Showing papers by "Coventry University published in 2012"

Empowering Women Through Social Entrepreneurship: Case Study of a Women's Cooperative in India

Abstract: Women's cooperatives offer self–employment opportunities that can contribute to women's social inclusion and empowerment. This article seeks to broaden existing understandings of women's entreprene...

Topical treatments for cutaneous warts

Abstract: Background Viral warts are a common skin condition, which can range in severity from a minor nuisance that resolve spontaneously to a troublesome, chronic condition. Many different topical treatments are available. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of local treatments for cutaneous non-genital warts in healthy, immunocompetent adults and children. Search methods We updated our searches of the following databases to May 2011: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (from 2005), EMBASE (from 2010), AMED (from 1985), LILACS (from 1982), and CINAHL (from 1981). We searched reference lists of articles and online trials registries for ongoing trials. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of topical treatments for cutaneous non-genital warts. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently selected trials and extracted data; a third author resolved any disagreements. Main results We included 85 trials involving a total of 8815 randomised participants (26 new studies were included in this update). There was a wide range of different treatments and a variety of trial designs. Many of the studies were judged to be at high risk of bias in one or more areas of trial design. Trials of salicylic acid (SA) versus placebo showed that the former significantly increased the chance of clearance of warts at all sites (RR (risk ratio) 1.56, 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.20 to 2.03). Subgroup analysis for different sites, hands (RR 2.67, 95% CI 1.43 to 5.01) and feet (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.55), suggested it might be more effective for hands than feet. A meta-analysis of cryotherapy versus placebo for warts at all sites favoured neither intervention nor control (RR 1.45, 95% CI 0.65 to 3.23). Subgroup analysis for different sites, hands (RR 2.63, 95% CI 0.43 to 15.94) and feet (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.26 to 3.07), again suggested better outcomes for hands than feet. One trial showed cryotherapy to be better than both placebo and SA, but only for hand warts. There was no significant difference in cure rates between cryotherapy at 2-, 3-, and 4-weekly intervals. Aggressive cryotherapy appeared more effective than gentle cryotherapy (RR 1.90, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.15), but with increased adverse effects. Meta-analysis did not demonstrate a significant difference in effectiveness between cryotherapy and SA at all sites (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.71) or in subgroup analyses for hands and feet. Two trials with 328 participants showed that SA and cryotherapy combined appeared more effective than SA alone (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.43). The benefit of intralesional bleomycin remains uncertain as the evidence was inconsistent. The most informative trial with 31 participants showed no significant difference in cure rate between bleomycin and saline injections (RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.78). Dinitrochlorobenzene was more than twice as effective as placebo in 2 trials with 80 participants (RR 2.12, 95% CI 1.38 to 3.26). Two trials of clear duct tape with 193 participants demonstrated no advantage over placebo (RR 1.43, 95% CI 0.51 to 4.05). We could not combine data from trials of the following treatments: intralesional 5-fluorouracil, topical zinc, silver nitrate (which demonstrated possible beneficial effects), topical 5-fluorouracil, pulsed dye laser, photodynamic therapy, 80% phenol, 5% imiquimod cream, intralesional antigen, and topical alpha-lactalbumin-oleic acid (which showed no advantage over placebo). We did not identify any RCTs that evaluated surgery (curettage, excision), formaldehyde, podophyllotoxin, cantharidin, diphencyprone, or squaric acid dibutylester. Authors' conclusions Data from two new trials comparing SA and cryotherapy have allowed a better appraisal of their effectiveness. The evidence remains more consistent for SA, but only shows a modest therapeutic effect. Overall, trials comparing cryotherapy with placebo showed no significant difference in effectiveness, but the same was also true for trials comparing cryotherapy with SA. Only one trial showed cryotherapy to be better than both SA and placebo, and this was only for hand warts. Adverse effects, such as pain, blistering, and scarring, were not consistently reported but are probably more common with cryotherapy. None of the other reviewed treatments appeared safer or more effective than SA and cryotherapy. Two trials of clear duct tape demonstrated no advantage over placebo. Dinitrochlorobenzene (and possibly other similar contact sensitisers) may be useful for the treatment of refractory warts.

