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The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed versionWhere am I? Enhancing learning experience for Local and International Post Graduate students’: a focus on creative learning and teaching diverse students at a Midlands university. Abstract Purpose: This paper explores the learning experiences of overseas postgraduate students studying in the UK, with a focus on how creative learning and teaching approaches can be adapted for the students. Design/Methodology/Approach: A multi method approach was adopted to data collection, using a mini focus group and 18 individual reflective diaries. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to illustrate themes from the interview and individual reflective diaries. Findings: Findings indicated that fee incentives, affordable accommodation and a good social life motivated students to study at the Midlands University. Secondly, although students had higher expectations of UK higher education; they were ill prepared for the intense teaching and assessment strategies. Whilst there was high overall satisfaction with course delivery and support, there were diversity issues that impacted the overall learning experience. Originality/Values: This paper generates fresh insights into learning experience by overseas post graduate students in the UK. The paper highlights the need to redesign and adapt creative learning strategies that enhance learning experiences as well as increase satisfaction for a global student population

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Freedom to learn: - ‘Edusumers’: An analysis of student attitudes towards mobile enhanced learning in Higher Education. Abstract Purpose: This paper explores Post Graduate students ‘attitudes towards M-Learning in the UK; focusing on mobile device use in supporting interactive and engaging pedagogical approaches to reach mobile students (‘edusumers’). Design/Methodology/Approach: A mixed method data collection approach will be adopted in this research (50 scenario analysis tests and 50 questionnaires) to explore student (‘edusumers’) awareness, attitudes, experience and usage patterns of M-learning. Data analysis will involve qualitative content analysis to illustrate scenario themes (Phase 1). In Phase 2 (survey) statistical techniques are proposed (e.g. standard statistical packages [SPSS], a series of ANOVA) to establish correlations and variations in behavioural intention. Proposed Research Contribution: Theoretically, this research has potential to shed some light on individual attitudes and adoption determinants towards M-learning. Secondly; empirically inform education practitioners on harnessing the learning potential of the mobile device in and around the classroom. Originality/Values: This paper generates fresh insights into M-learning by Post Graduate students in the UK. Review of literature highlights need to realign pedagogical approaches in order to effectively reach and engage ‘mobile students’

Personalisation vs. Privacy: Consumer Perceptions of Location-based Advertising

Abstract Purpose: This paper explores consumer attitudes towards location based advertising (LBA) in Leicester, with a focus on individual consumer perception of value and risk of LBA and response. Design/Methodology/Approach: A multi method approach was adopted to data collection, using four mini focus groups and a survey of 98 respondents. Six hypotheses relating to the impact of awareness, risk, value and individual characteristics on LBA adoption were developed and tested using Chi-Square tests of association. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to illustrate interview themes. Findings: Surprising results indicated a lack of awareness of LBA, and some unwillingness to engage with LBA due to privacy concerns. Nonetheless, respondents articulated the perceived value of LBA, identifying that personalised offers did encourage intention to respond, while risks centred on privacy and potential intrusion. Of the six hypotheses, only two were significant; contradicting some previous findings (Almasri, 2013; Varnali et al, 2010); thus suggesting that further research into variance in motives and intentions across customer groups is needed. Originality/Values: The paper adds new insights into the consumer adoption of location-based advertising; and identifies a need for selective, personalised approaches to LBS to incentivise consumers. Keywords: location based advertising; location based services, personalisatio

Heartwood Extractives of a Western Larch Tree (Larix Occidentalis Nutt.)

