bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metaphoric ramifications of the protagonists’ character, language and actions in J.M. Coetzee’s Elizabeth Costello and Slow Man
Authors: Ong'ang'a Alfred Mugambi
Published: November 2022

This article examines the implications of the J.M. Coetzee’s employment of metaphor and metaphoric behaviour and actions of the protagonists vis-à-vis the major thematic concerns in his two novels Elizabeth Costello and Slow Man. Guided by Stylistics, the study reveals that the protagonists in the two novels, Elizabeth Costello and Paul Rayment, respectively, exhibit character, language and actions that are metaphorically allegorical to the South African apartheid and post-apartheid experiences and history. Significantly, the author’s employment of animal imagery to characterize the underprivileged position of the oppressed blacks in the South African society through the metaphorical parallels between the mass slaughtering of animals for human consumption with the extermination of the Jews by the German Nazis in Elizabeth Costello stands out clearly. The extended metaphor of the dog in the two novels to characterize the humiliating position of the oppressed brings out clearly the sense of hopelessness and destitution that the non-Whites face within the context of apartheid. The study concludes that, though the novels are set in distant places from South Africa, through the employment of animal imagery and metaphorical portrayal his protagonists in the texts, Coetzee successfully links the events in the novels to South Africa’s historical pain that is occasioned by the excruciating legacy of apartheid in the country.
Matter and manner: A postcolonial reading of Nol Alembong’s The Passing Wind (1991)
Authors: Sih Emmerencia Beh , Kimbeng Nges Zillah
Published: November 2022

This paper sought to examine the role of Anglophone Cameroonian writers who have had a persistent tendency for political and social commitment and change, in connection to the socio-political events of their society. Initially, Anglophone Cameroon writing was an instrument for celebrating the heroic magnificence of Western figures; later it was used for anti-colonial fight back. Presently, it is being used as an authentic weapon for depicting the postcolonial disillusioned state of the nation and other burning issues. In this paper, an effort is made to examine the way “manner” is used to bring out the blazing “matter[s]” in Cameroon, Africa and the world. In an attempt to examine Nol Alembong’s view, selected poems from his collection titled, The Passing Wind, have been used to bring out tangible issues that have plagued Africa as a whole and Anglophone Cameroon in particular. This article adopts the Socio-Artistic Criticism and Marxism as its theoretical perspectives. This theoretical position is important as it focuses not only on the background from which the poems were written, but also pays close attention to the use of literary and linguistic tools in communicating meaning.
Cultural practices resilience in the wake of COVID-19 among communities in Western Kenya
Authors: Mandillah Lucy , Barasa David , Anyonje Lydia , Kassily Janet , Kariaga Patricia
Published: November 2022

This study provides first-hand information on the cultural practices during the COVID-19 pandemic among communities in Western Kenya. The study highlights the differentiated impact COVID-19 had on cultural practices and the central role played by communities in building the response and recovery to the global crisis. The study examined how cultural community practices were conducted in the wake of COVID-19 with a view to engineering such practices to fit in the new normal while preserving salient components of cultural traditions and values among the Luhya and Luo communities. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed. FGDs and interview schedules were used to elicit data from forty (40) respondents. Sixty percent (60%) of the respondents were from Kakamega, 25% Siaya and 15 % from Bungoma Counties. The study established that cultural practices such as greetings; cultural gatherings such as funerals; cultural bull fighting, Isukuti performances and circumcision took place during COVID-19, although at a very minimal level. Respondents confessed that COVID-19 protocols changed the way the above practices were conducted during COVID-19. It was further established that some abandoned cultural practices were re-introduced during the pandemic. Thus, indigenous culture was hit by the effects of COVID-19 infections, surveillance, as well as government and WHO COVID-19 protocol measures. The analysis and recommendations presented in this study seek to contribute to the design of COVID-19 response and recovery measures that are respectful of the rights of communities, support their cultural practices, livelihoods, economies and resilience.
The relationship between work-stress, coping strategies and job performance of tutors in college of education in greater Accra and Eastern Regions of Ghana
Authors: Ladzekpo Gershon Kofi , Nukpetsi Alfred Doh
Published: November 2022

