Geochemical characterization and paleo-burial history modelling of unconventional resources: A case study from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF) in the UK North Sea

For several decades the UK North Sea has been a prolific oil and gas province, with numerous conventional oil and gas discoveries sourced predominantly by the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Kimmeridge Clay Formation (KCF). In this study, we have combined the analysis of total organic carbon/pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance geochemical data from KCF samples with 1D basin modelling to investigate the potential for shale oil and gas plays in the Outer Moray Firth region. The results of geochemical evaluation show that most of the samples have very good to excellent hydrocarbon generation potential and contain predominantly oil-prone Type-II kerogen. A few samples show a significant oil saturation index above 100 mgHC/gTOC, which indicate a good potential for producible shale oil. The modelling results suggest that vitrinite reflectance values for the KCF vary mainly between 0.51 and 1.15%Ro, with kerogen transformation of up to 86 %. This is indicative of early-oil to late-oil/early-gas maturity window at present day, and within the range reported for proven shale oil plays. The KCF shows good oil saturation in most of the modelled well locations of up to 6.4 mg/g rock, indicating potentially producible shale oil. Predictions from modelling support the interpretations from geochemical data

Catching Hope, Shifting Identity: An Adhder Study of The Bottom End Fishing Community And The Impact of Brexit

This study is an account of destabilising identity during a time of Brexit, the severing of the UK from the European Union and its regulations, having global and personal ramifications. For me and for the fishermen of my study, the essence of the past few years has been a delicate balance of information gathering and relationships. Balancing a discussion of national politics, the reality of economic hardship and the onset of destabilised identity, this PhD merges and twists through personal narrative and quantitative analysis. The subjects demand for several distinct processes of approaching the topic both objectively and subjectively, obliged me to combine methodologies. I had to fuse focused thinking with fact-based results and the qualitative narrative of my informants, individuals operating through the crisis of adversity whilst attempting to manage a newly shifting identity. I had to recognise and manage the awareness that I was collaborating with real people in challenging times. I want this work to stand as dedication to those with ADHD or Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and a celebratory memorial to the observable resilience of the fishers and their community of the Bottom End. I present this study to raise awareness of the consequential connections between complex external events and individuals in their community, and the impact that has on all of us. I hope to have achieved a small part of that aim

Managerial ability and debt choice

Using a sample of 54,964 firm-year observations of U.S. public firms during the period 2001 to 2020, we investigate how managerial ability affects corporate debt choice. We find evidence that managerial ability is negatively associated with the use of bank debt. This finding remains robust to a battery of robustness tests, including alternative measures of managerial ability and debt choice, various econometric specifications, and a range of endogeneity tests. Using the sudden death of the CEO as an exogenous shock to the managerial ability, our difference-in-differences regression suggests a negative causal relationship between managerial ability and reliance on bank debt. Further, using advanced machine learning models, we identify that managerial ability is one of the highly influential variables in predicting firms’ debt choices. Our cross-sectional tests indicate that this relationship is more pronounced in the presence of higher information opacity, weaker corporate governance and poor financial conditions. In additional tests, we show that firms with more able managers use more unsecured debt and public debt. Taken together, our findings suggest that managerial ability matters in shaping corporate debt choice

Direct Parent Engagement to Improve Fundamental Movement Skills in Children: A Systematic Review

Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are basic movements in children that represent the building blocks for more complex motor skill development, and act as a prerequisite for enduring sport and physical activity (PA) engagement and positive health-related behaviours (Seefeldt, 1980, Psychology of Motor Behavior and Sport, 36, 314-323; Wick, Leeger-Aschmann, Monn, Radtke, Ott, Rebholz, Cruz, Gerber, Schmutz, Puder and Munsch, 2017, Sports Medicine, 47, 2045-2068). However, FMS is vastly inadequate worldwide including the UK, and consequently there are alarming levels of inactivity and obesity in children (Bolger, Bolger, O’Neill, Coughlan, O’Brien, Lacey, Burns and Bardid, 2021, Journal of Sports Sciences, 39, 717-753; Morley, Till, Ogilvie and Turner, 2015, Human Movement Science, 44, 150-156). Parents have largely been ignored by research despite them having the power to influence their children’s PA behaviour as their primary role models. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate if parent-focused interventions could improve FMS of 2–7-year-old children, and to evaluate which setting and method of parent engagement was most impactful. A systematic review was performed with keyword searches conducted via SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Only nine articles worldwide met the inclusion criteria that examined the influence of PA interventions with direct and explicit parental participation on the FMS proficiency of their early year’s children, either within the home environment, the community, or the childcare and educational setting, none of which originated from the UK, highlighting the urgent need for further FMS interventions that involve parents. FMS improved in all nine studies, with significant changes reported in seven of the articles (P < 0.05). Parent counselling would appear to be an inadequate method for improving children’s FMS. However, education and empowerment of parents, co-activity, and the provision of clear FMS guidance, messaging, and structure may be key components that facilitate positive parental influence on children’s FMS. Furthermore, the recent emergence of smartphone apps has increased accessibility and feasibility of FMS practice in the home environment and may be integral to future FMS interventions. Direct parent involvement can have a positive effect on children’s FMS and further research is clearly warranted

Impact and Implementation of an Early Years Fundamental Motor Skills Intervention for Children 4–5 Years

