Attitudes of lecturers and students towards disability and inclusion of Higher Education disabled students and the impact on disabled students’ lived experiences

Disabled university students face barriers and are among those likelier to withdraw and have lower degree outcomes (OfS 2023). One potential barrier impacting disabled students’ university experience and outcomes is lecturers and students’ attitudes. Phase one of this two-phase study which adopts a critical realist framework, employs Q-Methodology to investigate lecturers and students’ attitudes towards disability and inclusion of disabled higher education (HE) students. Phase two Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of semi-structured interviews with disabled students explores the impact of attitudes on their lived experience.Using Q Method Software, thirty-one lecturers sorted forty-five statements describing the spectrum of attitudes towards disability and inclusion and provided optional post-sort survey and interview data. Two stances about inclusion emerged from factor analysis and interpretation: cautiously committed with concerns and confidently committed with concerns. Both groups are committed to inclusion of disabled students. However, the majority group is more cautious and concerned about expertise. The second group is more ableism aware and confident implementing inclusion but shares group one’s concerns about training. Fifty-two students sorted thirty-nine Q-sort statements. Analysis of thirty-three non-disabled students’ data revealed two views: pro-inclusion and confidently proactive, and pro-inclusion but cautious. Both groups share concerns relating to discrimination faced by disabled students. However, the minority group are more cautious about disability inclusion. The second group are more empathetic, ableism aware and confident to challenge discrimination. Analysis of nineteen disabled students’ data uncovered one perspective: pro-inclusion but concerned about ableist barriers.Phase two IPA of eight semi-structured interviews with disabled students revealed four Group Experiential Themes: Diagnosis, disclosure and identity issues; Reasonable adjustments and knowledgeable, empathetic lecturers- for some; Supportive, empathetic peers and sense of belonging- for some; Facing ableism beyond university.The findings contribute to academic discourse in this sparsely researched area and highlight future research implications. The thesis recommendations for HE policy and practice will positively impact disabled students’ university experience and outcomes

Graphene oxide–based wireless sensor in fibre–reinforced hybrid composites for incipient fire detection

Fire sensors offer an effective strategy for mitigating fire hazards. This work reports the development of self-sensing glass fibre–reinforced composites (GFRCs) by incorporating a graphene oxide (GO)–aramid sensing layer into their structure. Two sensor configurations were explored: GO–coated aramid webs (GO–AW) and GO–aramid nanofibre films (GO–ANF). These sensors function via the thermal reduction of GO to conductive reduced graphene oxide (rGO) under heat or flame, enabling rapid (<1 s) fire detection and real-time wireless alerts via an IoT–enabled system. The GO–AW web strip, patterned with conductive ink electrodes and embedded in a GFRC laminate, effectively responded to both conductive (direct contact) and radiative (external heat flux) heat, acting as a robust pre–fire sensing material. Integration with an ESP32 microcontroller enabled wireless, real–time monitoring and instant alerts, ensuring practical applicability in fire–safety–critical environments. Furthermore, the incorporation of GO–AW enhanced the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite, with the flexural modulus increasing from 3.1 to 6.5 GPa and the glass transition temperature from 86 °C to 94 °C. The presence of GO–AW in the GFRC also reduced flammability of the composite, indicated by reduction in the peak and total heat release rate by 22 and 45 %, respectively in cone calorimetric experiments. Overall, the integration of GO–AW not only imparted fire-sensing functionality but also improved the composite's structural integrity and flame retardancy, demonstrating broad potential for structural and industrial applications

Identification of volatiles during thermal degradation of epoxy resins for detection of incipient fire conditions in composites

This work reports the qualitative and quantitative identification of volatile products from thermal and thermo-oxidative decompositions of different epoxy resins to allow selection of the particular chemical species most likely to be detectable in situ by infrared and chemical sensors. Thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared analysis (TGA-FTIR) has been carried out on three resins at heating rates ranging from 20 to 70 °C/min in increments of 10 °C/min to understand the effects of the severities of different heating environments. Pyrolysis-FTIR has been conducted to complement the TGA-FTIR study under static atmospheric conditions hence revealing the volatile production under oxidative conditions. While the evolution of water, CO2, phenolic, carbonyl, aliphatic, aromatic and N-containing species could be observed in all resin types, the intensities and times of evolution of different components varied. Higher heating rates resulted in the evolution of volatiles occurring earlier and at greater intensities, but with a lower total amount of each product being evolved. From detection of CO, CO2 and aliphatic hydrocarbons in early stages of resin decomposition, i.e., prior to ignition, it can be inferred that sensors detecting these gases could be deployed in composites to provide a warning of any potential fires

