stage I and II respectively. It was also found in this study that recovery conditions affect oocyte survivals after freezing. Oocytes which had been incubated for 60 or 120min in room temperature showed higher survival rate than those assessed immediately after freezing. This study has shown that stage II (cortical alveoli stage) oocytes were more resistible to freezing than stage I (primary growth stage) oocytes. More oocytes viability studies are needed to validate these results.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2007-11
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135240
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352442020-05-12T03:10:58Zcom_10547_132194com_10547_129915col_10547_132222col_10547_129931
Real bad girls : the origins and nature of offending by girls and young women involved with a county youth offending team and systemic responses to them
Williams, Jeanette Deborah
youth justice
young offenders
female young offenders
social exclusion
L560 Probation/After Care
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire for the Professional Doctorate in Youth Justice
Amidst growing concerns about a rise in girls entering the Youth Justice System and official data highlighting increases in girls violent offending this doctoral thesis focuses on girls in the Youth Justice System. Drawing on case files and in depth interviews with a cohort of girls supervised by a Home Counties Youth Offending Team (YOT), and interviews with YOT practitioners it explores their needs and offending patterns and examines contemporary system responses to them. It aims to contribute to practice knowledge and understanding about girls offending, and to identify approaches and interventions most likely to be effective with them. Findings point to girls having multiple and interrelated needs and troubled backgrounds. Exclusion from school and non attendance, experience of severe family conflict and violence, heavy alcohol use and poverty and disadvantage are all cited as key risk factors for girls’ involvement in offending and other types of behaviour which can lead to social exclusion. Minor assault and the influence of alcohol emerge as key features in girls offending patterns. Assaults commonly arise from disputes with friends or family members, or occur whilst girls are in a mixed peer group where assaults are perpetrated against another young person or a Police Officer. The impact of more formal responses by Police and YOTS are evident and show that the highly regulated and male oriented Youth Justice System hampers the likelihood of successful interventions with girls. This study cites the importance of gender specific responses and interventions which are holistic, informal and flexible to meet the distinct needs and offending patterns of girls in the Youth Justice System. More widely early identification of girls at risk, information sharing across children, health and adult services, and the provision of a range of support and positive opportunities to girls which extend beyond the life of a Court Order are identified as key aspects of strategies aimed at improving future outcomes for girls.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2009-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135244
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352432020-05-14T03:39:36Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Lilith : a mythological study
Smith, Tracey Louise
creative writing
Lilith
mythology
myth
A Thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master Of Arts by Research in Creative Writing
Lilith – A Mythological Study is the accompanying thesis to my creative piece, Chrysalis, a novel which centres on the protagonist Melissa and her possession by the demoness Lilith. My thesis is an exploration of Lilith throughout mythology, from her early incarnations in Mesopotamia, through Christian texts, to Jewish folktales, looking at how the various elements of her legend, namely as a succubus, demoness and child killer, have evolved. Here I also explore a number of other myths which portray demonised female figures, and compare them to Lilith, posing the question: is Lilith such an archetypal character that she sparks similar myths across the ancient world, or is it merely that strong women were easy to demonise in male-dominated religions? In order to answer this, I go on to study how Lilith’s femininity has contributed to her myth, and how women in general have been demonised by patriarchal and religious societies. Through this I also touch upon the subject of feminist representation by discussing the concepts of the ‘other’ and abjection, and how Lilith has become an icon for modern feminist movements. Finally I turn to Lilith in Chrysalis, and how I built her up as a central character to my plot. Also, I look at the genre of my work, teen fantasy fiction, and discuss its main themes through studying a number of comparable texts, before applying my findings, as well as more mainstream literary theory, to my novel.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2008-12
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135243
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352452020-05-15T02:02:13Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Ideological analysis and cinema fiction
Janmohamed, Shireen
ideological analysis
cinema
Foucault
A thesis submitted for the degree of MA
of the University of Bedfordshire
Ideological analyses of cinema fictions usually employ a methodology using the critical Marxist concept of discursive strategies that are used to spuriously account for realities. With the changes to the international strategic power balance and the use of overwhelming fire-power in the pursuance of what is perceived to be the national interest, cinema fictions have begun to reflect this dangerous world. This thesis argues that a purely ideological analysis is inadequate to the task of interpreting contemporary political cinema texts, and it considers the use of Foucauldian concepts of power and power relations as supplementary to ideological analysis. The application to two cinema texts shows that the concepts used are not mutually exclusive, and Foucault’s thought is especially appropriate to these political cinema fictions. This is a novel approach as it has traditionally been thought that Foucault’s theory of discourse was developed as a counter to ideological analysis. But the research conducted here shows that Foucault’s criticism was aimed at the Marxist concept of ideology and as a consequence he suggested that ideology be treated as one element in a broader discourse of power relations. This is the approach that has been successfully adopted here.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2009
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135245
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352462020-05-12T03:10:40Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Knowledge, learning and reflection : consulting in communities of practice
Lawday, Geoff
communities of practice
learning
reflection
knowledge management
consulting
Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration: University of Bedfordshire
The objectives of the research was to identify how knowledge, learning and reflection is mediated in communities of practice. The overall aim was to base the evidence from the lived experiences of those who are part of the communities of practice under study. The research was undertaken through a qualitative inquiry using a social constructionist perspective. The research was pursued through participative action research in one case study organisation, and through participative observation, or observation in fifteen others. The key findings of this inquiry include six sociological elements which were common to all sixteen organisations. Further, four key knowledge flow processes were consistent across all cases. In total forty-one main findings were identified to the pursued research questions. Two conceptual models of learning and reflection were presented as ways to help understand how knowledge, learning and reflection are mediated in communities of practice. The models can be used at different levels of abstraction and conceptualisation. The study provides original insights into consulting activity within communities of practice, and highlights key themes based upon the lived experiences of the participants in the inquiry.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2009-06
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135246
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352602020-05-15T02:01:53Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
On statistical characterization of EESM effective SNR over frequency selective channels
Song, Hui
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
wireless telephony
wireless communication systems
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of University of Bedfordshire
With frequency selective fading, the SNRs of each sub-carrier would vary over the time and frequency. It would then cause fluctuations of the effective SNR. As the decision of MeS in LA is based on the effective SNR, the study of the statistical characterization of effective SNR over frequency selective fading channels would be very important, This problem forms the basis of investigation in this thesis. The methodology used in this thesis is generally divided into two parts. The first part is to investigate the method in obtaining the distribution of EESM over frequency selective fading channels. Such approach will be very helpful for the second part of the work which is to obtain the exact distribution of the EESM effective SNR for a specified fading model. In this case, Nakagami-m fading model is used. The choice of this model is based due to its simplicity and experimental consistency. One of the important features of the distribution is that the SNR of a signal under Nakagami fading is gamma distributed. Thus, in performance evaluation involving Nakagami fading, one can often rely on established results (in the statistics literature) of the gamma distribution. An important special case of the Nakagami distribution is the Rayleigh distribution, which arises in the situation of where the line-of-sight (LOS) component between the transmitter and the receiver is absent, i.e., when all of the received power stems from scattered components. The corresponding distribution for the SNR is the exponential distribution. The research in this thesis represents an effort to provide a statistical characterization of EESM effective SNR which has not appeared in any existing literatures. The goals of this thesis is to Characterize the statistics of EESM effective SNR over frequency selective channels. Obtain the distribution of EESM effective SNR over correlated Nakagami-m fading channels. Theoretically analyze the performance (Le. average SNR, outage probability and Symbol Error Rate (SER) etc.) of EESM over correlated Nakagami-m fading channels. Provide simple approximations to the proposed analytical results. Try to find extension and application of the results.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2010-04-13
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135260
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1352472020-05-16T02:59:57Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Validity of claims for efficacy of the O2 and CO2 “tolerance training tables”, and associated risks
Barry-Wilson, Samantha
breath holding
respiration
apnea
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSc by research
Both physical and apneic (voluntary breath hold) training have been shown to prolong apneic time. One of the most readily available training developments are the 'tolerance training tables' (TTT). These are a series of breath-hold and breathing periods intended to elicit low O2 or high CO2 levels in a progressive fashion. Developments of the tables have been made on the basis of anecdotal evidence. These tables are yet to be formalised and validated or risk assessed During a familiarisation session, participants were required to attempt a maximal breath-hold (MaxBH) time; breath-hold and breathing period ratios for the 'tables' were derived from this MaxBH. During the investigation participants were required to attend two counterbalanced weeks (C02 and O2) of testing. Expiratory gases were monitored using breath-by-breath analysis (Cortex Biophysics, Liepzig, Germany) to observe any intervention derived blood gas changes. Blood oxygen saturation levels were monitored non-invasively via pulse oximetry (LifePulse, LP28, HME Ltd., England [extremity]; Avant 2120, Nonin, USA [ear]). Empirical trends in O2 values were seen within the O2 TTT. O2 values prior to breath-hold displayed a pattern of progressive increase over the series of eight breath-holds with a controlled 3-breath breath-up strategy. O2 values post breath-hold displayed a pattern of progressive reduction over the series of eight breath-holds, evidencing the increasing metabolism of O2 during apnea. Despite this, a univariate ANOVA indicated no statistical significance between the eight phases of breath-hold (e.g. p = 0.134). CO2 values indicated no empirical trends and no statistical significance prior to, or following, breath-hold. CO2 values displayed relatively unchanged values following the series of eight breath-holds. Comparisons between O2 and CO2 protocols indicated no statistical difference.