Genres across the Disciplines: Student Writing in Higher Education

Abstract: Part I. Overview: 1. The role of student writing in university degree programmes (prior research, importance, approach to study) 2. Families of genres of assessed writing (including tables indicating distribution of genre families and genres across disciplines and years of study) Part II. Functions of University Student Writing: 3. Understanding and explaining (explanations, exercise) 4. Developing arguments (critiques, essays) 5. Preparing for professional practice (case studies, problem questions, design specifications, proposals) 6. Developing research skills (literature surveys, methodology recounts, research reports) Part III. University Student Writing and Personal Development: 7. The role of reflection 8. Creativity and contextual metaphor ((narrative recounts and empathy writing) Conclusion: tradition and innovation in university student writing References Index (including references to the disciplines represented in the BAWE corpus).

Leading the Entrepreneurial University: Meeting the Entrepreneurial Development Needs of Higher Education Institutions

Abstract: The paper has an innovation focus in that it constitutes part of the preparation for the development of the Entrepreneurial University Leaders Programme (www.eulp.co.uk) which was launched in 2010 by the UK’s National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE), now renamed the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE), and the Said Business School, University of Oxford. The paper demonstrates the thinking and concept behind the program.

Using the theory of planned behaviour to understand binge drinking: The importance of beliefs for developing interventions

Abstract: Objectives. To elicit students' salient beliefs in relation to binge drinking, and to examine the extent to which individual salient beliefs predict theory of planned behaviour (TPB) constructs in relation to binge drink, and actual drinking behaviour assessed later that evening. Design. Longitudinal, over a single evening. Methods. 192 students were recruited as they entered a campus bar at the beginning of the evening. They completed questionnaires with open-ended questions eliciting beliefs concerning binge drinking, and ratings scales assessing standard TPB constructs in relation to binge drinking. At the end of the evening, 181 completed a second questionnaire and recorded the number of alcoholic drinks they had consumed. Results. Beliefs were reliably coded (all kappas =0.79). Students with higher intentions to binge drink were more likely to believe that their friends approved of binge drinking, and that (lack of) money would make it difficult. Students who reported drinking more alcohol at the end of the evening were more likely to believe that getting drunk is an advantage/what they would like about binge drinking tonight, that their sports teams would approve, and that celebrating, drinking patterns, and environment would make it easy to binge drink. Conclusions. The present study has identified the individually salient beliefs relating to drinking behaviour that the TPB states should be addressed by interventions to alter behaviour, and which that should be assessed as mediators in intervention research. As a whole, these findings highlight the importance of perceived peer norms in binge drinking in this population, and support the idea of interventions to challenge the perception of social pressure to binge drink.

Benchmarking sustainability in cities : The role of indicators and future scenarios

Abstract: Scenarios are a useful tool to help think about and visualise the future and, as such, are utilised by many policymakers and practitioners Future scenarios have not been used to explore the urban context in much depth, yet have the potential to provide valuable insights into the robustness of decisions being made today in the name of sustainability As part of a major research project entitled Urban Futures, a toolkit has been developed in the UK to facilitate the use of scenarios in any urban context and at any scale relevant to that context The toolkit comprises two key components, namely, (i) a series of indicators comprising both generic and topic area-specific indicators (eg, air quality, biodiversity, density, water) that measure sustainability performance and (ii) a list of characteristics (ie, 1–2-sentence statements about a feature, issue or small set of issues) that describe four future scenarios In combination, these two components enable us to measure the performance of any given sustainability indicator, and establish the relative sensitivity or vulnerability of that indicator to the different future scenarios An important aspect of the methodology underpinning the toolkit is that it is flexible enough to incorporate new scenarios, characteristics and indicators, thereby allowing the long-term performance of our urban environments to be considered in the broadest possible sense

Application of game theory based hybrid algorithm for multi-objective integrated process planning and scheduling

Abstract: Process planning and scheduling are two key sub-functions in the manufacturing system. Traditionally, process planning and scheduling were regarded as the separate tasks to perform sequentially. Recently, a significant trend is to integrate process planning and scheduling more tightly to achieve greater performance and higher productivity of the manufacturing system. Because of the complementarity of process planning and scheduling, and the multiple objectives requirement from the real-world production, this research focuses on the multi-objective integrated process planning and scheduling (IPPS) problem. In this research, the Nash equilibrium in game theory based approach has been used to deal with the multiple objectives. And a hybrid algorithm has been developed to optimize the IPPS problem. Experimental studies have been used to test the performance of the proposed approach. The results show that the developed approach is a promising and very effective method on the research of the multi-objective IPPS problem.