This study aimed at testing a model of which tutors’ ways of coping with stress are assumed to mediate the relationship between work-stress and job performance. It further investigated whether there were sex, age and work experience differences in perceived work-stress, coping strategies and job performance. The sample for the study consisted of 150 tutors from Colleges of Education in Greater-Accra and Eastern Regions. The methodological inquiry was quantitative research using survey design. The statistical tools employed in the study in analyzing the hypotheses included sample t-test, hierarchical regression, One-Way ANOVA and chi-square. Findings indicated that work-stress influenced job performance, and this depended on coping strategies. Based on these findings, it was recommended that principals of Colleges of Education should provide reasonably comfortable work environment for all tutors, and also to ensure clarity in the roles and responsibilities of the tutors, which in turn would help in coping with the work-stress.
Aggressive behaviours on peer social relationship of students with hearing impairment in Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Nigeria
Authors: Adebisi Rufus Olanrewaju , Yakubu Doris Gomos
Published: November 2022

This study investigated the aggressive behaviours on peer social relationship of students with hearing impairment. The purpose of the study was to determine the nature of aggression on peer social relationship of students with hearing impairment. A self-structured questionnaire was used to gather relevant data. The sample for the study consisted of one ninety (90) respondents. Three (3) research questions were raised to guide the study. The data collected were analyzed using, simple percentage method, mean and standard deviation. Based on the data generated and results obtained from the data analyzed, the findings revealed that hearing loss can create barriers in communication between children, thus adversely affect the quality and quantity of peer interaction of students with hearing impairment with their peers. The findings of the study also revealed that learners with hearing impairment have lower social status and report more loneliness than do hearing children. The study recommended among others that there was need to address the aggressive behavior among students with hearing impairment at schools levels. The classroom implication of the study was that the school should arrange counseling services for students with and without hearing impairment at school level to provide them psychotherapy for relaxation from aggressive behavior.
From segregation to inclusive education: Examining the environmental adaptations on pupils with disabilities in regular schools within Yilo Krobo Municipality, Ghana
Authors: Asempa Yvonne Emefa
Published: November 2022

Inclusive education is the adaptation and modification of the learning environment and instructions to promote the academic performance of all learners irrespective of race, class, gender, disability, sexual preference, religion, culture, learning styles, and language. Oppong (2003) explains inclusive education as the adaptation of the school curriculum to make it equally accessible to students with special needs. This means that the school curriculum should suit students with and without disabilities and the school environment should also be made equally accessible to students with special needs. The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. A quantitative data collection method was used, thus eight Likert scale type questionnaire was designed for the selected primary school teachers in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, Ghana. This study brings to light the challenges faced by pupils with disabilities and further recommends possible measures that could be put in place to improve teaching and learning in regular schools.
Examining the socio-economic effects of teenage pregnancy: A Case study of Manya Krobo Municipality of Ghana
Authors: Agyemang Nathan Asamoah
Published: November 2022

The prevalence of teenage pregnancy has become very common in the Ghanaian society, especially among the youth who are at the primary and junior high school (JHS) level of education. The study assessed the prevalence of teenage pregnancy with the challenges faced by teenage pregnant mothers in the Manya Krobo Municipality of Ghana. It also assessed the effects of teenage pregnancy on the socio-economic development and well-being of the society. The results revealed that societal rejection was the major socio-economic challenge faced by pregnant teenagers. Based on the findings, the study concluded that financial dependence on society and involvement in social vices were the major effects of teenage pregnancy.
Impact of early childhood educators’ pedagogical content knowledge on early graders academic success in the Sissala East Municipal
Authors: Mahamud Wasila
Published: November 2022

The study examined the impact of early childhood educators’ pedagogical content knowledge on early graders academic success in the Sissala East Municipal. The target population for the research included all early childhood educators in the Sissala East Municipal in the Upper West Region of Ghana. This research employed multiple sampling techniques, which include: purposive, simple random, criterion sampling and lottery sampling techniques. The researcher selected all early childhood educators using purposive sampling. The total sample for the study was 164 early childhood educators. Self-developed questionnaire, interview guides and observation checklist were used for data collection. The quantitative data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. The study revealed that majority of the respondents agreed that the pedagogical content knowledge of teachers and teachers’ teaching-learning strategies significantly enhanced the performance of students. It is concluded that pedagogical content knowledge of teachers has an impact on learners’ performance. The findings of this study will guide teacher preparation trainers and curriculum designers to correlate their relayed curriculum on how Language and literacy practices are and the extent of their implementation in the classrooms.
Historical development of marketing and its implications to the future of marketing discipline
Authors: Chesula Osman Wechuli , Kiriinya Stephen Ntuara , Rintari Ann
Published: November 2022