2011-07-04
2011-07-04
2010-03
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135247
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353302020-05-08T04:06:05Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Contraception and sexual health : what existing knowledge do 16 - 19 year old young women have and how does this compare with their practice? a survey
Hand, Adrienne
contraception
sexually transmitted disease
sexual health
sex education
MSc in Public Health
CONTEXT: Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections are rising and action is still required to reduce unintended teenage pregnancies. This research establishes what knowledge and opinions young women have about preventing pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's), and determines if they put this knowledge into practice. METHODS: Utilising survey methodology a sample of 16-19 year old young women attending a local Further Education College were invited to complete a confidential questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the young women, 79% were already sexually active with 50% of them becoming sexually active under the age of 16. The majority, 55%, reported knowing 'only a little' about Sexually Transmitted Infections, and although 100% had heard of Chlamydia, only 75% knew that it caused infertility in women and 52% assumed that it was only women that could become infected. Knowledge was slightly better regarding pregnancy, however 28% did not know that sperm can come out of a mans penis prior to ejaculation. All knew about emergency contraception, however only 65% knew that they have as long as 72 hours to access it. 62% of the young women reported having had sex without a condom in the past and only 50% knew that the condom was effective at preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections. CONCLUSION: Although young women are of the opinion that they wish to prevent pregnancy and protect themselves from Sexually Transmitted Infections, the group surveyed do not have the knowledge that allows them to practice 'safe sex' and thus protect their reproductive and sexual health.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2007-01
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135330
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353102020-05-29T03:46:58Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
The study of cardiovascular tissue processing in the United Kingdom
Hughes, Jill
cardiovascular tissue banking
tissue banking
cryopreservation
A thesis submitted for the degree of Master by Research of the University of Bedfordshire
The study of United Kingdom cardiovascular tissue banking practice has required research into areas of cardiovascular tissue banking that have previously not been clarified, explored in detail or reported. The pressures which have been the driving forces for change in tissue banking in recent years have been identified and the National shortage of cardiovascular tissue donors in relation to the increasing surgical demand has been quantified for the first time in the UK. An examination of the evolution of cardiovascular tissue banking enabled subsequent identification of the inconsistencies reported and the importance of recording small differences in processing details. A detailed overview of current UK cardiovascular tissue processing methodology was collated which, for the first time, established the differences in current practice. The study subsequently identified tissue bankers concerns. The study has identified areas where there may be a need for control, standardisation and improvement of methodology and has highlighted areas where it seems to be agreed that there is need for optimisation of processing technique. The study has also uncovered areas where there is a lack of understanding amongst tissue bankers regarding cryopreservation principles such as freezing and chilling injury and also confirmed the need for more careful control and measurement of techniques used such as cooling and warming rates which may or may not affect the quality of the tissue processed. The study confirmed that processing techniques were generally empirically based but despite this, the processed tissue seems to be effective. Further work has been suggested which includes recommendations for methods which could be used to monitoring tissue quality and subsequently for harmonisation of tissue banking procedures.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2008-06
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135310
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353112020-05-13T02:13:42Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Teachers as evaluators : a grounded approach to project evaluation
Leask, Marilyn
Cambridge Institute of Education
project evaluation
education
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements Degree of Master of Philosophy
The aim of the research is to establish the potentIal of au approach to formative evaluation which utilizes and develops the skills of teachers. This 'teacher evaluator' approach depends on teachers planning, directing, controlling and carrying out evaluations. A detailed case study of the practice as it developed in one LEA over a three year period was undertaken. The research contributes to the debate about educational evaluation practice in five areas: It advances theory of educational particular reference to the UK. -It identifies an approach which enhances the professionalism of teachers. -Through the publication of a detailed case study it promotes the development of theory from the reality of practice. -It provides the ground work for forging new links between professional educational evaluators and the teaching profession. -It defines an approach to evaluation which has the potential to provide timely, relevant, and effective, formative evaluation. The teacher evaluator approach to evaluation can be seen as a natural extension of the developing research tradition in the UK which was stimulated by the work of Stenhouse. In the UK, partvcularly since Stenhouse published hiS seminal work in 1975, there have been a number of developments in educational evaluation practices particularly in the area of qualitative evaluation through action-research and school self-evaluation. It is the contention of this thesis that the teacher-evaluator approach fills a gap in this developing teacher-researcher tradition - that of LEA-wide project evaluation by teachers. Through careful examination of the evidence collected, the significance of thls development in the teacher~based research tradition, was analysed and subsequently confirmed. An approach such as this, which hands over the power of evaluation to teachers, is especially relevant in the light of current demands for accountability in education. However, the success and effectiveness of the approach was found to be affected by a variety of issues. These issues are covered in detail in the text and relate to three key areas: the framework established for the evaluation which depends on the local context; the role and responsibilities of the teacher-evaluators; the methodology and practices adopted. It is conSidered that this approach prOVides the framework for a new model of educational evaluation which combines the strengths of professional external evaluation with the knowledge and expertise of teachers, and which provides long term benefits for the LEA. ThiS case study is presented as a contribution to the development of an educational research tradition which Stenhouse identifies as essential to the improvement of education. Publication of this research may further stimulate work in thiS area and thus contribute to the advancement of theories relating to teacher-led evaluation.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
1988-04
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135311
en
University of East Anglia
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353352020-05-14T03:42:10Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Electrochemical determination of silver sols for sensor developments
Wang, Yuanyang
University of Bedfordshire
electrochemistry
biosensing
silver sols
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in accordance with
requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Research
Characterisation of an electrochemical method for measuring silver sols (aqueous suspensions of nanometer-sized particles) is described. Such particles are receiving much attention by others as valuable components in the development of biosensing systems. The work was centred on the use of screen-printed three-electrode devices to measure the concentration of silver sols by a sequence of processes: (i) dissolution of the silver particles to form silver ions; (ii) accumulation of silver on the working electrode; and (iii) stripping of the accumulated silver. The silver sol concentration was related to the observed stripping peak (peak height or peak area). Carbon electrodes were used throughout and the influence of carbon type, electrode format/arrangement and dissolution potential were examined. A number of interesting observations were made and conclusions arrived at: (a) the arrangement of working, reference and counter electrodes was important and a preferred arrangement was indicated; (b) electrode material and/or format were important – but further work would be necessary to identify whether one or both factors were particularly important; (c) the choice of dissolution potential was crucial – and further work needs to be carried out to ensure that a sufficiently stable reference electrode can be arrived at; and (d) preliminary evidence is presented that indicates that silver contamination of the screen-printed silver electrodes was a limiting factor that needed to be corrected/mitigated in order to arrive at robust/reproducible measurement devices.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2009-06
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135335
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353372020-05-13T02:13:03Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
An insight in to the awareness levels about Hepatitis C in the international South Asian students of University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Waqar, Muhammad
students
South Asians
immigrants
Hepatitis C
risky behaviours
health awareness
student health
ethnic minorities
A dissertation submitted in part fulfilment for the award of degree of Masters in Public Health
Migration all around the world is at its peak and it has brought a lot of challenges for Public Health system due to changing epidemiology of infectious diseases associated with migration. The paper is based on the possible un-noticed spread of Hepatitis C from South Asia to the United Kingdom because of low awareness levels of this disease in the immigrants especially students. The disease is more dangerous in contrast to Hepatitis A and B, as there is no vaccine to provide immunity against the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Moreover, the costly and toxic treatment options can help in only fifty percent of the patients. It is thought that student’s involvement in risky behaviours make them more vulnerable to contract and transmit the disease. A Quantitative research approach has been used to conduct a cross-sectional, self administered questionnaire survey at the University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK to know about the knowledge of Hepatitis C in students. A total of 71 International South Asian students (53 males and 18 females) were included in the survey by snow ball sampling. Data was analysed by SPSS version 12.0 software (95% C.I, P<0.05), using chi-square test for statistical significance. Self reported knowledge of Hepatitis C was 69% and it decreased to just 39.4% self reported knowledge for symptoms and 38% for the self reported awareness about transmission of disease. 74.6% participants seemed to know that the disease can be transmitted by contaminated needles and 69% recognised blood as route of transmission for the disease. Only 64.8% of the participants were able to relate jaundice with possible Hepatitis C infection. Misconceptions and concerns about transmission of disease by close contacts such as kissing were shown by majority of the participants. Some participants (59.2%) knew about the transmission of HCV through contaminated shaving blades while only few (32.4%) agreed that it can be transmitted by sharing toothbrushes. Just 29.6% participants knew about sexual transmission and only 9.9 percent participants realised that there is no vaccine for the protection against HCV. Bangladeshi and Sri-Lankan were amongst least aware ethnic groups; Participants <30 years and males had least knowledge about the disease. Finding of the study are suggestive that the overall knowledge of Hepatitis C among International South Asian students is extremely low and insufficient. They might be at a high risk of contracting and transmitting the disease so they should be treated as high risk group for the disease. There is an urgent need of campaigns to improve the awareness levels about transmission of Hepatitis C in this group.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2008-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135337
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353202020-05-13T02:13:59Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Awareness of oral cancers among the students of the University of Bedfordshire, Luton campus : is there a need for oral cancer awareness programme?
