Nottingham Trent University

About: Nottingham Trent University is a education organization based out in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 4702 authors who have published 12862 publications receiving 307430 citations. The organization is also known as: NTU & Trent Polytechnic.

Artificial Neural Networks and Grey Systems for the Prediction of Slope Stability

Abstract: The interactions between factors that affect slope instability are complex, multi-factorial, and often difficult to describe mathematically, imposing a challenge for prediction using traditional methods. The power of the ANN and Grey Systems approaches lies in employing the behaviour of the system rather than knowledge of explicit relations. Published data has been used to illustrate the application of these techniques to predicting the state of slope stability. This has been developed into a tool for analysing and predicting future ground movement based on geotechnical properties and historical behaviour.

Strategic sourcing: benefits, problems and a contextual model

Abstract: This paper reviews the strategic benefits and problems relating to the outsourcing decision. These include issues of cost, quality, flexibility, strategic focus, leverage and diversification, the potential loss of critical skills and knowledge, and appropriation of final product value. The outsourcing decision is presented as one that will vary between firms within an industry through the differences in each organization’s context. A model is developed, structuring the contextual factors: capability, cost, technology, supply and product market conditions, to enable a consideration of the outsourcing decision through a focus upon its implications for competitive advantage.

Conductive nitrides: Growth principles, optical and electronic properties, and their perspectives in photonics and plasmonics

Abstract: The nitrides of most of the group IVb-Vb-VIb transition metals (TiN, ZrN, HfN, VN, NbN, TaN, MoN, WN) constitute the unique category of conductive ceramics. Having substantial electronic conductivity, exceptionally high melting points and covering a wide range of work function values, they were considered for a variety of electronic applications, which include diffusion barriers in metallizations of integrated circuits, Ohmic contacts on compound semiconductors, and thin film resistors, since early eighties. Among them, TiN and ZrN are recently emerging as significant candidates for plasmonic applications. So the possible plasmonic activity of the rest of transition metal nitrides (TMN) emerges as an important open question. In this work, we exhaustively review the experimental and computational (mostly ab initio) works in the literature dealing with the optical properties and electronic structure of TMN spanning over three decades of time and employing all the available growth techniques. We critically evaluate the optical properties of all TMN and we model their predicted plasmonic response. Hence, we provide a solid understanding of the intrinsic (e.g. the valence electron configuration of the constituent metal) and extrinsic (e.g. point defects and microstructure) factors that dictate the plasmonic performance. Based on the reported optical spectra, we evaluate the quality factors for surface plasmon polariton and localized surface plasmon for various TMN and critically compare them to each other. We demonstrate that, indeed TiN and ZrN along with HfN are the most well-performing plasmonic materials in the visible range, while VN and NbN may be viable alternatives for plasmonic devices in the blue, violet and near UV ranges, albeit in expense of increased electronic loss. Furthermore, we consider the alloyed ternary TMN and by critical evaluation and comparison of the reported experimental and computational works, we identify the emerging optimal tunable plasmonic conductors among the immense number of alloying combinations.

The experience of living with Parkinson's disease: An interpretative phenomenological analysis case study

Abstract: What are the lived experiences of an individual with a chronic degenerative disorder? The aim of this study is to address this question by exploring one individual's personal experience of living with Parkinson's disease. The study reports data from semi-structured interviews with a female participant which was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Analysis established two super-ordinate themes which are described here. The first theme provides a detailed picture of the day to day experience of living with Parkinson's disease. The daily challenges faced by the Parkinsonian patient are varied and dynamic and they illuminate the complex interrelationship between mind and body. The second theme examines how living with Parkinson's disease has a severe impact on the individual sense of self and agency. Analysis conveys how the visible symptoms of Parkinson's disease disrupt the sense of an integrated and autonomous self.