This paper sought to examine the development of marketing (theory, scholarship and practice) and accounted for that evolution. It also sought to determine the implications that the developments have for the marketing theory, scholarship and practice in future. The paper is based on the empirical analysis of important literature from scholarly articles. From its findings, it is evident that marketing activities are as old as humanity and the development of marketing discipline is gradual having had less attention in early centuries. However; attention to marketing as an important function emerged in the late 19th century. It is also evident that marketing theory borrows a lot from other disciplines and it’s still not clear which topics comprehensively constitute marketing theory. The insights from the analysis bring out the contribution of marketing theory to marketing scholarship and practice. A lot is expected to change in the marketing field owing to globalization, consumer preferences, inventions and innovations in information and communication technology and importance of relationship building. Marketing research is one of the areas that are expected to see significant changes over the years as new approaches emerge.
Examination of the prevalence of conduct disorder among young Offenders: A case study of Shikusa Borstal Institution, Kenya
Authors: Moracha Edward Ngubo , Mbiriri Michael , Bironga Sophia
Published: November 2022

Conduct disorder among juvenile offenders is a very critical phenomenon not only in Kenya but also globally. The global prevalence of conduct disorder among children and adolescents is estimated to range from 2 - 10%, indicating the biggest health and social challenge that nations of the world have to confront. The study aimed to examine the prevalence of conduct disorder and its influence among young offenders in Shikusa Borstal Institution. The study employed Psychoanalytic Theory by Sigmund Freud and Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 250, simple random and census sampling methods were applied to select 101 respondents as the sample size. Primary data was gathered through closed-ended questionnaires, interview schedule and focus group discussions. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were utilized to analyze quantitative data while verbatim accounts were used for qualitative data. The results were presented using tables and figures. The study concluded that the prevalence of conduct disorder had a negative and significant relationship with conduct disorder. The study recommended that policy makes should come up with policies that would improve positive thinking among young people. This would reduce negative attitude of young people that leads to law breaking.
Systematic palaeontology of late Miocene lagomorphs from the Aït Kandoula Basin (Morocco)
Authors: DUPRÉ Shaïna , MAHBOUBI Salamet , GUY Franck , SURAULT Jérôme , BENAMMI Mouloud
Published: November 2022

The occurrence of the genus Prolagus Pomel, 1853, in North Africa provides some of the strongest evidence for the existence of faunal exchanges between Europe and Africa. The oldest African Prolagus remains have been reported from the Messinian locality of Afoud in the Aït Kandoula Basin (6.2 Ma), identified during previous studies as the species Prolagus michauxi López-Martínez, 1975. Dental material already analyzed from the AF12-1 and AF12-2 levels and new material collected subsequently from the same levels form the basis of the current systematic study. This abundant material allows us to confirm the presence of a single Prolagus species in the Afoud locality, P. michauxi. However, this species’ attribution to P. michauxi must be considered cautiously, given its evident morphological resemblance to Prolagus sorbinii Masini, 1989. These results are consistent with scenarios implying the migration of P. michauxi from Southern Europe to North Africa. In addition to the Prolagus remains, cheek teeth of Leporidae have been found and this is the oldest occurrence of this group in Morocco.
Conservación del Patrimonio Paleontológico en el contexto normativo en Castilla-La Mancha (España)
Authors: Marcos Fernández Fátima , Plaza Beltrán Marta , Martínez Bueno Sonia , Ortega Francisco
Published: November 2022

La aparente similitud entre las técnicas de extracción, así como el estudio de materiales pretéritos, parece que es lo que ha marcado la unidad del Patrimonio Paleontológico y Arqueológico en la normativa cultural. Sin embargo, debemos tener en cuenta las diferencias entre ellos y que su unidad en la legislación puede provocar una indefensión legal en algunos casos por la falta de ajuste a las necesidades concretas de cada tipo de Bien.Para realizar este estudio sobre la protección de un material tan sensible como es el Patrimonio Paleontológico, se han examinado las normas y las figuras de protección aprobadas por los convenios internacionales y nacionales de Patrimonio Cultural y Natural; así como la legislación autonómica castellano manchega y se han revisado los códigos profesionales.La conclusión a la que se ha llegado es que existe una clara indefinición en las distintas legislaciones que afecta negativamente al Patrimonio Paleontológico. En consecuencia, es necesario promulgar aquellas leyes y reglamentos que se ajusten a las características específicas de dicho patrimonio para garantizar, legalmente, una adecuada protección y conservación de este.
Constructing non-profit collaboration: a macro discursive institutional perspective
Authors:   , Watts Joanne
Published: November 2022