Abayomi-Ojumu, Olayinka
oral cancer
tobacco
alcohol
human papillomavirus
health awareness
dental habits
L431 Health Policy
Submitted in part fulfilment for the award of degree Masters in Public Health of the University of Bedfordshire
Oral cancer is a malignancy that develops in and affects the mouth. It affects both male and female alike. The disease has been known to affects people older than fifty years of age; however an increasing number of younger people are now affected. Oral cancer at its earliest stage is often asymptomatic, consequently the patient may be unaware of the disease until signs and symptoms occur. Unfortunately, this type of cancer is sometimes difficult to treat; treatments for the disease at the late stage involve radical measures that frequently lead to loss of facial structures, functions aesthetics. The disease has a high mortality rates. The poor survival rate of the disease has been attributed to the late presentation ofthe patients in the hospital for treatment as well as various factors such as lack ofknowledge about the disease, the inability to readily identify the sign and symptoms of the disease or a lack ofknowledge about the risk factors ofthe disease. This study assessed the level of awareness of oral cancer among the students of the University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United Kingdom. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out using a questionnaire. 100 students comprising of43 male and 56 female were the responders. Information on knowledge of oral cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, dental habits as well as socio- demographic details were obtain from the participants. Data was analysed with the aid of SPSS version 12 for windows software. Findings from the study indicated a low level of awareness of oral cancer among the student. Except for tobacco and cigarette; identification of the other risk factors for oral cancer was poor. Hence, public health education aimed at increasing the awareness of the disease is recommended.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2008-10
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135320
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353312020-05-13T02:13:26Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Managing change in SMEs : approaching new markets
Meredith, Neil
SMEs
small business
change management
decision making
A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Science by Research for the University of Bedfordshire
This thesis explores the change management process necessary for a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) to approach new markets with new products or services. The study details relevant literature, its objective to identify best practice to enable the development of a framework and "check list" that will guide decision-makers through the considerations and actions necessary for the change activity to take place. The research outputs take the form of a flow chart process map to be used in conjunction with a series of check lists that prompt the end-user to evaluate their goals against current circumstances and potential future activities. A suitable SME is used as a case study, enabling empirical study and serving as a comparator for the primary output of the research. The outputs of the research were externally tested and verified on a scenario application basis. The work is of particular value to the case study company and similar SME owner / managers undertaking a change process, especially when restricted by limited knowledge, time and money. Further, small business consultants and change agents can utilize the outputs to the same ends.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2010-03
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135331
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353122020-05-15T02:01:46Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Critical success factors for implementing traceability systems in Chinese food enterprises
Miao, Meiyin
critical success factors
system implementation success
traceability system
food enterprise
food safety
China
A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Science by research of the University of Bedfordshire
Food safety has always been the focus of worldwide attention. Chinese government has promulgated a series of initiatives, laws and regulations to implement the traceability systems since 2004. However, the implementation of traceability system (TS) in China faces many challenges which are creating major barriers to the traceability system implementation success. This research aims to identify critical success factors (CSF) for implementing TS in Chinese food enterprises. More specifically, the study attempts to develop a set of criteria of TS implementation success from theoretical and practical point of views and identify and propose a framework of critical success factors for TS implementation success.To achieve the research objectives, this research adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Extensive literature review was conducted to establish initial understanding of TS implementation success and associated critical success factors. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six managers to establish a set of TS implementation success measures in the context of Chinese food enterprises. Survey questionnaires were designed to identify the critical success factors influencing TS implementation success. Primary data were collected from 124 valid responses in China. Descriptive and factor analysis were conducted using SPSS. According to the survey, the top five critical success factors are: the authenticity of traceability information; perfect food traceability laws; perfect food traceability standards; clear objectives for traceability system implementation; policy guidance for enterprises traceability system implementation from government. The framework has six dimensions of critical success factors including: laws, regulations & standards; government support & guidance; consumer knowledge & support; top management, company-wide & vendor support; efficient management & communication; information quality & system quality. Based on the exploratory factor analysis a CSF framework for implementing TS in Chinese food enterprises was proposed. The outcomes of this research will have great significance for research and management in implementing TS and offering implications for policy makers and other stakeholders in the future.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2010-09
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135312
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353172020-05-15T02:02:06Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Methods for developing secure software and environments for small and medium enterprises
Pollonais, Sean
computer security
e-commerce
Web application security
Information Security governance
data protection
SMEs
A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Science by Research at the University of Bedfordshire
Information Security covers activity concerned with the protection of data to ensure that information remains available, to those with rightful access, in the condition that it was originally stored or transmitted. The push to interact via electronic data is constantly increasing. Businesses are demanding that software designers find novel ways of facilitating electronic commerce, creating new business models that have only become possible with the development of the Internet. With the increase of traffic in information across the Internet, the risks associated with data have multiplied, matching the global growth in connectivity. Web application security deals with the measures taken to secure software built to promote e-commerce. Because it is necessary to accept user input across the Internet these applications carry a particular set of vulnerabilities that require a more technical approach to their mitigation. The applications themselves are usually composed of modules that interact across trust boundaries which all require hardening. Information Security governance controls how a company secures its data and that of its clients. While there are laws and standards that address the security requirement, applying them to all magnitude of businesses is difficult because the policies are biased towards large organisations in their assumptions of resources. This thesis investigates an international standard that can be used by small businesses to achieve legal compliance and a reasonable level of security. The thesis brings together a method for producing secure web applications and a checklist procedure for improving a company's data protection practices. Both offerings apply to small software production houses where there may be some overlap in role function and the pressure to meet software production deadlines can sometimes lead to a culture where security is seen as an avoidable expense.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2007
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135317
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353182020-04-23T07:28:11Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Cost effective UMTS transport topology optimization
Thomas, Emanuel
UMTS Radio Access Networks
mobile telephony
cellular radio access networks
UMTS
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MPhil
This thesis studies the logical topology design for UMTS Radio Access Networks. The topology planning is investigated with specific focus on the transport network links of the Iub interface, which connects the Node B with the RNC. These links are considered as one of the most important economic factors for the UMTS network dimensioning. In order to satisfy subscriber demand and to cope with high bit-rate multimedia services, a large number of base stations are required in future cellular radio access networks. The radio access network thus becomes more complex and the transport resources for the Iub interface become considerably costly. The ultimate goal of this thesis is to investigate important aspects related to the topology planning of these interconnection links and to give insight into suitable choices for the network design. The formulated task proves a combinatorial optimization problem, which seems to be NP-hard. Therefore, in order to provide a comprehensive investigation on the topology design of the access network various heuristic techniques are applied and studied. In the framework of this thesis, the 3G UMTS network based on WCDMA is considered as the basic UMTS network under investigation.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2010-08
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135318
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353342020-05-15T02:02:20Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Sustainable consumption from the consumer’s perspective : a study on the purchase intention of green food in China
Wang, Ruowei
green food
purchase intention
responsible environmental behaviour
structural equation model
sustainability
food enterprise
A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Science by research of the University of Bedfordshire
Due to the increasing awareness and concern of widespread global environmental degradation over the last two decades, the concept of sustainable development has changed people’s mind and behaviours even in developing countries such as China. In recent years, China has been paying a higher ecological price for its rapid economic growth in terms of worsening pollution than many other developed countries and become “the most ecologically unsound place in the world”. Green food as an eco-friendly concept begins to permeate people’s daily life. It is commonly believed that consumers’ purchasing and consumption behaviours of food products have great impact on the global environment. For this reason, the analysis of consumers’ consumption behaviour of green food has become a subject of intense research recently in attempt to enhance the individuals’ engagement in behaviours supportive of sustainable consumption. Previous research suggested that behaviours are largely influenced by the intentions of people. Therefore, this research will concentrate on the purchase intentions of the consumers of green food in China. This research examined the factors influencing consumers’ intention to purchase the green food products. A revised Responsible Environmental Behavior (REB) model was used as the conceptual framework of the research to examine the influencing factors of green food purchase intentions in China. A web-based questionnaire survey was used to collect the primary data from the capital city Beijing. Based on the 239 valid responses, this research identified the key psycho-social factors of green food purchase intention. Factor analysis was used to examine the validity and reliability of all research instruments. Then, the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to verify the theoretical model and test the research hypotheses. The research findings indicated that the locus of control (LOC) is more important in predicting purchase intention of the green food than other factors. Another factor that can directly influence purchase intention is attitudes. Other factors like personal responsibility (PR), knowledge of issues (KOI), and action skills (AS) also affect consumers’ intention but indirectly. By examining factors which influence consumers’ intention to purchase, the revised REB model based on green food purchase has been verified. A better understanding of the relationships between key influencing factors and purchase intention of green food market in China was achieved. Furthermore, the findings offered further support to the robustness of the REB in explaining behaviours of environmental consumption. This research has generated some useful implications for the practitioners to develop green food market strategies and to promote green food consumption further in the future.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2009-09
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135334
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353362020-05-14T03:40:33Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Pressure sensor array model for collecting user’s responses to test action in active robot learning
Zou, Weidong
robotics
active robot learning
GraspIt,
pressure sensor array
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by research
Active robot learning (ARL) is an approach to the development of beliefs of the robots on their users’ intentions and preferences, which is needed by the robots to facilitate the seamless cooperation with users. Such approach allows the robots to perform tests on its users and to form high-order beliefs according to the users’ responses. This study carried out primary research on designing a pressure sensor array model attached to the robot’s finger tips to collect the user’s responses to test action in the ARL system. A mathematical model and the reference value threshold which decides the pressure distribution were proposed through a benchmark scenario experiment. The robot holds an object and presents it to the user. When the user does not take over the object, the pressure distribution on the robot’s finger tips shown on the pressure sensor array is uneven. When the user takes over the object, the pressure distribution on the robot’s finger tips is even. According to the relationship between the pressure distribution and the user’s responses, the user’s responses to test action can be recognized by the robot. Two cases of the benchmark scenario which is the robot passing an object to the user is simulated in a simulation software, GraspIt, in this study. The simulation results proved the developed pressure sensor array model can successfully collect the user’s responses to test actions in the ARL.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2010-10
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135336
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1353192020-05-15T02:02:28Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Community awareness in managing pre-eclampsia in Bauchi State, north-eastern Nigeria : a cross-sectional study
Kanu, Denis Otis
pre-eclampsia
Nigeria
maternal health
ante-natal care
pregnancy care
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment for the aware of a masters degree in public health
Pre-eclampsia has been pin-pointed as one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria especially in rural areas, yet very little has been done to provide effective measures in mitigating its impact on the pUblic. This study assessed the level of awareness of pregnant women and health workers in managing pre-eclampsia in a community in Bauchi state, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken using self administered questionnaires, semi-structured questionnaire based interviews and field observation. 129 participants consisting of 103 women and 26 health workers were utilised. Information was obtained on the knowledge of symptoms of pre-eclampsia, use of antenatal care services, preferred information z, assessment of healthcare services and need for more health information. Two sets of Close-ended qu;estionnaires were utilised. Data obtained was analysed using MS Excel and SPSS version 12 and descriptive indices obtained. In this study, it was observed that a large fraction of women did not know about preeclampsia or its symptoms, denoting poor levels of awareness of this health condition. The use and content of antenatal care services was demeaning. Clinical knowledge was also lacking among health workers, especially the healthcare assistants who make up a large fraction of the health force in Nigeria. Such pitfalls need to be addressed effectively. The need for improved routine training of healthcare workers especially healthcare assistants is pertinent if they are to effectively manage this health condition, and educate the general public of its dangers. Community mobilisation and awareness must be included in intervention strategies to properly inform the-public, and curtail existent communal beliefs about pregnancy. Recommendations and strategies promoting maternal health must take note of the harmful effects of pre-eclampsia amongst Nigerian women.