Supplementary Materials referenced in the 'Playful Citizen Discussion Space to Help Steer Society Towards Water Security' paper

This file contains the supplementary material referenced in the 'Playful Citizen Discussion Space to Help Steer Society Towards Water Security' paper. It contains further details on water use survey design, calculations used to define water use, graphs presented for data exploration survey, screenshots and information of the playful dilemma: Save the City, reflective survey questions, and additional follow up questions

Specialist mental health crisis centres in England: a step forward or a stumble in the dark?

The recent proposal by NHS England to establish specialist mental health crisis centres has prompted considerable discussion. This editorial examines the initiative, which aims to reduce accident and emergency pressure and provide tailored care. However, it raises significant questions about the potential to exacerbate systemic fragmentation. Concerns highlight inadequate funding, the risk of resegregation of mental health from physical care and increased stigma if not properly integrated. This article argues that true holistic care requires seamless integration, advocating strongly for co-located mental health and medical emergency departments, which have shown improved outcomes. Ultimately, the success of these centres depends on addressing wider NHS issues, robust evaluation and a comprehensive vision prioritising the entire mental health pathway, from prevention to long-term recovery, to genuinely transform patient lives

Reducing Landfill Solid Waste To Mitigate The Greenhouse Gases Emissions Towards Environmental Sustainability: A Case Study From Ajman-UAE

Landfills have significant environmental and social impacts due to their associated greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. This paper examines solid waste management using Ajman-United Arab Emirates as a case study. It emphasises the necessity of having waste assessment integrated with air quality assessment to monitor and regulate waste disposal procedures The paper examines waste accumulation, previous treatments & services provided at the Ajman landfill. Forecasts of waste accumulated at the landfill indicate a serious issue that needs immediate action from Ajman Municipality despite the low percentage of treatments currently performed. It was found that GHGs increased between 2017 and 2023, with a decrease in 2020 due to COVID-19. Additionally, the paper proposes an integrated waste management model that can reduce landfill-associated GHG emissions and their negative impact on the environment. Moreover, the research predicted that by 2035, Ajman will be able to handle 250,000 tons of waste per year. Moreover, it was indicated that Ajman's environmental trajectory can be improved significantly by capping the landfill

Integrated Particle Filter Approach for Enhanced Indoor Robot Localization Using Multi-Sensor Fusion

Mobile robots are increasingly used in rescue missions, household cleaning, and food service due to their stability and affordability. These robots require accurate positional data from sensors, environmental maps, and path-planning algorithms for effective navigation. The objective of this research paper is to present a novel approach to indoor robot positioning that integrates Particle Filter (PF) with Adaptive Particle Filter (APF) methodologies. The proposed system combines data from multiple sensors, including a Laser Range Finder (LRF), dual en-coders, and a gyroscopic unit, to enhance positional accuracy. By processing LRF measurements alongside reflected beacon signals, an algorithm is developed that dynamically adjusts particle distributions for improved localisation. Experimental results show that this integrated approach achieves an accuracy improvement of 96.5% as compared to traditional methods, demonstrating its potential for robust indoor navigation applications

Ethical Implications of WannaCry: A Cybersecurity Dilemma

The WannaCry ransomware attack of May 2017 marked a critical turning point in cybersecurity history, prompting profound ethical discussions about software vulnerability management. This comprehensive analysis examines the ethical dimensions of the WannaCry incident, focusing on the responsibilities of government agencies, technology companies, and security professionals in handling zero-day vulnerabilities. The study investigates the complex balance between national security interests and global cybersecurity while proposing ethical frameworks for future practice. Through detailed examination of the attack's global impact and subsequent incidents, we demonstrate the ongoing relevance of lessons learned from WannaCry to contemporary cybersecurity challenges