This thesis takes the theoretical lens of Discursive Institutionalism (DI) to explore and explain the construction of non-profit collaboration in the UK. It is underpinned by an original discursive approach that renders the abstract concept of DI empirically applicable through the creation of a methodological framework. By taking a national or macro level perspective, the framework is subsequently used to explore two interrelated strands of inquiry; the temporal construction of non-profit collaboration in policy documents and the responding construction of collaboration in non-profit representative organisations (NPROs) documents. The DI framework is incorporated into a discursive methodology centred around a granular and recursive interrogation of 35 policy documents and 12 non-profit representatives’ documents, collectively totalling 2294 pages. The findings explore how collaboration as a construct is set out in policy and demarcate the evolving construction of collaboration revealing how the concept of NPO collaboration is catalysed (1997- 2001), elevated (2001-2005), embedded (2005 - 2010), cast as empowered (2010 - 2015) and entrenched (2015 - 2019). The research creates temporal breadth, extending the linear representation prevalent in literature through detailed and nuanced explanation of what policy ideas do to frame the nature of NPO collaboration. The focus on NPROs adds a further dimension in explaining the construction of collaboration. Overlooked in extant literature, the thesis exposes their unique characteristics revealing how they persuade, challenge or make assumptions related to the nature and purpose of NPO collaboration. Collectively, the findings make three original, interrelated contributions to knowledge. The first, the creation of the framework that extends DI theory, through the inception of a practical tool, crafted as part of a discursive methodology. This fills a gap in literature by providing a strong empirical example. Secondly, the application of the framework exhibits the overlapping ideas that construct collaboration in policy documents between 1997-2019. This illuminates the subtle ways in which it becomes an entrenched and expected way of organising in NPOs. Thirdly, the study provides a rare example of the distinct ways that NPROs construct collaboration in their documents. This sits in contrast ii to the notion of NPROs as compliant and supportive of policy agendas of collaboration. Combined, these insights demonstrate the dynamic multifaceted ideas that construct NPO collaboration. These findings are important in light of the central function that NPOs play in delivering welfare services. Collaboration matters as NPOs collectively respond to challenging and entrenched societal problems. Given this argument, the thesis is relevant to policy makers, NPOs, NPROs and scholars interested in the construction of organisational phenomena.
Toes in Pies: Exploring the Processing of Spanish – English Interlingual Homographs.
Authors:   , Dean Marshall Nikki
Published: November 2022

The interplay of bilinguals' languages during visual written word recognition was investigated using a novel set of Spanish (L1) – English (L2) interlingual homographs, which are words ambiguous cross-linguistically. Differently from previous literature, both identical (e.g., PIE, meaning foot in Spanish) and near-identical (e.g., CARPET, with CARPETA meaning folder in Spanish) interlingual homographs were considered and a database was created to allow for an easy-accessible list of stimuli including their associated linguistic characteristics in both languages. A series of studies were conducted in the participants' L2 at both the lexical and the semantic level to explore the extent of the non-target L1's activation and the role of cross-linguistic orthographic overlap. Study 1’s findings showed that L1 linguistic properties significantly predicted bilinguals' performance in lexical decision task. In Study 2 interlingual homographs were used as primes and inserted at the end of sentences biased to the L2 reading; and were followed by targets related to either the Spanish, English, or unrelated to either meaning. Prime duration was manipulated to explore late (500ms; Study 2a) and early (200ms; Study 2b) stages of processing. Bilinguals showed significant negative priming for the Spanish-related meaning in the 500ms prime condition but not in the 200ms. Overall, Study 1 and 2 found no significant processing differences between identical and near-identical homographs. Study 3, instead, investigated within-language ambiguity by using homonyms, which, like interlingual homographs, have the same word form but different meanings. Like Study 2, homonyms were placed at the end of sentences biased to the non-dominant meaning and stimuli were created to mimic near-identical interlingual homographs. Native English speakers produced significant priming for the sentence-relevant meaning only, irrespective of whether meaning activation was probed at early or later processing stages, thus suggesting a swift resolution of ambiguity in L1. Findings are discussed with reference to existing models of the bilingual lexicon (e.g., BIA+ model, Dijkstra & van Heuven, 2002). In particular, evidence of the activation of the non-target L1 was found (i.e., Studies 1b and 2a) which supports the idea of non-selective access.
Co-location of health and leisure to promote physical activity: a realist synthesis
Authors:   , Grinvalds Natalie Elizabeth
Published: November 2022