Heartwood meal of a western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) was successively extracted with solvents of increasing polarity. The total extractable material collected was 15%. Compounds in each solvent fraction were separated by column chromatography followed by preparative-layer chromatography. Some isolates were characterized by comparison with standards, IR, UV, and NMR spectra, and various chromatographic parameters.Compounds previously unreported found in western larch heartwood were: four resin acids (0.2% total yield), sandaracopimaric, isopimaric, abietic and dehydroabietic, together with larixol and larixyl acetate from the petroleum ether extract; pinocembrin (5,7-dihydroxy-flavanone) from the benzene extract (0.003% yield); isolariciresinol from the ethanol extract; and free L-arabinose and secoisolariciresinol from the water extract

Relationship between rickets and incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis in children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the Sub Saharan Africa Rickets has now been established to be due primarily to calcium deficiency and sometimes in combination with vitamin D deficiency. The main thrust of management is calcium supplementation with or without vitamin D. An observation was made that some children with nutritional rickets do not respond to this management modality. The recently reported high prevalence of Incomplete Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis (idRTA) in adults with osteoporosis as brought to fore the possibility of this being a possible cause of calcium wastage and therefore the poor response in these group of children with rickets.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To determine the prevalence of idRTA amongst a cohort of subjects with rickets</p> <p>To show a relationship between rickets and incomplete distal renal acidosis</p> <p>To determine the response of children with rickets and idRTA to addition of Shohl's solution to therapy</p> <p>Methodology</p> <p>Two separate cohorts of children with rickets performed the ammonium chloride loading test to detect those with incomplete renal tubular acidosis. Following identification for idRTA, Shohl's solution was added to therapy of calcium and vitamin D supplementation and their response compared to those without idRTA on calcium and vitamin D supplementation solely.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>50 children with rickets aged from two to six years of age and composed of 29 females and 21males were investigated. Incomplete renal tubular acidosis was found in 38% of them. Prevalence of idRTA was highest amongst those aged 3-6 years of age. Those with idRTA had worse limb deformities, biochemical and radiological parameters than those who hadn't. Rate of response on those with idRTA treated with Shohl's solution was at par with those without idRTA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Incomplete idRTA exist amongst children with rickets and should be looked out for in severe rickets and older children. Treatment of idRTA will lead to optimal response and healing of rickets.</p

Exergetic analysis of breakfast cereal production in Nigeria

This work comprehensively studied energy and exergy analyses of breakfast cereal production in Nigeria. The process analysis method of energy accounting wa s used to evaluate the energy requirement for each of the five defined unit operations. The total energy used in the operation is 1,287.94 MJ. The types of energy used in breakfast cereal production were electrical, thermal and manual and the respective pe rcentages are 48.87%, 50.53% and 0.60%. It was estimated that an average energy intensity of 11.27 MJ/kg was required for the production of breakfast cereals. The most energy intensive operation was identified as the mixing operation followed by milling with energy intensities of 665.10 MJ/kg and 383.04 MJ/kg, respectively. The exergy analysis revealed that the roller dryer was responsible for most of the inefficiency (over 65.94%) followed by the wet mixer (27.40%). Suggestions for energy saving which will help in the reducing the high expenditure on energy and thus improve the profit margin were provided. Keywords : Energy, Exergy, Efficiency Breakfast Cerea

State Space Model Predictive Control of a Reactive Distillation Process

This work has been carried out to demonstrate the performances of four different state space models in the model predictive control system of a reactive distillation process that was used for the production of ethyl acetate. The state space models of the reactive distillation process were developed with the aid of System Identification Toolbox of MATLAB using the data acquired from the reactive distillation column set up. The control algorithms were developed and simulated in MATLAB environment with the aid of Model Predictive Control Toolbox. The top segment, the reaction segment and the bottom segment temperatures were selected as the controlled variables while the reflux ratio, the feed ratio and the reboiler duty were respectively chosen as the manipulated variables. Compared to the other state space model predictive controllers investigated, the best closed-loop dynamic responses with the smallest number of oscillations, fastest rise time and fastest response time obtained from n4sid state space model predictive controller showed that it had the best performance. Further simulations of the n4sid state space model predictive controller for mısmatch revealed that it was very robust as the mismatch only affected the performance of the controller very slightly

Numerical and Analytical Modeling of Solar for Chimney Combined Ventilation and Power in Buildings