2011-07-05
2011-07-05
2008-10
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/135319
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1422292020-04-23T07:28:02Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Security and usability in click-based authentication systems
al-Khateeb, Haider
passwords
computer security
visual passwords
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D.
Web applications widely use text passwords to confirm people‟s identity. However, investigations reveal text passwords have many problems and that there is a need for alternative solutions. For instance, users often forget their passwords, choose passwords which are easy-to-guess or vulnerable to cracking tools. Further, people write passwords down and/or share them with others. In addition, phishing attacks (using fraudulent websites to steal users‟ credentials) continue to cost millions of dollars every year. During the second half of 2009, the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) reported 126,697 unique phishing attacks worldwide. As such, one of this research‟s objectives is to investigate public awareness of, and attitude towards, text password security and usability supported by surveying both up-to-date literature and users. The aim of this research is to develop an alternative solution using visual passwords (VPs) to authenticate users on web applications and investigate its security and usability. A VP can be many things: a set of images used as a login portfolio, click-points inside images or a doodle (signature) drawn by a user. Since text passwords are favoured for their usability over tokens and biometrics, the research scope has been set to investigate alternative ideas which do not require resources additional to standard computer devices used to sustain human-computer interactions, such as mouse and keyboard. VPs have the potential to develop an alternative solution within this scope. A comprehensive survey of the VP schemes found in the literature is conducted followed by a security and usability evaluation in which click-based systems are selected as the most suitable approach to achieve the aims and objectives of this research. Click- iii based systems are VP authentication schemes in which the VP is a sequence of click-points performed on one or more images. Further, user perceptions were investigated to study their acceptance of various authentication mechanisms and techniques. A novel click-based scheme is presented and developed throughout the research to introduce and investigate novel ideas to maintain security and usability simultaneously. It can resist multiple phishing and shoulder-surfing attacks without revealing the full user credentials. Further, the layout is designed to prevent MiTM attacks, also known as the second generation of phishing attacks. The VP is hashed to resist database attacks and the password space is extremely large compared to text passwords to resist brute force attacks. It has dual cues to maintain memorability and password recall is easy even when it is system-generated. Usability is considered through observation and laboratory studies to meet the requirements of HCI-Sec (Secure Human-Computer Interactions) aiming to present a secure scheme people can actually use.
2011-09-13
2011-09-13
2011-04
Thesis or dissertation
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/142229
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1422502020-04-23T07:37:46Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Iterative block ciphers’ effects on quality of experience for VoIP unicast transmissions under different coding schemes
Epiphaniou, Gregory
VOIP
voice over internet protocol
iterative block ciphers
authentication
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Issues around Quality of Service (QoS) and security for Voice over IP (VoIP) have been extensively investigated separately, due to the great attention this technology currently attracts. The specific problem this work addresses centres upon the selection of optimal parameters for QoS and security for VoIP streams integrating both network impairments and user perception metrics into a novel empirically-driven approach. Specifically, the simulation model seeks the optimal parameters in terms of variable VoIP payloads, iterative block ciphers, codecs and authentication mechanisms to be used, so that optimum tradeoff between a set of conflicting factors is achieved. The model employs the widely used Transmission Rating Factor, R, as the methodology to predict and measure the perceived QoS based on current transmission and network impairments. The R factor is then used to map perceived QoS to the corresponding Mean Opinion Score value, which gives the average estimation of perceived voice quality (Quality of Experience). Furthermore, a genetic algorithm (GA) has been developed that uses the output from the simulation model as an input into an offline optimisation routine that simultaneously maximises the VoIP call volumes and the Level of Encryption (LoE) per call basis, without degrading the perceived quality of service under a specific threshold as dictated by the R factor. The solutions reflect the optimum combination of parameters for each codec used and due to the small size of the search space the actual speed of GA has been validated against an exhaustive search algorithm. The results extracted from this study demonstrate that under strict and pre-defined parameters the default payload size supported by the codecs is not the optimal selection in terms of call volume maximisation and perceived QoS when encryption is applied.
2011-09-13
2011-09-13
2010
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/142250
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1435342020-04-23T07:28:19Zcom_10547_132192com_10547_129915col_10547_132231col_10547_129931
An enhanced cross-layer routing protocol for wireless mesh networks based on received signal strength
Amusa, Ebenezer Olukayode
wireless networks
wireless mesh networks
wireless network performance
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The research work presents an enhanced cross-layer routing solution for Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN) based on Received Signal Strength. WMN is an emerging technology with varied applications due to inherent advantages ranging from self-organisation to auto-con guration. Routing in WMN is fundamen- tally achieved by hop counts which have been proven to be de cient in terms of network performance. The realistic need to enhance the link quality metric to improve network performance has been a growing concern in recent times. The cross-Layer routing approach is one of the identi ed methods of improving routing process in Wireless technology. This work presents an RSSI-aware routing metric implemented on Optimized Link-State Routing (OLSR) for WMN. The embedded Received Signal Strength Information (RSSI) from the mesh nodes on the network is extracted, processed, transformed and incorporated into the routing process. This is to estimate efficiently the link quality for network path selections to improved network performance. The measured RSSI data is filtered by an Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) filter. This novel routing metric method is called RSSI-aware ETT (rETT). The performance of rETT is then optimised and the results compared with the fundamental hop count metric and the link quality metric by Expected Transmission Counts (ETX). The results reveal some characteristics of RSSI samples and link conditions through the analysis of the statistical data. The divergence or variability of the samples is a function of interference and multi-path e effect on the link. The implementation results show that the routing metric with rETT is more intelligent at choosing better network paths for the packets than hop count and ETX estimations. rETT improvement on network throughput is more than double (120%) compared to hop counts and 21% improvement compared to ETX. Also, an improvement of 33% was achieved in network delay compared to hop counts and 28% better than ETX. This work brings another perspective into link-quality metric solutions for WMN by using RSSI to drive the metric of the wireless routing protocol. It was carried out on test-beds and the results obtained are more realistic and practical. The proposed metric has shown improvement in performance over the classical hop counts metric and ETX link quality metric.
2011-09-29
2011-09-29
2010-11
Thesis or dissertation
Amusa, E. (2010) 'An enhanced cross-layer routing protocol for wireless mesh networks based on received signal strength'. PhD Thesis. University of Bedfordshire.