To address the burden of non-communicable chronic disease (NCDs), many initiatives focus on increasing physical activity (PA) through healthcare. In Sheffield, as part of a London 2012 Olympic Legacy programme, the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine - National Health Service (NHS) clinics were co-located within leisure centres. The aim was to promote PA as prevention and treatment option in healthcare and to bring care out of hospitals and into the community. Although policy calls for co-location of healthcare in alternate settings, there is little evidence that leisure centres might represent a suitable environment. It is unknown what impact delivering healthcare in leisure centres might have on promotion of PA within those services. This research seeks to understand how, why, for whom and under what circumstances co-location of healthcare with leisure works (or does not work). This research was grounded in realist methodology in two phases. In Phase 1, initial programme theories were developed through a realist review of academic, grey and policy literature on co-location. Initial rough programme theories from the realist review were subsequently ‘tested’ and ‘refined’ using data from semi-structured realist interviews with stakeholders involved in development of the co-location model in Sheffield. Phase 1 ended with nine theories regarding how, why, for whom and in what circumstances co-locating health and leisure services might work (or not). In Phase 2, theories were tested through semi-structured interviews with ten healthcare professionals and ten patients across four clinical services based in the co-located sites. Subsequently, five refined programme theories emerged. These theories suggest that colocation works best for patients with NCDs who are motivated but need support. Colocation of health and leisure works best for HCPs that are active, knowledgeable about PA and make time to discuss PA with patients. Co-location of health and leisure creates a salutogenic environment which enables patients and HCPs to become active. Enabling contexts include aligned business models, shared clinical and PA scheduling and teamwork between HCPs and exercise professionals. Logistical challenges and individual motivations serve as barriers to co-location working to promote PA. Co-location, under the right conditions has the potential to result in promotion of PA through healthcare and more individuals with NCDs becoming physically active.
Innovating innovation management in the medical device SME sector through coopetition
Authors:   , Dembski Dirk
Published: November 2022

About 95% of all companies in the European medical device industry are SMEs, which are also the source of most innovation in the sector. New EU directives are threatening the innovation capacity and potentially even the survival of these smaller firms, since SMEs may not have the resources needed to comply with the new regulations. This thesis explores coopetition, a partnership between companies that usually compete, as an alternative business model to keep delivering innovation. To provide practical value to leaders of medical device SMEs, the focus is on identifying the critical success factors for coopetition in this specific industry and under the influence of the new regulations. The chosen research methodology uses qualitative methods to gather data from 15 senior executives working in diverse medical device product categories by means of semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory was adopted as the methodological approach, with data analysed using different coding techniques, which provides deep insights into a complex topic. As a result of the study, recertification and business continuity under the new medical device directives takes full attention of senior management. Nevertheless, SMEs need to keep innovating to secure their future. Whilst balancing both aspects, the study shows that collaborating with a competitor can help to overcome resource issues, but for coopetition to be a successful business model between SME in the medical device industry, they must minimise barriers. The barrier that stood out throughout the interviews was ‘trust’ between the partnering companies. Studies so far have not examined the concept of ‘trust’ in detail, let alone specify the requisite type of trust necessary. This research identified the trust involved as ‘conditional trust’ that starts with agreeing rules and boundaries before the coopetitive relationship deepens. Aligned to this is positioning organisational culture, structure and leadership that will lead to successful outcomes. SMEs must determine and agree appropriate representations of values, beliefs, and aspirations, as well as the behaviours, for instance communication, empowerment, and ability to compromise.
The Scylla state: an alternative understanding of survival sex work and addiction
Authors:   , Hamer Rebecca Elizabeth
Published: November 2022

This thesis explores women’s addiction (PDU) and survival sex working (SSW) through a socioeconomic lens that focuses on the exacerbation of deprivation and consequent multidimensional trauma that correlates with neoliberal policies. Instead of bolstering the dominant yet problematic medical, moral or behavioural models, I take an alternative route. I examine PDU and SSW as survival strategies in response to the inequality and distress that emanates from responsibilising, individualising discourse and practice. This began in earnest from 1951 with socioeconomic upheaval and challenges to the welfare state. While the history of socioeconomic deprivation in marginalised communities is long, this thesis focuses particularly on the practices and associated structural changes of neoliberal politics prominent from the tenure of Thatcher and which reached new heights following the 2010 election of the Coalition government. I argue that the associated policies and practices, and their reinforcement by individualising, responsibilising models of PDU and SSW, have contributed to the exacerbation of poverty and multidimensional trauma. Therefore, the impact of these policies and practices is to exacerbate SSW and PDU as women’s struggles for survival become amplified. I conducted in-depth biographical interviews with twenty-three women from post-industrial cities across England and Scotland, including Yorkshire, Lanarkshire and the South-West. All the women have experienced addiction to substances and thirteen identified as having taken part in sex working in order to survive during this period. The research provides several original contributions to knowledge: First, echoing the academic literature that connects women’s PDU and SSW with self- Page | 4 medication and survival strategies it advances this position, using it to directly query dominant individualising and responsibilising models. As a result of these models’ ill fit, I argue that policy and practice is inappropriately underpinned and thus ineffective. My thesis also indicates how policy and practice underpinned by these models can further exacerbate SSW and PDU by responding inappropriately and even adding to women’s deprivation and trauma. I advance the concept of multidimensional trauma to describe the harms that act as drivers behind addiction and barriers to recovery for women, denoting trauma of individual, community and systemic iterations. Finally, I propose the concept of the Scylla State to complement Wacquant’s Centaur State (2009) and provide a much-needed gendered understanding of the consequences of living in neoliberal post-industrial society as a marginalised woman.
Laser direct energy deposition – the effect of process parameters on inconel 718
Authors:   , Elkington Helen
Published: November 2022

