This thesis focuses on the perceptions of the audience/media professionals on the nature of the content on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Channel 4 – a mainstream commercial television broadcaster in the UK. It investigates whether Channel 4 portrays disability in shows which are designed to be laughed at or laughed with, given that Channel 4 has the UK broadcasting rights to the coverage of both the Summer and Winter Paralympics. The thesis investigates why the two broadcasters show disability and disability sport differently, drawing upon contrasting theories - the medical model of disability, the social model of disability, the crip theory, and the social cognitive theory. In addition, the findings of past research in the disability domain are also drawn upon. For example, the stereotypes of disability in the media (Klobas, 1988 and Worrell, 2018) and the impact of ‘inspirational orn’ and the ‘unconscious’ negative light this has on the viewer (Young, 2014 and Evans, 2022) which i…
The rise in global concerns over the continuous increase of greenhouse gas emissions and the increasing demand for energy, has led to an increase in the uptake of sustainable building technology products and photovoltaic (PV) systems technology. However, despite the wide adoption of PV globally as a substitute to the grid, it faces information-related challenges that hinder its adoption. The enormous volumes of information available on these technology products overwhelm intended users when acquiring valuable knowledge to make informed decisions. Similarly, information on PV is represented on the web using non-machine-processable languages that focus on describing the pattern of data rather than execution models. The semantic web and its associated technologies have become state-of-the-art solutions to such knowledge modelling, representation, and reasoning challenges. This research aims to exploit the extent to which semantic web technologies can be used for knowledge modelling in the domain of sustainabl…
This thesis presents a critical and important re-evaluation of the prolific and once popular writer Louis Golding (1896-1958). It argues that he has clear significance as an Anglo-Jewish middlebrow writer who presented key aspects of twentieth-century Ashkenazi Jewish experience to a general as well as a Jewish popular readership. Furthermore, it argues that the ‘Doomington’ novels, produced between 1921 and 1954, reveal Golding’s personal and political commitment to a sympathetic rendering of Jewish characters in the context of collective and personal experiences that range from the events of Pale of Settlement pogroms, through the dislocation of immigration, and culminate in the tragedy of the Holocaust. This thesis contributes to the expanding body of work on neglected twentieth-century middlebrow writers through a critical examination of Golding’s socio-historical and biographical context as well as a close reading of his poetry, journalism, and fiction. My over-arching argument is supported by previousl…
Since industrialisation and economic growth in the 1990s, China has increasingly aspired to become more like developed nations; the traditional human dimensions and function of streets has changed, being replaced by modern, engineered roads and large poorly defined open spaces. This is causing many problems such as loss of street vitality, safety, negative climatic conditions and the lack of designated spaces for walking, cycling and socialising. Recently, there has been a growing interest in researching street design in China, but most researchers study engineering and landscape design principles; focusing on large Chinese cities. However, there is a lack of research on medium or small size cities. The problem with small and medium size Chinese cities is that they are implementing the same road and street patterns that are more suited to large cities. As a result, this research questions the validity of such approaches and whether there are some useful lessons to be learnt from historically formed urban are…
To limit global warming to below 1.5 °C, global efforts are being made towards decarbonisation of energy sources, among which UK has placed itself at the forefront to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Transport is responsible for 26% of total GHG emissions, of which light duty vehicles represent >50%. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are seen as a pathway to achieve decarbonisation and improved local air quality of future transport at the point of use. However, there are environmental concerns about the production of BEVs because of toxic substances released during mining activities and the reliance on critical elements. The degree to which the use of BEVs can contribute to decarbonisation also depends upon the percentage of renewable energy sources in the electricity grid mix. The increased electricity demand and a growing vehicle fleet will entail greater energy investment and resource requirements to meet future targets. Strategies such as the uptake of shared mobility, to minimize the num…
This study investigates two interrelated research questions: what are the reciprocal impacts of climate change and socio-economic structures with implications for poverty and how does neo-classical economic paradigm address climate change and these underlying socio-economic imperatives as opposed to competing economic paradigms, towards sustainable solutions. Climate change is changing the development debate and the changing development debate is, in turn, changing the very definition of sustainability. This research argues that the current debate on climate change is predominantly framed in terms of the effects of increasing greenhouse gas emissions on earth’s radiation balance. Consequently, it fails to incorporate the socio-economic structures which drive these emissions. The failure to see the reciprocal link between climate change and the structural imperatives in which it is embedded gives a partial view of climate change, with implications for poverty. The research methodological approach adopted under…
Breast and colorectal cancers present significant challenges for the UK healthcare system, placing a substantial burden on the National Health Service (NHS). Early detection is crucial for improving survival rates and reducing healthcare strain, especially as metastasis, the primary cause of mortality in these cancers, remains poorly understood. Protein glycosylation, a post-translational modification of carbohydrate structures, is a significant contributor to cancer progression and metastasis. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as key players in cancer development and metastasis, facilitating intercellular communication through bioactive cargo transfer. Despite mounting evidence, the importance of sEV glycosylation in cancer and metastasis is often overlooked. Liquid biopsies, including sEV biomarker analysis, offer promising non-invasive diagnostic approaches. Given the prevalence of glycoproteins among blood cancer biomarkers, exploring the glycosylation of sEVs as biomarker targets could rev…
Novel plant-based products with a high content of phenolic compounds have been studied to assess their effect on health. This thesis has explored three different species of dragon fruit, Hylocereus polyrhizus (red flesh), Hylocereus undatus (white flesh), and Hylocereus megalanthus (yellow peel) as well as one species of star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) that may exert beneficial effects on health due to their bioactive potential. A literature review was conducted followed by three experiments: 1) an in vitro study to analyse the total polyphenol content (TPC) and their antioxidant capacity in fresh, dehydrated, and frozen forms for all species, as well as their in vitro digestion. 2) A sensory evaluation and an in vitro digestion of red flesh dragon fruit and star fruit based beverages. 3) An in vivo trial in healthy individuals and those at risk of type two diabetes (T2D) to determine the effect of a beverage based on frozen red flesh dragon fruit on blood pressure, glycaemic and insulin response. Th…
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) have gained more importance due to their compactness, adaptability and ease of installation. However, the efficiency of VAWT is much lesser than that of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT). Substantial research is going on to improve the efficiency of VAWT. One of the most effective methods of improving the efficiency of VAWT is to operate them on a farm rather than isolated turbines. This project deals with determining the most effective layout for a VAWT based on average performance coefficient increase when operated in a farm configuration. In order to find the optimized layout of VAWT, 2D URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) CFD simulation were performed in STAR CCM+ software. Validation of the CFD simulation was done by simulating a rotor in isolation and its blade torque profile was compared to the results of published research. The validation of results proved that the blade torque profiles agree with similar studies. A new methodolo…
The thesis examines the nature and extent of protection available to "whistleblowers", employees who disclose to outside bodies wrongdoing or malpractice at work. It begins with a consideration of the philosophical basis for providing protection for such employees. The legal rights of the whistleblowing employee in English law are then considered. In chapter three case law on the duty of confidence is examined and conclusions drawn on its application to employees dismissed for blowing the whistle, with particular reference to whether disclosure of information involves a breach of the employment contract. The general law on unfair dismissal is examined in chapter four to determine the extent to which an employee can claim that a dismissal for raising a concern is unfair. Protection for whistleblowing on specific issues such as race or sex discrimination, and health and safety issues is considered in chapter five. International standards governing the protection of the right to freedom of expression, in particu…