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/143534
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1441642020-04-23T07:34:25Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Enablement & exploitation: the contradictory potential of community care policy for mental health services user/survivor-led groups
Armes, David Grahame
mental health services
User/Survivor Movement
NHS and Community Care Act
community care policy
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Luton
This thesis examines ways in which social policy supported by successive Conservative and Labour Governments has affected the British User/Survivor Movement (BUSM) since the introduction of the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act. It focuses on the formalising effects of community care policy, and the discursive resistance tactics of user/survivor activists in opposition to formalisation of their movement. The aims of the thesis are: firstly, exploration of the contradictory potential of community care policy where there is a formal relationship between local and/or health authorities with mental health services user/survivor-led groups; secondly, tracking New Labour’s policy agenda and the responses of user/survivors; finally, an attempt to develop a user/survivor theoretical standpoint towards community care policy. To achieve these aims the following were undertaken: a literature review which informed the development of a theoretical standpoint; interviews with user/survivor pioneers of the movement; and interviews with discussion groups of user/survivors who were active at local, regional, and/or national level. Analysis of respondents’ statements was completed using a theoretical standpoint based on Feminist/Foucauldian methodology. The chosen methodology resulted in an amended theoretical standpoint to take account of the use of reason by user/survivors and the creation of taxonomies which describe ways in which user/survivors discursively resist formalisation. These results formed the basis for the main conclusions which are as follows: first, user/survivors who engage in ‘consumerist’/empowerment activities, such as advocacy or involvement, can rightly claim to be challenging existing power relations; second, user/survivors entering into formal relationships with health/social services authorities do not necessarily reproduce discriminatory forms of care; third, although the culture of the BUSM has changed since the late 1980s, user/survivor activists are still trying to keep informal/empathic values alive; fourth, a danger exists that user/survivors will be pushed out of providing services and relegated to being the objects of consultation; and finally, there is a need to challenge the reason/unreason dichotomy enabling New Labour to characterise user/survivors as ‘dangerous’. The distinctive focus of this thesis on theoretical standpoint and discursive knowledge provides the basis for its contribution to theoretical and social policy debates in the field of mental health.
2011-10-06
2011-10-06
2005-12
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/144164
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1456662020-04-23T07:28:13Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
A trust modelling analysis for decreasing B2B monitoring costs in supply chain and electronic contracting settings
Pasanajano, Pinthusorn
supply chain
electronic contracting
business to business
trust
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by research
This research is proposed to examine the factor requirement for creating trust model to decrease costs in term of B2B supply chain and electronic contracting setting. Business to Business (B2B) is the electronic transactions between businesses over the internet. The business information propagated via B2B is cheaper and faster than traditional marketing such as advertisement and exhibitions and therefore is transmitted through the internet from local to global, from one place to another place and from business to business. However, business needs to monitor all of its products, services, customer, employee and suppliers for developing and improving its business framework to reach long-term profit. Consequently, there are high costs from products and services such as time, effort and customer’s knowledge. Trust is important, because it decreases transaction costs between businesses. If trust of transactions is high, they will use less time for monitoring costs. This thesis focuses on the perception of customers and employee and verified research hypotheses. The conceptual framework composes of factor that related to customer attitude, employee attitude, trust and monitoring cost. These factors will be undertaken by means of a survey of selected companies. The result of this study is essential to prove research hypotheses. This survey was conducted within coffee chain, superstore, network provider and hotel in Thailand. In total, 50 questionnaires were sent to customers and 40 questionnaires were sent to employees. The questionnaires were sent as an attachment with electronic mail. The results of this survey can be concluded that the method to decrease monitoring costs come from both customers and employees which include how long employees resolve customer problem as soon as possible, how employees decrease costs in their organisation and how they cut their marketing expenditure such as prevent unauthorised document, remove unauthorised document, monitor quality of products and keep records business transaction.
2011-10-18
2011-10-18
2010-12
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/145666
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1456192020-04-23T07:36:52Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Metaphor and relevance theory : a new hybrid model
Stöver, Hanna
Relevance Theory
Cognitive linguistics
Conceptual Metaphor Theory
metaphor
Situated Conceptualization
A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
This thesis proposes a comprehensive cognitive account of metaphor understanding that combines aspects of Relevance Theory (e.g. Sperber & Wilson 1986/95; Carston 2002) and Cognitive Linguistics, in particular ideas from Conceptual Metaphor Theory (e.g. Lakoff & Johnson 1980; Lakoff 1987; Johnson 1991) and Situated Conceptualization (e.g. Barsalou 1999; 2005). While Relevance Theory accounts for propositional aspects of metaphor understanding, the model proposed here additionally accounts for nonpropositional effects which intuitively make metaphor feel ‗special‘ compared to literal expressions. This is achieved by (a) assuming a further, more basic processing level of imagistic-experiential representations involving mental simulation patterns (Barsalou 1999; 2005) alongside relevance-theoretic inferential processing and (b) assuming processing of the literal meaning of a metaphorical expression at a metarepresentational level, as proposed by Carston (2010). The approach takes Tendahl‘s ‗Hybrid Theory of Metaphor‘ (2006), which also combines cognitive-linguistic with relevance-theoretic ideas, as a starting point. Like Tendahl, it incorporates the notion of conceptual metaphors (Lakoff & Johnson 1980), albeit in a modified form, thus accounting for metaphor in thought. Wilson (2009) suggests that some metaphors originate in language (as previously assumed by Relevance Theory) and others originate in thought (as previously assumed within Cognitive Linguistics). The model proposed here can account for both. Unlike Tendahl, it assumes a modular mental architecture (Sperber 1994), which ensures that the different levels of processing are kept apart. This is because each module handles only its own domain-specific input, here consisting of either propositional or imagistic-experiential representations. The propositional level, which remains the dominant processing route in utterance 3 understanding, as in Relevance Theory, receives some input from the imagistic-experiential level. This is mediated at a metarepresentational level, which turns the imagistic-experiential representations into propositional material to be processed at the inferential level in the understanding of literal expressions. In metaphor understanding, however, the literal meaning is not processed as meaning-constitutive content. As a result, the imagistic-experiential aspects of the literal meaning in question are not processed as propositional input. Rather, they are held at the metarepresentational level and experienced as strong impressions of the kind that only metaphors can communicate.
2011-10-18
2011-10-18
2010-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/145619
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1456672020-04-23T07:28:13Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Socially engaged graphic design - future prospects
Skopinska, Anna
graphic design
graphic design - ethics
ethics
A thesis submitted for the degree of Masters by Research
of the University of Bedfordshire
Good design and socially engaged design were studied in the broad context of the existing neoliberal political status quo. The definition and main features of good design were established based on: examples of good pieces of design, design history and core books on the subject. In this piece were discussed: ethical dimension of graphic design profession, sustainability in graphic design, political context of works as well as the graphic designer himself, the importance of choices he/she makes. The idea was raised here that socially engaged graphic design may be an extremely powerful medium for the communication of ideas and may help to shape society’s awareness. The research conducted included meeting selected graphic design professionals from the United Kingdom and Poland who actively act in socially engaged graphic design and make an important mark in public discussion. The subject of socially engaged graphic design was researched practically in a form of Grafik Rebel Magazine. The magazine and its blog have become a great platform for communicating ideas to the wider public.
2011-10-18
2011-10-18
2011-02
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/145667
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1456182020-04-23T07:28:13Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
Detection of facial expressions based on time dependent morphological features
Bozed, Kenz Amhmed
facial features recognition
facial expressions
human-computer interaction
face recognition
A thesis submetted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Facial expression detection by a machine is a valuable topic for Human Computer Interaction and has been a study issue in the behavioural science for some time. Recently, significant progress has been achieved in machine analysis of facial expressions but there are still some interestes to study the area in order to extend its applications. This work investigates the theoretical concepts behind facial expressions and leads to the proposal of new algorithms in face detection and facial feature localisation, design and construction of a prototype system to test these algorithms. The overall goals and motivation of this work is to introduce vision based techniques able to detect and recognise the facial expressions. In this context, a facial expression prototype system is developed that accomplishes facial segmentation (i.e. face detection, facial features localisation), facial features extraction and features classification. To detect a face, a new simplified algorithm is developed to detect and locate its presence from the fackground by exploiting skin colour properties which are then used to distinguish between face and non-face regions. This allows facial parts to be extracted from a face using elliptical and box regions whose geometrical relationships are then utilised to determine the positions of the eyes and mouth through morphological operations. The mean and standard deviations of segmented facial parts are then computed and used as features for the face. For images belonging to the same class, thses features are applied to the K-mean algorithm to compute the controid point of each class expression. This is repeated for images in the same expression class. The Euclidean distance is computed between each feature point and its cluster centre in the same expression class. This determines how close a facial expression is to a particular class and can be used as observation vectors for a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) classifier. Thus, an HMM is built to evaluate an expression of a subject as belonging to one of the six expression classes, which are Joy, Anger, Surprise, Sadness, Fear and Disgust by an HMM using distance features. To evaluate the proposed classifier, experiments are conducted on new subjects using 100 video clips that contained a mixture of expressions. The average successful detection rate of 95.6% is measured from a total of 9142 frames contained in the video clips. The proposed prototype system processes facial features parts and presents improved results of facial expressions detection rather than using whole facial features as proposed by previous authors. This work has resulted in four contributions: the Ellipse Box Face Detection Algorithm (EBFDA), Facial Features Distance Algorithm (FFDA), Facial features extraction process, and Facial features classification. These were tested and verified using the prototype system.