Laser Direct Energy Deposition (DED-L) is an Additive Manufacturing process which uses a laser beam as an energy source to melt blown metal powder to fabricate components. Complex relationships exist between the process parameters, which means that understanding these relationships, and their effect, is critical in understanding DED-L. This research investigates DED-L process parameters using a Trumpf 505 DMD system, aiming to determine the effect of altering specific process parameters on the metallurgical and mechanical properties of Inconel 718. Laser power, scan speed, and powder feed rate were first investigated using a Taguchi Design of Experiments. Anisotropy, build direction and a heat-treatment were then examined. The results demonstrate that the interactions between laser power, scan speed, and powder feed rate must be considered when determining process parameter values. An empirical working envelope of process parameter combinations for fabricating Inconel 718 on the Trumpf 505 DMD system was identified. For thick wall DED-L parts, changing the process parameters did not have any significant effect on the material properties. Process parameter combinations were found to be non-transferable between geometries – identical process parameters result in different material properties moving between different geometries. Thus individually built small test samples should not be used as representative of a larger components material properties. Combining different build directions did not have a negative effect on material properties at the interface between the build directions. Heat-treating eliminated the columnar dendritic grain structure, reduced Laves phase volume, and increased Vickers Hardness by 55%. This research adds to previous knowledge of how Inconel 718 behaves following fabrication by DED-L, and aids in understanding material integrity in thick wall DED-L builds. This contributes to improving the viability of using DED-L within industry.
Zimbabwean parents' experiences of bearing and raising children in the UK
Authors:   , Muchaka Ruvimbo
Published: November 2022

Zimbabweans represent a growing population in the UK, yet little is known about their experiences of parenting once settled in the UK. Zimbabweans in the UK are currently a ‘silent subset’ of the broader migrant population, marginalised and relatively unheard, warranting further investigation into their parenting experiences. This study explored Zimbabwean migrant parents’ experiences of bearing and raising children in the UK and their perspectives on how they sustain their children’s health and wellbeing. The Silences Framework (TSF) offers a lens through which the Zimbabwean parents' experiences are made visible in this study. Hermeneutic phenomenology was employed as a research methodology from van Manen's perspective and data was collected through individual in-depth interviews with five fathers and five mothers settled in South Yorkshire, UK. The analysis approach integrates the four phases of TSF cyclic analysis and thematic analysis process by van Manen. Findings from this study show that parenting experiences in the UK are largely influenced by cultural background, religious beliefs and how the parents were raised. Parenting in a new culture requires parents to rely on an interdependent system of support which can include spouses, extended family, other migrant families, children's schools and health professionals. In Zimbabwe, raising children is a collective effort of community networks and kinship structures. There is concern about the children's sense of belonging in the UK, which is defined as multi-layered. Research findings may help to increase knowledge on the Zimbabwean diaspora, add insight in the everyday life of migrant families and therefore influence policies, practices and future research. While some findings are specific to the Zimbabwean diaspora, others are concerns that migrant families have irrespective of place of origin.
Nonlinear optimal control and its application to a two-wheeled robot
Authors:   , Kokkrathoke Surapong
Published: November 2022

This research studies two advanced nonlinear optimal control techniques, i.e., the freezing control and the iteration scheme, and their associated applications, such as a single inverted pendulum (IP) on a cart system and a two-wheeled robot (TWR) system. These techniques are applied to stabilise the highly unstable nonlinear systems in the vertical upright position when facing different initial pitch angles. Different linear optimal controllers (linear quadratic regulator and linear quadratic Gaussian) and nonlinear optimal controllers are designed and applied to the models for concurrent control of all state variables. The controlled systems are tested in simulation and the best performing control design is eventually implemented on a robot prototype built with an educational kit – the LEGO EV3, after practical factors such as motor voltage limitation, gyro sensor drift and model uncertainties have been considered, analysed and dealt with. Simulations and experiments on the TWR robot prototype demonstrate the superiority of the nonlinear freezing optimal control technique, showing larger operation ranges of the robot pitch angle and better response performances (i.e., shorter rise time, less overshoot and reduced settling time) than the linear optimal control methods. In particular, a novel mixing method to create a new nonlinear model (Model AB) from two different models on the same physical prototype with an increased controllable region of the TWR system is introduced, for the first time, for the calculations of optimal feedback gains for the system. Significantly, the utilisation of this mixed model, combined with the nonlinear freezing controller, achieves true global control of the TWR, even from an initial pitch angle of 90° (i.e., the horizontal position), when a motor with a saturated voltage of 48V and nominal torque of 298 mNm is adopted in simulation tests. This is wider than the angle achievable from the primary model (Model A) and any other single feedback control method on TWR reported in the literature. Robustness tests when introducing model uncertainties by adding mass and height on the TWR also illustrate excellent control performances from the nonlinear optimal control in both simulations and hardware implementations.
ESMA Museum as a Place of "Hot" Memory
Authors: Veselova Irina
Published: November 2022