Salt Tolerance in Selected Vegetable Crops

Abstract: Ensuring adequate food production is a major issue in the context of an increasing human population, limit to the areas of new land that can be cultivated, and loss of existing cultivated lands to abiotic stresses. Of these stresses, salinity consistently has the greatest impact in reducing the area of cultivated land, often due to inappropriate irrigation techniques. To increase food supply, there is a need to produce salt-tolerant crops, which can grow successfully on salt-affected lands. Among crops, vegetables possess a central position in the human diet because of their nutritional value providing vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, and mineral nutrients. There are many vegetable crops of local importance around the world but others that are very widely cultivated. All of these vegetable crops are affected by salinity more or less severely. Salinity affects every aspect of vegetable crop development including their morphology, physiological function and yield. Although efforts have been made to unders...

A comparative analysis of Lean practices and performance in the UK manufacturing and service sector firms

Abstract: For the last two decades, Lean has been primarily used to improve manufacturing processes. However, Lean is now increasingly applied to a wide range of service operations as well. This realisation of Lean among service firms is an important progress, as there are potentially more benefits to be accomplished in this sector rather than in traditional manufacturing, where decades of good work have already paid off. To look beyond the manufacturing sector, this paper empirically analyses the difference in Lean practices as well as their relationship to firm performance between manufacturing and service sectors in the UK. Though this study supports the proposition concerning the applicability of Lean practices in the service sector, these practices need to be further adapted to suit service operations. Specifically, the empirical results affirm that service firms are interested in the soft practices of Lean such as people and customer involvement while they are found underperforming in manufacturing-related pr...

Framing the Adoption of Serious Games in Formal Education

Abstract: Nowadays formal education systems are under increasing pressure to respond and adapt to rapid technological innovation and associated changes in the way we work and live. As well as accommodation of technology in its ever‑diversifying forms, there is a fundamental need to enhance learning processes through evolution in pedagogical approaches, so as to make learning in formal education more engaging and, it is hoped, more effective. One opportunity attracting particularly close attention is Serious Games ( SG), which offer considerable potential for facilitating both informal and formal learning. SG appear to offer the chance to hook today's (largely) digital‑native generation of young learners, who are at risk of falling into an ever‑widening gap between networked lifestyles and the relative stagnant environment they experience in school and university. However, there are a number of inhibitors preventing wider SG take‑up in mainstream education. This paper investigates SG in formal education, initially by concentrating on pedagogical issues from two different but complementary perspectives, game design and game deployment. It then goes on to examine game based practice in formal settings and focuses on the pivotal role of the educator within the emerging panorama. This is followed by a brief look at some specific implementation strategies, collaboration and game building, which are opening up new possibilities. Finally some points for further consideration are offered.

Obesity, physical activity and sedentary behavior amongst British and Saudi youth: a cross-cultural study.

Abstract: This study explores differences in weight status, obesity and patterns of physical activity (PA) in relation to gender and age of youth from two culturally, environmentally and geographically diverse countries, the United Kingdom (UK) and Saudi Arabia (SA). A total of 2,290 males and females (15–17 years) volunteered to participate in this study. Participants completed a validated self-report questionnaire that contained 47 items relating to patterns of PA, sedentary activity and eating habits. The questionnaire allows the calculation of total energy expenditure in metabolic equivalent (MET-min) values per week. Significant differences in percentage of overweight/obese and levels of PA were evident between the youth from the two countries, with males being generally more physically active than females. Additionally, there were significant associations between Body Mass Index (BMI), PA and sedentary behaviors; the youth with higher BMI reported lower levels of PA and higher amounts of sedentary time. These findings highlight the diverse nature of lifestyle of youth living in different geographical areas of the world and the need for further research to explore the socio-cultural factors that impact on the prevalence of obesity and patterns of PA of youth in different populations.

EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ZnO NANOPARTICLES COATED SONOCHEMICALLY ONTO TEXTILE FABRICS

Abstract: EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ZnO NANOPARTICLES COATED SONOCHEMICALLY ONTO TEXTILE FABRICS Gagandeep Singh, Eadaoin M. Joyce*, James Beddow and Timothy J. Mason Address*: Dr Eadaoin M. Joyce, The Sonochemistry Centre, Coventry University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK. Email, Contact number: +44 (0) 2476888075, Fax: +44 (0) 2476888173 *Corresponding author: e.joyce@coventry.ac.uk ABSTRACT Growing resistance of microorganisms to potent antibiotics has renewed a great interest towards investigating bactericidal properties of nanoparticles and their nano-composites as an alternative. In the present work studies have been carried out to investigate the antibacterial properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). Various tests were performed to assess the antibacterial activity of cotton fabrics coated with ZnO nanoparticles against Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activities of the fabrics were assessed semi-quantitatively by the agar diffusion method and the shake flask method (nutrient broth) and quantitatively by the shake flask method (saline) and the absorption method (ISO 20743:2007). The results showed a significant antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles coated onto fabrics against both bacteria, with a slightly higher activity against Staphylococcus aureus as compared to Escherichia coli. Keywords: Antibacterial textiles; zinc oxide nanoparticles; antimicrobial finish