2011-10-18
2011-10-18
2011-02
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/145618
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1456682020-04-23T07:28:14Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
The cross-cultural adjustment of EFL expatriate teachers in Taiwan
Liao, Wei-Ju
EFL
English language teaching
Taiwan
cross-cultural adjustment
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
This study investigates expatriate English teachers’ cross-cultural adjustment in Taiwan. Cross-cultural adjustment theories and the differences between Chinese and Western culture are reviewed. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected in order to develop the framework for the study. The process was examined across three facets of adjustment: general, working and interaction with host nation. The study was based on the framework of Black, Mendenhall and Oddou (1991) and develops an empirical cross-cultural adjustment model for native English- speaking expatriates who work in Taiwan as English teachers. The framework was successfully implemented by means of questionnaire and interview data and a literature review. The key findings of this study are: 1. Expatriate English teachers’ job satisfaction, age, previous crosscultural experience and their motivation for or purpose in coming to Taiwan are the key factors which affect their intention to stay in Taiwan. 2. Expatriate English teachers’ Mandarin or Taiwanese language ability has significant effects on their daily activities and social life outside work in terms of general adjustment. 3. Cross-cultural training for expatriate teachers could improve their living conditions in Taiwan in terms of general adjustment. 4. Expatriate teachers who possessed an undergraduate degree had more difficulties in their relationship with school management. 5. The total time expatriate teachers had spent living in Taiwan had some effect on their job satisfaction and adjustment in relation to interacting with the Taiwanese. Based on the empirical findings of this study, some recommendations for language education institutions and Westerners who are working or planning to work as English teachers in Taiwan are as follows: 1. Those who are planning to go to Taiwan to work as English teachers should receive some cross-cultural training and gain basic Mandarin or Taiwanese language skills before departure. An undergraduate degree is the basic qualification but an English teaching certificate or higher degree is strongly recommended. 2. English language education institutions should offer expatriate teachers cross-cultural training which includes basic local language skills, general information about living and working in Taiwan and the differences in the education system, teaching methodology and management style between Taiwanese and Western cultures. 3. When recruiting expatriate teachers, it is recommended that English language education institutions should avoid those who are including a trip to Taiwan as part of wider Asian travel and who are likely to stay in Taiwan for a relatively short time.
2011-10-18
2011-10-18
2010-12
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/145668
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1456692020-04-23T07:29:45Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
University life event reporting and association with career decidedness, thoughtfulness and professionalism
Briggs, Steven G.
career development
student life events
student retention
L550 Careers Guidance
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
University students experience a range of life events whilst studying. Extensive research has established that university life events (events that are synonymous with studying) can be associated with student dropout from university. However, less is known about what university life events are experienced collectively by student ‘persisters’ (individuals who do not dropout). This study therefore sought to establish when persisters reported (and how they perceived) experiencing university life events. Between-group differences amongst students were considered. Life events have been attributed to personal change which can manifest in a number of ways, including change in career and professionalism. Understanding the associations between life events and career/professional development could serve to enhance the support that a university could provide to students in these areas. Consequently whether/when university life events were associated with students’ career thoughtfulness, decidedness and professionalism was addressed. An Interpretivist epistemological orientation was assumed and a comparative case study design was employed (involving three data collection phases). Phase one (pilot work) employed interviews and repertory grids to identify the range of events that student persisters might experience whilst studying at university; tentative between-group differences were considered. Based upon pilot work findings, three instruments were constructed, piloted and validated (phase two).These instruments addressed 1) university life event experiences; 2) career thoughtfulness and decidedness; and 3) professionalism status. Phase three (main study) involved administering the instruments quasi-longitudinally to students from two fundamentally different courses (‘professional’ (associated with a very well-defined career route and emphasis on specific professional development) and ‘generalist’ (associated with a more open-ended career route and less prescribed professional development)) at the start and end of the academic year. Result accuracy was checked through follow-up interviews with lecturers. III Trends were established between student groups in terms of what university life events were experienced and how these were perceived. Differences in reporting were found based on year group, course type and time of the academic year. Based on collective data, experiences most synonymous with specific stages of studying on a professional or generalist course were identified and are discussed. Different life events were found to be associated with enhanced or reduced career thoughtfulness, decidedness and professionalism throughout the academic year. Findings were considered holistically and an overview of how life events are associated with these areas was presented. Follow-up interviews overwhelmingly supported questionnaire findings. Explanations for findings and result applicability were considered. Suggestions for future work and recommendations are presented.
2011-10-18
2011-10-18
2011-09
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/145669
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1923492020-04-23T07:28:14Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Differing isometric contractions can affect neural excitability
Wyld, Kevin
Postactivation potentiation
muscle
muscle performance
neural excitability
sports science
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSc by research
Postactivation potentiation (PAP) of human skeletal muscle has been credited for improved performance in complex training situation, were a conditioning exercise is performed prior to a performance task. The mechanisms behind PAP have not been fully elucidated; it has been proposed that an increase in phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chains and/or increased spinal excitability could explain performance changes. However, which mechanism induces PAP has not been investigated as yet, while the optimum intensity of the conditioning exercise or the best rest period to induce optimal PAP levels has not been established. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine a range of different intensity conditioning contractions over a 60 minutes recovery period, on PAP response. Method: to gain reliability of the patellar tendon tap test a rubber tipped hammer was embedded into a machine. Twelve participants (8 males age 23.7 ± 4.9 yr, mass 78.3 ± 12.9 kg, height 1.75 ± 0.1 m and 4 females age 22 ± 3.2 yr, mass 60.6 ± 4.1 kg, height 1.66 ± 0.1 m) had three differing hammer tap forces (270 ± 0.79 N, CV 0.2 %, middle 252 ± 0.74 N, CV 0.2 % and lowest 121 ± 0.64 N, CV 0.5 %) delivered in a randomised order over 3 x 10 minute periods with sporadic intervals between each tap. The hammer tap force that reported the highest reliability was then used in a follow up study. The second study investigated skeletal muscles response to differing intensities of conditioning exercise, over a 60 minute rest period. The conditioning exercises consisted of 3 sets of isometric leg extensions of the dominant leg at 100%, 90%, 80% and 70% of a 1 RM, each set consisted of a 5 s contraction followed by 55 s passive rest. Subsequent neural excitability and intra-muscular activation were assessed in response to the patellar tendon tap test. Neural excitability was assessed via integrated EMG responses and goniometer movement of the lower leg. Results: The highest force (270 ± 0.79 N) gave the best reliability for hammer tap contact to the start of lower limb movement (17.3 %) compared to the other two hammer forces, this was used in the second study. In the second study no significant differences were observed between the hammer tapping the tendon and the start of muscle activation (F = 1.843, p>0.05) or muscle activation to the start of lower limb movement (F=1.587, p>0.05) between any of the conditioning contraction intensities or between any recovery periods. After 2 minutes recovery there was a trend for the maximal intensity conditioning exercise to reduce neural excitability. After 4 minutes rest all intensities of conditioning exercise caused a trend for an increase in neural excitability and intra-muscle activation. Conclusion: The poor reliability of the patellar tendon tap test maybe due to individual variations in tendon biology. Although this study improved the reliability compared to previous work, the technique was still too varied to ascertain conclusive results, beyond trends in data. Therefore, reliability of this technique needs to be addressed further to allow it to be recognised as a method to measure spinal excitability. At this moment in time no definitive rest period guidelines can be given to coaches for complex training or even if it enhances performances over traditional training methods. It is therefore recommended that coaches should view this training modality with caution, and not rely solely on this method, when more established valid methods to improve athletes’ explosive power performance, are readily available.
2011-11-29
2011-11-29
2011-05
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/192349
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/1986652018-04-02T20:53:34Zcom_10547_132178col_10547_132254
Mount Etna, Sicily : landscape evolution and hazard responses in the pre-industrial era
Chester, David K.
Duncan, Angus M.
University of Bedfordshire
K320 Landscape studies
Mount Etna
landscape
natural disasters
volcanoes
2011-12-22
2011-12-22
2010
Book chapter
Chester, DK, Duncan, AM, James, PA 2010 Mount Etna, Silicy : landscape evolution and hazard responses in the pre-industrial era. In Landscapes and societies (ed P Martini), 235-253, Springer
9789048194124
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/198665
en
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2049512020-04-23T07:34:18Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
A grid enabled staging DBMS method for data Mapping, Matching & Loading
Ahmed, Ejaz
G540 Databases
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Bedfordshire
This thesis is concerned with the need to deal with data anomalies, inconsistencies and redundancies within the context of data integration in grids. A data Mapping, Matching and Loading (MML) process that is based on the Grid Staging Catalogue Service (MML-GSCATS) method is identified. In particular, the MML-GSCATS method consists of the development of two mathematical algorithms for the MML processes. Specifically it defines an intermediate data storage staging facility in order to process, upload and integrate data from various small to large size data repositories. With this in mind, it expands the integration notion of a database management system (DBMS) to include the MML-GSCATS method in traditional distributed and grid environments. The data mapping employed is in the form of value correspondences between source and target databases whilst data matching consolidates distinct catalogue schemas of federated databases to access information seamlessly. There is a need to deal with anomalies and inconsistencies in the grid, MML processes are applied using a healthcare case study with developed scenarios. These scenarios were used to test the MML-GSCATS method with the help of software prototyping toolkit. Testing has set benchmarks, performance, reliability and error detections (anomalies and redundancies). Cross-scenario data sets were formulated and results of scenarios were compared with benchmarking. These benchmarks help in comparing the MMLGSCATS methodology with traditional and current grid methods. Results from the testing and experiments demonstrate that the MML-GSCATS is a valid method for identifying data anomalies, inconsistencies and redundancies that are produced during loading. Testing results indicates the MML-GSCATS is better than traditional methods.