Fundamental motor skills (FMS) are the cornerstone of a child’s motor development, but concerns remain on the current level of FMS competencies, and intervention is required. This evaluation investigated if a targeted Early Years FMS intervention, delivered by a specialist physical education (PE) provider, improved the FMS of 4–5-year-old children across multiple sites. Methods: The Early Years FMS intervention ran for 18 weeks, 1 h/week, using a standardised programme of activities to develop FMS competencies across 219 children from 15 schools in the Midlands, UK. An adapted assessment was employed as a measure of FMS, assessing locomotor, object control, and stability skills at weeks 1, 9, and 18. The FMS were each rated as green = competent, amber = working towards, or red = not meeting the standards of the skill. A description of key programme implementation characteristics was described. Findings: Statistically significant increases in FMS competencies were achieved for 80% of participants at 18 weeks. Key implementation characteristics for the intervention included consistent staffing, a standardised programme, and a variety of pedagogical approaches delivered by specialist PE staff. Conclusion: This evaluation provided important insights into the effectiveness and implementation of the Early Years FMS intervention to improve FMS competencies in children aged 4–5 years

The Power, Capacity, and Resiliency of Women in Substance Use Disorder Recovery to Overcome Multiple and Complex Housing Transitions

Gendered understandings of housing transitions amongst women and especially amongst those in substance use disorder recovery are under-researched. To address this gap, this study explores the multifaceted challenges and pathways to housing stability amongst women in substance use disorder recovery in the UK. Through qualitative analysis of life course interviews with 15 women in recovery, it becomes evident that housing insecurity, instability, and frequent transitions are common experiences. The women in the sample faced housing instability, ranging from temporary supported accommodations to homelessness. Notably, escaping negative relationships with male partners emerged as a primary cause of homelessness among these women. What this article highlights, which has not been found elsewhere to date, is that housing transitions are essentially a social process for women in recovery. This study highlights the social dimension of housing transitions. The potency of social capital and social networks in determining housing stability and security amongst women is emphasised as they exchange negative forms of social capital for positive forms of social capital. Recommendations stemming from this study include the need for drug recovery and housing policies to integrate gender-specific strategies to adequately support women in recovery. Further, they need to adopt a broader perspective, emphasizing the importance of fostering positive social connections and networks when considering housing options for individuals in recovery. For women who have spent a long time in supported residential and therapeutic environments, there is a need to develop a scaffolded support system to help women transition to independent living. The utilisation of recovery capital (and CHIME) as frameworks may provide a basis upon which to map out holistic and sustainable pathways to housing stability and security for women in recovery due to their acknowledgement of interconnected and related life domains that produce change and transformation

Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts

Large gaps remain in our understanding of the vulnerability of specific animal taxa and regions to climate change, especially regarding extreme climate impact events. Here, we assess African apes, flagship and highly important umbrella species for sympatric biodiversity. We estimated past (1981–2010) and future exposure to climate change impacts across 363 sites in Africa for RCP2.6 and RCP6.0 for near term (2021–2050) and long term (2071–2099). We used fully harmonized climate data and data on extreme climate impact events from the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP). Historic data show that 171 sites had positive temperature anomalies for at least nine of the past ten years with the strongest anomalies (up to 0.56°C) estimated for eastern chimpanzees. Climate projections suggest that temperatures will increase across all sites, while precipitation changes are more heterogeneous. We estimated a future increase in heavy precipitation events for 288 sites, and an increase in the number of consecutive dry days by up to 20 days per year (maximum increase estimated for eastern gorillas). All sites will be frequently exposed to wildfires and crop failures in the future, and the latter could impact apes indirectly through increased deforestation. 84% of sites are projected to be exposed to heatwaves and 78% of sites to river floods. Tropical cyclones and droughts were only projected for individual sites in western and central Africa. We further compiled available evidence on how climate change impacts could affect apes, for example, through heat stress and dehydration, a reduction in water sources and fruit trees, and reduced physiological performance, body condition, fertility, and survival. To support necessary research on the sensitivity and adaptability of African apes to climate change impacts, and the planning and implementation of conservation measures, we provide detailed results for each ape site on the open-access platform A.P.E.S. Wiki

Career and sustainability

An editorial for a special issue of the NICEC journal addressing career and sustainability

Challenges and facilitating factors in interorganizational knowledge acquisition: Evidence from the Orange Line MetroTrain System and Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor

Purpose: This paper aims to identify challenges and facilitating factors in interorganizational knowledge acquisition. For this purpose, the interorganizational settings of the Orange Line Metro Train System and Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor in Pakistan are examined. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs an exploratory multiple case study approach. The empirical data encompasses semi-structured interviews and archival documents. Within and cross-case analysis is used for analyzing the data. Findings: The findings identify challenges such as time pressure, knowledge hiding, finding credible information sources, and organizational red tape, as well as facilitating factors such as clear objectives, individual interest, and personal commitment, and revisiting the organizational culture and environment in which interorganizational knowledge acquisition takes place. Originality: By examining knowledge acquisition in interorganizational projects, this article contributes to the literature on knowledge-based theory. Keywords: Knowledge acquisition, Challenges, Facilitating factors, Interorganizational knowledge acquisition, Interorganizational project