Integration of Indigenous Knowledge and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Case Study from Baie Martelli, Pentecost Island, Vanuatu

Abstract: Despite reaching heights of >6 m and destroying a sizeable coastal settlement at the head of Baie Martelli (Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, South Pacific), the 26 November 1999 tsunamis caused only five fatalities from a threatened population of about 300 persons, most of whom fled inland and upslope before the waves struck. This remarkable sur- vival rate is attributed to both indigenous knowledge, largely in the form of kastom knowledge, and information obtained from a video about tsunamis that was shown in the area three weeks earlier. Interviews with 55 persons who experienced this tsunami suggest that indigenous knowledge about tsu- nami risk and response in Baie Martelli was well known among key members of the community and was probably largely responsible for the appropriate response. Future strategies for disaster risk reduction should involve maintaining such indig- enous knowledge in such communities and supplementing this where needed with scientific knowledge filtered through indigenous culture and language.

Universal properties of mythological networks

Abstract: As in statistical physics, the concept of universality plays an important, albeit qualitative, role in the field of comparative mythology. Here we apply statistical mechanical tools to analyse the networks underlying three iconic mythological narratives with a view to identifying common and distinguishing quantitative features. Of the three narratives, an Anglo-Saxon and a Greek text are mostly believed by antiquarians to be partly historically based while the third, an Irish epic, is often considered to be fictional. Here we use network analysis in an attempt to discriminate real from imaginary social networks and place mythological narratives on the spectrum between them. This suggests that the perceived artificiality of the Irish narrative can be traced back to anomalous features associated with six characters. Speculating that these are amalgams of several entities or proxies, renders the plausibility of the Irish text comparable to the others from a network-theoretic point of view.

A cross‐cultural comparison of colour emotion for two‐colour combinations

Abstract: Psychophysical experiments were conducted in the UK, Taiwan, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Argentina, and Iran to assess colour emotion for two-colour combinations using semantic scales warm/cool, heavy/light, active/passive, and like/dislike. A total of 223 observers participated, each presented with 190 colour pairs as the stimuli, shown individually on a cathode ray tube display. The results show consistent responses across cultures only for warm/cool, heavy/light, and active/passive. The like/dislike scale, however, showed some differences between the observer groups, in particular between the Argentinian responses and those obtained from the other observers. Factor analysis reveals that the Argentinian observers preferred passive colour pairs to active ones more than the other observers. In addition to the cultural difference in like/dislike, the experimental results show some effects of gender, professional background (design vs. nondesign), and age. Female observers were found to prefer colour pairs with high-lightness or low-chroma values more than their male counterparts. Observers with a design background liked low-chroma colour pairs or those containing colours of similar hue more than nondesign observers. Older observers liked colour pairs with high-lightness or high-chroma values more than young observers did. Based on the findings, a two-level theory of colour emotion is proposed, in which warm/cool, heavy/light, and active/passive are identified as the reactive-level responses and like/dislike the reflective-level response.

Learning through playing for or against each other? promoting collaborative learning in digital game based learning

Abstract: The process of learning through Game Based Learning (GBL) presents both positive aspects and challenges to be faced in order to support the achievement of learning goals and knowledge creation. This study aims to characterise game dynamics in the adoption of multi-player GBL. In particular, we examine the multi-player GBL dynamics may enhance collaborative learning through a relation of positive interdependence while at the same time maintaining a certain level of competition for ensuring multi-player GBL gameplay. The first section of the paper introduces collaborative GBL and describes the combination of intragroup dynamics of cooperation and positive interdependence and an intergroup dynamic of competition to maintain gameplay. The second part of the paper describes two multi-player GBL scenarios: the multi-player game with interpersonal competition and the multi-player game with intergroup competition. For each scenario a case analysis of existing collaborative games is provided, which may help instructional and game designers when defining the collaborative GBL dynamics. Technological requirements and best practices in the use of collaborative GBL are described in the last sections.