2012-01-26
2012-01-26
2011
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/204951
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2049522020-04-23T07:28:14Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Not just anodyne confections: responding to Jack Zipes' post-Marxist reading of Disney's fairy tale films with a specific focus on 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
Syer, Paul
P303 Film studies
Walt Disney
Disney
Snow White
fairy tales
film studies
Marxism
Jack Zipes
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy
Within the fairy tale corpus, there are constant retellings of the tales using a range of mediums. Furthermore, amongst these retellings, Disney’s fairy tale films stand alone as being both the most popular and most criticised of all fairy tale adaptations. Leading the criticism toward Disney’s films is fairy tale scholar and critic Jack Zipes. However, Zipes only presents one reading of Disney’s fairy tale adaptations, that of denouncing them by applying both a historicist and post-Marxist reading to them. This thesis looks at two interconnected areas in order to be better placed to respond to Zipes’ comments regarding Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and to answer the questions of why the film has such an enduring longevity and popular reception. Firstly, there needs to be a clear definition of what constitutes a fairy tale. This is especially pertinent as Zipes dismisses Disney’s films as a ‘violation’ of the genre (Zipes, 1999, p. 353). Once this has been achieved, a close reading of Snow White as belonging to a larger fairy tale corpus which includes literary, dramatic, live-action and animated versions of fairy tales can be embarked upon and it is here that the link between chapters one and two of this thesis are to be found. If Disney’s Snow White adheres to the characteristics that delimit and define all fairy tales, then Zipes’ dismissal and partial reading of the film can be responded to by approaching Disney’s film from the same perspective as one would approach any other version of a fairy tale: by judging the film on its own merits as a version of a literary tale. Chapter two looks at these merits which include the adoption and innovation of new technology, and the multimodal nature of the film to render meaning and produce pleasure.
2012-01-26
2012-01-26
2011-10
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/204952
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2118102020-04-23T07:28:15Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Detection of session hijacking
Louis, Jerry
G420 Networks and Communications
session hijacking
computer security
A Thesis submitted at the University of Bedfordshire In partial fulfilment for the degree of Masters of Science In Computer Security and Forensics
In today‟s world the computer networks have become vulnerable to numerous types of attacks. Either it is wireless network or wired network, one of the most common or effective attacks up-to-date are man-in-the-middle attack, within which session hijacking has been the most attempted attack. The success rate of a session hijacking attack is significantly higher when compared to other attacks. This paper analysis the underlying problem in the detecting strategy and provides a customized solution to detect session hijacking efficiently. This thesis proposes a dual strategy towards developing a defensive mechanism against the session hijacking attempts, the two strategies are IN-Network strategy and OUT-Network Strategy. The implementation to test the above mentioned strategies are carefully designed in order to get the optimum results. The implementation is tested on the user-end, attacker-end and finally on the server end, also this testing of the proposal is performed on two platforms, Windows Operating system – Windows 7 and Linux Operating System – BackTrack. The performance in each of the operating system and the network strategies are carefully iterated to discuss the performance of each of the parameters in its host operating system. The results finally show that the defensive methodology is successfully implemented on both the network strategies.
2012-02-21
2012-02-21
2011-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/211810
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2118292020-04-23T07:28:22Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
Towards the implementation of a network security assessment model focus on threat and risk management
Hasan, Muhammad Fahim
G420 Networks and Communications
computer security
risk management
threat management
data security
A Thesis submitted at the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment for the degree of Masters of Science in Computer Security and Forensics
Network security is an increasingly raising concern for every enterprise having IT infrastructure. The numbers of data breaches are increasing every year due to the complexity in the existing network security models. Background to the problem is that the existing network security assessment models cannot or not fully addressed in the given domain. The investigation is primarily focused on critical evaluation of various proposed network security assessment models with their strength and weakness. This thesis is a preliminary development of a model for assessing the network security taking under consideration the network associated risk. The proposed model simplifies the quantification process of the risk interrelated with organization network by utilizing various parameters. The model introduces the visualization techniques in the threats and vulnerability identification process as well. The end result of the measured risk has given a particular value with respect to its criticality in the conclusion of the model. This model will not only support in identification and classification of the threats but also enable the organization management to take well-informed decisions against the criticality found with risk expose by particular threat and vulnerability.
2012-02-21
2012-02-21
2011-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/211829
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2118112020-04-23T07:37:18Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_132371
A framework for evidence integrity preservation in virtualized environment: a digital forensic approach
Ani, Uchenna Peter Daniel
G400 Computer Science
digital forensics
data integrity
versioning
evidence
digital evidence
A Thesis submitted at the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment for the degree of Masters of Science in Computer Security and Forensics
Virtual machine technology has emerged with relishing features such as versioning, isolation and encapsulation. These features have made evidence acquisition and preservation difficult and impracticable. Virtual machines have proved excellence in anti-forensics, such that conventional approaches to integrity preservation have not yielded the best results required to facilitate admissibility. Issues around virtual machine forensics, its relationship with digital evidence integrity, and effects to admissibility have been resolutely investigated. In this work, we focused on the identification of threats to the integrity of evidence in a virtual machine environment using VMware hypervisor as case study. A conceptual framework, EIPF for preserving integrity of evidences resident in a virtual machine environment is introduced. The framework emphasises rules, processes and parameters necessary for upholding the accuracy, reliability and trustworthiness of digital evidence. The framework adopts the widely known Clark-Wilson‟s principles on Data Integrity. In our investigation, the key parameters used are the security strength of the hash algorithms, the relative Number of Evidence Attributes), and the Number of Evidence Circles. To simplify the analysis further, a reliability rating factor has been introduced as a means of defining conceptual integrity levels. We have mathematically modelled all the penalty parameters for data integrity in our model following widely known and recommended standards and processes. Although a demonstration of the behaviour of EIPF had not been exhaustively featured, the proposed framework has offered a starting point towards adopting an improved way of ensuring integrity. While opening up a path for unification, it has amplified the trust level for a court‟s acceptance of a claimed integrity state for digital evidence.
2012-02-21
2012-02-21
2012-01
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/211811
en
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2132892020-04-23T07:28:15Zcom_10547_129915col_10547_129931
The acute effect of commonly used preparation strategies on short term high intensity motor capabilities
Fletcher, Iain M.
C600 Sports Science
A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Publications
The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate modalities used as components of pre event/training preparation, to try to develop an optimal preparation strategy for sports performers. It concentrates on the stretch modalities commonly used by athletes as part of a warm-up designed to prepare them for subsequent performance. Past literature suggests that static stretching as part of a warm-up leads to a decrease in performance when compared to an active warm-up or a warm-up including dynamic stretches. Not surprisingly this has led to a movement away from static to dynamic stretches by many athletes. The presented publications were conducted to clarify a number of issues raised by past research studies. A lack of ecologically valid studies is apparent; the static stretch protocols used in most of the early research in this area has failed to explore what sports performers actually use as part of their training, while there was a lack of research examining the effect of dynamic stretches on performance. Of particular relevance is the lack of research looking at the mechanisms behind the changes in performance linked to warm-ups incorporating dynamic stretches. Therefore, this group of publications attempts to systematically examine the effects on performance of manipulating the stretch component of an active warm-up, while exploring the potential mechanisms linked to any changes in performance. The general findings of this series of papers provides evidence that static stretches, as part of an active warm-up, are linked to a decrease in the acute performance of a range of physical capabilities; including sprint, agility, jump and maximal force output. The mechanisms behind these performance changes are multifaceted, with decreases in core temperature and heart rate, decreases in musculotendinous unit stiffness and a decrease in muscular activity, when compared to a general active warm-up established. In contrast when a dynamic stretch replaces the static stretch component and is incorporated within a warm-up, performance is enhanced when compared to an active warm-up. The mechanisms behind this seem to be less temperature related and more closely linked to the neuro-muscular system. Greater muscular activity is linked to dynamic stretches, causing an increase in peak force and rate of force development, compared to an active warm-up protocol. This effect seems to be enhanced the faster and more specific the dynamic stretches are to the chosen performance measure, while combining static stretches with dynamic stretches as part of a preparation strategy still leads to decreases in performance compared to an active warm-up combined with dynamic stretches. In conclusion, to maximise acute maximal performance in sports specific motor skills, an active warm-up combined with specific dynamic stretches is recommended to sports performers and coaches.
2012-02-28
2012-02-28
2011-07
Thesis or dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/213289
en
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2160312018-06-25T13:01:47Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132231
Frequency-selective fading of ultrawideband wireless channels in confined environments
Sipal, Vit
Gelabert, Javier
Allen, Ben
Stevens, Christopher
Edwards, David J.
2012-03-19
2012-03-19
2011-08
Article
Sipal, V., Gelabert, J., Allen, B., Stevens, C., Edwards, D.J. (2011) 'Frequency-selective fading of ultrawideband wireless channels in confined environments', IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation 5 (11):1328
17518725
10.1049/iet-map.2010.0511
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/216031
IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation
http://link.aip.org/link/IMAPCH/v5/i11/p1328/s1&Agg=doi
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2165992020-04-23T08:42:54Zcom_10547_132195col_10547_132209
Identifying key factors affecting transnational knowledge transfer
Duan, Yanqing
Nie, Wanyan
Coakes, Elayne
G500 Information Systems
knowledge transfer
transnational knowledge transfer
knowledge transfer factors
Delphi method
knowledge transfer project
To further understand Transnational Knowledge Transfer (TKT) in a not-for-profit context, the study explored, verified, and mapped out the key factors affecting TKT using a four-component framework in the context of publically funded knowledge transfer (KT) projects. The Delphi technique was used to explore, identify, and verify the relevant key factors; 24 major factors were identified in the first round and more than half of the experts agreed on the top 10 key factors in the second round. In addition, a number of new factors were identified and some findings that contradicted prior research were revealed. Findings can also help practitioners develop a more focused approach in dealing with the most significant factors (or bottlenecks) in KT.