In this article, the object of research is the ESMA memorial Museum, organized in the former underground detention center, one of many belonging to the period of the "last" dictatorship in Argentina (1975-1983). The subject of study, in turn, were the properties of ESMA that evoke a response in the historical consciousness of society. As a theoretical basis, the article uses the concept of "hot" memory, proposed by the German researcher J. Assman. To answer the question of what makes the ESMA museum a place of "hot" memory, the author turns to the context of the transformation of ESMA into a museum space, analyzes its content, as well as the status of the object of memory policy. In addition to studying the basic techniques of working with memory used in ESMA, the author also examines the current assessments given by a number of other authors regarding the official policy of memory reflected in the activities of the museum. The observed tension in the context of the clash of different memory policies and approaches to its preservation allows the author to conclude that the ESMA museum remains a place of "hot" memory. Being a space of "experience" that focuses on evoking an emotional response from visitors, ESMA not only allows Argentines to reflect on their own past, but also reminds new generations of the value of human life and inalienable human rights.
Video Materials in Teaching the Specialty Language at the University
Authors: Tavberidze Daria Vladimirovna , Paimakova Elena Albertovna
Published: November 2022

Teaching a specialty language as one of the aspects of a foreign language course requires the teacher to pay special attention to the vocabulary. One of the strategies for expanding the vocabulary of students is the use of English-language video materials devoted to the topics studied and lexically echoing them. The object of the study is the influence of English-language video materials with a certain set of words and notions as one of the tools for expanding vocabulary. The hypothesis was that the effectiveness of using this type of educational work to expand the vocabulary of students. The experiment was conducted in groups studying the specialty language. The authors of the study selected experimental and control groups, and a preliminary test was conducted before the experiment. After the course, students were offered a post-test, which consisted in checking students' vocabulary in control and experimental groups and an oral interview based on the results of training. The main conclusions of the study are: the results of the experiment show that the use of specially selected video materials has a positive impact on the development of special vocabulary. The final conversation of the teachers with the students of the experimental groups revealed a high level of satisfaction with the course and significant signs of an increase in motivation to further study the language of the specialty. Despite some limitations of the study, the authors consider the results of the experiment to be a weighty argument in favor of using video materials as an effective tool for expanding vocabulary.
Writing the Revolution
Authors: Ford Heather
Published: November 2022

A close reading of Wikipedia's article on the Egyptian Revolution reveals the complexity inherent in establishing the facts of events as they occur and are relayed to audiences near and far.

Wikipedia bills itself as an encyclopedia built on neutrality, authority, and crowd-sourced consensus. Platforms like Google and digital assistants like Siri distribute Wikipedia's facts widely, further burnishing its veneer of impartiality. But as Heather Ford demonstrates in Writing the Revolution, the facts that appear on Wikipedia are often the result of protracted power struggles over how data are created and used, how history is written and by whom, and the very definition of facts in a digital age.

In Writing the Revolution, Ford looks critically at how the Wikipedia article about the 2011 Egyptian Revolution evolved over the course of a decade, both shaping and being shaped by the Revolution as it happened. When data are published in real time, they are subject to an intense battle over their meaning across multiple fronts. Ford answers key questions about how Wikipedia's so-called consensus is arrived at; who has the power to write dominant histories and which knowledges are actively rejected; how these battles play out across the chains of circulation in which data travel; and whether history is now written by algorithms.
The State of Open Data 2022
Authors: Hahnel Mark , Smith Graham , Hardeman Megan
Published: November 2022