Predicting the Quality of Composition and Written Language Bursts From Oral Language, Spelling, and Handwriting Skills in Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment:

Abstract: Writers typically produce their writing in bursts. In this article, the authors examine written language bursts in a sample of 33 children aged 11 years with specific language impairment. Comparisons of the children with specific language impairment with an age-matched group of typically developing children (n = 33) and a group of younger, language skill–matched children (n = 33) revealed the role of writing bursts as a key factor in differentiating writing competence. All the children produced the same number of writing bursts in a timed writing task. Children with specific language impairment produced a shorter number of words in each burst than did the age-matched group but the same as the language skill–matched group. For all groups, spelling accuracy and handwriting speed were significant predictors of burst length and text quality. The frequency of pauses at misspellings was related to shorter bursts. These results offer support to Hayes’s model of text generation; namely, burst length is constraine...

Ultrasound assessment of lower limb muscle mass in response to resistance training in COPD.

Abstract: Background Quantifying the improvements in lower limb or quadriceps muscle mass following resistance training (RT), is an important outcome measure in COPD. Ultrasound is a portable, radiation free imaging technique that can measure the size of superficial muscles belonging to the quadriceps group such as the rectus femoris, but has not been previously used in COPD patients following RT. We compared the responsiveness of ultrasound derived measures of quadriceps mass against dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), in patients with COPD and healthy controls following a programme of high intensity knee extensor RT.

Current Status and Future Perspective of Waste Printed Circuit Boards Recycling

Abstract: For waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), large quantities of waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) are released into environment. In light of their characteristics including complex structures, high metals content and potential hazards, waste PCBs are regarded as the most difficult parts of WEEE to be recycled. Therefore in recent ten years, the issue has attracted much attention from researchers and enterprises. This article reviews the latest processes of waste PCBs developed from laboratories to pilot engineering applications, and presents the most suitable available technology for waste PCBs, typically categorized as manually dismantling and automatic approaches in developing and developed countries, respectively. Towards achieving the better sustainability and recyclability for waste PCBs, nonmetal powder and precious metals should be developed for a deep recovery following mechanical treatment. Additionally, a significant shift is emerging from dismantling for recycling of printed wiring boards, to disassembling for remanufacturing of electronic components, which will indicate that a new paradigm of reclaiming waste PCBs is shaping.

What Happens on Tour: The Premarital Stag Tour, Homosocial Bonding, and Male Friendship

Abstract: The article explores the premarital all-male stag tour made by groups of British men to an Eastern European city as a homosocial bonding ritual. Homosocial groups help sustain hegemonic masculinity and play a significant role in establishing accepted forms of masculinity. Male friendships have been characterized as lacking in intimacy and typically channeled through alternative social relations such as competition. The article draws on qualitative data from participant observation with stag tour groups. Although bonding through shared activities and overt expressions of heterosexuality are common to stag tourist behavior, groups were seen as largely noncompetitive. Expressions of intimacy and emotion were frequent and a high value was placed on group cohesion and fostering a sense of togetherness. The performance of a loss of homosocial friendship was apparent and this links to wider social changes in men’s lives. This suggests both the significance of men’s friendships and possible patterns of change.

Functional Movement Is Negatively Associated with Weight Status and Positively Associated with Physical Activity in British Primary School Children

Abstract: Although prior studies have suggested that overweight and obesity in childhood are associated with poorer functional movement performance, no study appears to have examined this issue in a pediatric population. The relations between BMI, ambulatory physical activity and functional movement screen (FMS) performance were compared in 58, 10-11-year-old children. Total FMS score was significantly, negatively correlated with BMI (P = .0001) and positively related to PA (P = .029). Normal weight children scored significantly better for total FMS score compared to children classified as overweight/obese (P = .0001). Mean ± S.D. of FMS scores were 15.5 ± 2.2 and 10.6 ± 2.1 in normal weight and overweight/obese children, respectively. BMI and PA were also significant predictors of functional movement (P = .0001, Adjusted R(2) = .602) with BMI and PA predicting 52.9% and 7.3% of the variance in total FMS score, respectively. The results of this study highlight that ambulatory physical activity and weight status are significant predictors of functional movement in British children. Scientists and practitioners therefore need to consider interventions which develop functional movement skills alongside physical activity and weight management strategies in children in order to reduce the risks of orthopaedic abnormality arising from suboptimal movement patterns in later life.