2012-03-26
2012-03-26
2010-12
Article
Duan, Y., Nie, W., Coakes, E. (2010) 'Identifying key factors affecting transnational knowledge transfer' Information & Management 47 (7-8):356
0378-7206
10.1016/j.im.2010.08.003
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/216599
Information & Management
en
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378720610000698
An error occurred getting the license - uri.
An error occurred getting the license - uri.
Archived with thanks to Information & Management
An error occurred on the license name.
An error occurred on the license name.
Elsevier
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2166892013-03-04T14:51:57Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132231
On space–frequency correlation of UWB MIMO channels
Hong, Xuemin
Wang, Cheng-Xiang
Thompson, John
Allen, Ben
Malik, Wasim Q.
Ge, Xiaohu
2012-03-27
2012-03-27
2010-11
Article
Hong, X., Wang, C., Thompson, J., Allen, B., Malik, W.Q. & Ge, X. (2010) 'On Space–Frequency Correlation of UWB MIMO Channels', IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 59 (9):4201
0018-9545
1939-9359
10.1109/TVT.2010.2075947
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/216689
IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology. Pages: 4201-4213
en
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/lpdocs/epic03/wrapper.htm?arnumber=5575454
Archived with thanks to IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2245172012-07-09T11:35:17Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
Interactive deformable geometry maps
Liu, Qiang
Prakash, Edmond C.
Srinivasan, Mandayam A.
2012-05-18
2012-05-18
2012-05-18
Article
Liu, Q., Prakash, E. & Srinivasan, M. (2007) Interactive deformable geometry maps, The Visual Computer, 23 (2) pp.119-131
0178-2789
1432-2315
10.1007/s00371-006-0033-3
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/224517
The Visual Computer, pp.119-131
en
http://www.springerlink.com/index/10.1007/s00371-006-0033-3
Archived with thanks to The Visual Computer
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213762019-09-23T10:26:43Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
Accelerating tumour growth aimulations on many-core architectures: a case study on the use of GPGPU within VPH
Liu, Baoquan
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
Dong, Feng
Kolokotroni, Eleni
Stamatakos, Georgios
adaptation models
biological system modeling
computational modeling
computer architecture
graphics processing unit
instruction sets
tumours
medical computing
parallel processing
software architecture
virtual reality
GPGPU
VPH
graphics engine
many-core architectures
parallel processing architectures
parallel programmable processor
tumour growth simulations
virtual physiological human
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-07
Article
Meetings and Proceedings
Liu, B., Clapworthy, G., Dong, F., Kolokotroni, E. & Stamatakos, G. (2011) 'Accelerating tumour growth simulations on many-core architectures: A case study on the use of GPGPU within VPH', International Conference on Information Visualisation (IV), 2011 15th , pp.601 - 609.
1550-6037
10.1109/IV.2011.45
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221376
Information Visualisation (IV), 2011 15th International Conference on
en
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/lpdocs/epic03/wrapper.htm?arnumber=6004108
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213402014-12-09T13:57:36Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
Interactive visualization of multiscale biomedical data: an integrated approach
Testi, Debora
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
Aylward, S.
Frangi, A.
Christie, R.
University of Bedfordshire
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-10
Article
Technical Report
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221340
en
http://www.biovis.net/2011/materials/abstracts/BioVispaper117.pdf
An error occurred getting the license - uri.
An error occurred on the license name.
BioVis
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213412020-04-23T08:39:58Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
Multimodal fusion of biomedical data at different temporal and dimensional scales
Viceconti, Marco
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
Testi, Debora
Taddei, Fulvia
McFarlane, Nigel J.B.
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-06
Article
Viceconti, M. et al (2011) 'Multimodal fusion of biomedical data at different temporal and dimensional scales' Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine 102 (3):227
0169-2607
10.1016/j.cmpb.2010.04.017
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221341
Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
en
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169260710001148
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213422019-01-08T13:48:46Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
RESTful web service composition: extracting a process model from Linear Logic theorem proving
Zhao, Xia
Liu, Enjie
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
Ye, Na
Lu, Yueming
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-10
Article
Zhao, X., Liu, E., Clapworthy, G., Ye, N., Lu, Y. (2011) 'RESTful web service composition: Extracting a process model from Linear Logic theorem proving' Next Generation Web Services Practices (NWeSP), 7th International Conference on, pp. 398 - 403
10.1109/NWeSP.2011.6088212
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221342
Next Generation Web Services Practices (NWeSP), International Conference on
en
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/lpdocs/epic03/wrapper.htm?arnumber=6088212
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213442019-01-08T13:49:23Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
A two-stage RESTful web Service composition method based on linear logic
Zhao, Xia
Liu, Enjie
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-09
Article
Zhao, X., Liu, E., Clapworthy, G. (2011) 'A Two-Stage RESTful Web Service Composition Method Based on Linear Logic' Web Services (ECOWS), Ninth IEEE European Conference on. pp.39 - 46
9781457715327
10.1109/ECOWS.2011.11
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221344
Web Services (ECOWS), 2011 Ninth IEEE European Conference on. pp.39 - 46
en
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/lpdocs/epic03/wrapper.htm?arnumber=6061100
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213432019-09-23T10:25:58Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
Opacity volume based halo generation for enhancing depth perception
Tao, Yubo
Lin, Hai
Dong, Feng
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-09
Article
Tao, Y., Lin, H., Dong, F., Clapworthy, G. (2011) 'Opacity Volume Based Halo Generation for Enhancing Depth Perception' Computer-Aided Design and Computer Graphics (CAD/Graphics), 12th International Conference on, pp.418 - 422
10.1109/CAD/Graphics.2011.81
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221343
Computer-Aided Design and Computer Graphics (CAD/Graphics) International Conference
en
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/lpdocs/epic03/wrapper.htm?arnumber=6062822
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213462018-10-19T10:44:42Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
Intelligent ray launching algorithm for indoor scenarios
Lai, Zhihua
De La Roche, Guillaume
Bessis, Nik
Kuonen, Pierre
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
Zhou, Dibin
Zhang, Jie
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-06
Article
Lai, Z., Roche, D.L., Bessis, N., Kuonen, P., Clapworthy, G.J., Zhou, D. & Zhang, J. 'Intelligent ray launching algorithm for indoor scenarios' (2011), Radioengineering, 20(2), pp.398-408
1210-2512
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221346
Radioengineering
en
SPOLECNOST PRO RADIOELEKTRONICKE INZENYRSTVI, CZECH TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, DEPT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD, TECHNICKA 2, PRAHA, CZ-16627, CZECH REPUBLIC
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213922019-09-23T10:27:07Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
Visualization and simulated surgery of the left ventricle in the virtual pathological heart of the Virtual Physiological Human
McFarlane, Nigel J.B.
Lin, X.
Zhao, Youbing
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
Dong, Feng
Redaelli, A.
Parodi, O.
Testi, Debora
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-03
Article
Visualization and simulated surgery of the left ventricle in the virtual pathological heart of the Virtual Physiological Human 2011, 1 (3):374 Interface Focus
2042-8898
2042-8901
10.1098/rsfs.2010.0040
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221392
Interface Focus
en
http://rsfs.royalsocietypublishing.org/cgi/doi/10.1098/rsfs.2010.0040
Archived with thanks to Interface Focus
The Royal Society
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213962012-11-12T13:39:15Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
The development of a parallel ray launching algorithm for wireless network planning
Lai, Zhihua
Bessis, Nik
De La Roche, Guillaume
Kuonen, Pierre
Zhang, Jie
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011
Article
Lai, Z., Bessis, N., Roche, D.L., Kuonen, P., Zhang, J. & Clapworthy, G.J. (2011) 'The development of a parallel ray launching algorithm for wireless network planning', International Journal of Distributed Systems and Technologies, 2 (2), pp.1-19.
1947-3532
1947-3540
10.4018/jdst.2011040101
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221396
International Journal of Distributed Systems and Technologies
en
http://services.igi-global.com/resolvedoi/resolve.aspx?doi=10.4018/jdst.2011040101
Archived with thanks to International Journal of Distributed Systems and Technologies
IGI Publishing
oai:uobrep.openrepository.com:10547/2213972019-01-08T13:51:23Zcom_10547_132192col_10547_132224
Web-based 3D visualisation for biomedical applications
Wei, Hui
Liu, Enjie
Zhao, Xia
McFarlane, Nigel J.B.
Clapworthy, Gordon J.
2012-05-01
2012-05-01
2011-07
Article
Wei, H., Liu, E., Zhao, X., McFarlane, NJB., Clapworthy, GJ. (2011) 'Web-based 3D visualisation for biomedical applications' Information Visualisation (IV), 15th International Conference on, pp. 632 - 637
10.1109/IV.2011.74
http://hdl.handle.net/10547/221397
Information Visualisation (IV), 2011 15th International Conference on
en
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/lpdocs/epic03/wrapper.htm?arnumber=6004044
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
etdms////100