Open science is key to advancing discovery and furthering scientific progress for an accelerated and more effective research system. As proactive partners driving the transition to open science, Springer Nature and Figshare believe that research data should be open, accessible and reusable, to help speed up the pace of discovery and benefit society. As a member of UNESCO’s Global Open Science Partnership, Figshare works closely with other members of the open science community to inform and develop practices toward open data sharing.
To better understand the current landscape, Springer Nature, Digital Science, and Figshare published the seventh annual State of Open Data report, based on over 5,000 responses from the global research community about motivations, challenges, perceptions, and behaviours toward open data. 
This poster will share the key findings from the report, including a focus on respondents’ preferences around open data policies, looking at mandates, requirements and grants, and the role that institutions, publishers and funders play.
Open Science Policies at the University of Edinburgh
Authors: Tate Dominic
Published: November 2022

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Over the last 15 years, the policy environment has shaped the open access and open science agendas in UK higher education. This paper provides an overview of open science policies at a national level in the UK and at an institutional level within the University of Edinburgh, and assesses the efficacy of these policies in practice. This paper reviews what has worked well and why, describing the development of the University of Edinburgh’s current Research Publications & Copyright Policy (2021), which is a ‘rights-retention’ policy.
What is the Public Interest in Professional Regulation? Canadian Regulatory Leaders’ Views in a Context of Change
Authors: Adams Tracey L.
Published: November 2022

Professions are regulated in the public interest, but precisely what the term “public interest” means can vary across time and place. Research exploring changes to professional regulation in the West has begun to identify such shifts: for instance, highlighting the emphasis on consumer satisfaction and public protection over other potential meanings of the public interest. To understand these societal shifts and their implications for professional regulation, this article first reviews neo-Weberian theories of rationalization, and empirical literature. Subsequently, it presents findings from interviews with regulatory leaders across six Canadian provinces to determine if the trends in rationalization identified are reflected in leaders’ accounts of professional regulation in the public interest. Interviews reveal that many leaders define the public interest in ways consistent with technical rationality, including a safety lens and consumer orientation; however, there is also evidence of broader meanings and values. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Decoupling facial motion features and identity features for micro-expression recognition
Authors: Xie Tingxuan , Sun Guoquan , Sun Hao , Lin Qiang , Ben Xianye
Published: November 2022

Background

Micro-expression is a kind of expression produced by people spontaneously and unconsciously when receiving stimulus. It has the characteristics of low intensity and short duration. Moreover, it cannot be controlled and disguised. Thus, micro-expression can objectively reflect people’s real emotional states. Therefore, automatic recognition of micro-expressions can help machines better understand the users’ emotion, which can promote human-computer interaction. What’s more, micro-expression recognition has a wide range of applications in fields like security systems and psychological treatment. Nowadays, thanks to the development of artificial intelligence, most micro-expression recognition algorithms are based on deep learning. The features extracted by deep learning model from the micro-expression video sequences mainly contain facial motion feature information and identity feature information. However, in micro-expression recognition tasks, the motions of facial muscles are subtle. As a result, the recognition can be easily interfered by identity feature information.

Methods

To solve the above problem, a micro-expression recognition algorithm which decouples facial motion features and identity features is proposed in this paper. A Micro-Expression Motion Information Features Extraction Network (MENet) and an Identity Information Features Extraction Network (IDNet) are designed. By adding a Diverse Attention Operation (DAO) module and constructing divergence loss function in MENet, facial motion features can be effectively extracted. Global attention operations are used in IDNet to extract identity features. A Mutual Information Neural Estimator (MINE) is utilized to decouple facial motion features and identity features, which can help the model obtain more discriminative micro-expression features.

Results

Experiments on the SDU, MMEW, SAMM and CASME II datasets were conducted, which achieved competitive results and proved the superiority of the proposed algorithm.
Automatic Door Access System Using Face Recognition
Authors: Rambey Joni Syafrin , Sinaga Nelson , Waluyo Bakti Dwi
Published: November 2022

Most doors are controlled by persons using keys, security cards, passwords, or patterns to open the door. This paper aims to help users improve the door security of sensitive locations by using face detection and Recognition. The face is a complex multidimensional structure and needs good computing techniques for detection and Recognition. This paper comprises three subsystems: face detection, face Recognition and automatic door access control. Face detection is the process of detecting the region of the face in an image. The look is seen using the viola jones method, and face recognition is implemented using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Face Recognition based on PCA is generally referred to as the use of Eigenfaces. If a face is recognized, it is known, else it is unknown. The door will open automatically for the known person due to the command of the microcontroller. On the other hand, the alarm will ring for the unknown person. Since PCA reduces the dimensions of face images without losing essential features, facial images for many persons can be stored in the database. Although many training images are used, computational efficiency cannot be decreased significantly. Therefore, face recognition using PCA can be more beneficial for door security systems than other face recognition schemes.