Analytical and numerical studies were carried out to investigate the performance of the combined solar chimney for power generating system and ventilation based on a developed mathematical model. Numerical solution of the problem was based on the continuity, momentum and energy equations for turbulent, steady-flow using k-ε model and the finite volume method using ANSYS Fluent CFD package. The analysis domain was a 2-D room of 4 x 4 m2 with solar chimney of various dimension attached. The results obtained revealed that Chimney Height (CH), Collector Width (CW), Solar Heat Flux (SHF) and ambient wind speed were found to be the most important factors in the design of the SC. Results showed that the room mass flow rate increased from 1 kg/s with no wind effect to about 30 kg/s with induced wind of 1 m/s. The mass flow rate increased from about 6 to 9 kg/s at CH of 5 and 8 m respectively for no wind condition and SHF of 400 W/m2. Power outputs were obtained for the average velocity of the chimney, collector area and chimney height. It was observed from results obtained from both the numerical and analytical analysis that power outputs of the power generating systems increases with increase in heat energy in the collector space area which is a function of the global solar radiation intensity, the collector area, and the chimney height. The power outputs results showed that with SHF of 400 W/m2 for CH of 5 and 9 m were 33 and 85 W/m2 respectively. The respective power output for SHF of 200 and 1,000 W/m2 were 25 and 47 W/m2. Furthermore, the optimum values of CH, CW and SHF were 5 m, 1 m and 417 W/m2 respectively under no wind condition with room temperature of 300 K and chimney velocity 0.12 m/s. It was also observed that with the increase in the mass flow rate in the chimney, the ventilation requirements were adequately met

Modulation of PON2 and Proinflammatory Cytokine Genes in Rat Tissue Exposed to Combined oral Contraceptive Ethinylestradiol and Levonorgestrel

Paraoxonase (PON2) was identified as a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and usage of oral contraceptive (OC) is associated with increased cervical cancer and cardiovascular risk. PON2 protect against atherosclerosis development at the cellular level and this phenomenon could be related to their antioxidative properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of OC on the expression of PON2, pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin one alpha (IL1α) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in the liver, kidney and brain of rats. Different dosage groups of eight female rats were treated with oral contraceptive (0.15mg levonorgestrel 0.03mg ethinylestradiol(A); 0.3mg levonorgestrel 0.06 mg ethinylestradiol (B) and 0.075 mg levonorgestrel 0.015 mg ethinylestradiol (C))/kg body-weight(bw)). Two groups of eight rats were included in the study for a control group (D) and ≤0.1% DMSO (drug vehicle) group (E), which were not subject to drug administration for 21days. The levels of expression of the gene were assessed using quantitative reverse polymerase chain reaction technique. Combined oral contraceptive treatment produced a significant increase(p<0.001) in the level expression of renal IL1α and TNFα in all the groups compared to control in a dose-dependent manner but has no significant effect on PON2. Meanwhile, OC resulted in significantly (p<0.0001) reduced level of expression of hepatic IL1α with no significant effect on hepatic PON2 and TNFα level. In the brain, OC resulted in significantly (p<0.0001) reduced level of expression of TNFα in all dose groups and IL1α level at 0.015mg/bw. Although OC treatment did increase the expression of brain PON2 significantly (p<0.05) at the lowest dose. Therefore, pharmacological modulation of the expression of genes could constitute a useful approach for preventing atherosclerosi

Developing a digital intervention for cancer survivors: an evidence-, theory- and person-based approach

This paper illustrates a rigorous approach to developing digital interventions using an evidence-, theory- and person-based approach. Intervention planning included a rapid scoping review which identified cancer survivors’ needs, including barriers and facilitators to intervention success. Review evidence (N=49 papers) informed the intervention’s Guiding Principles, theory-based behavioural analysis and logic model. The intervention was optimised based on feedback on a prototype intervention through interviews (N=96) with cancer survivors and focus groups with NHS staff and cancer charity workers (N=31). Interviews with cancer survivors highlighted barriers to engagement, such as concerns about physical activity worsening fatigue. Focus groups highlighted concerns about support appointment length and how to support distressed participants. Feedback informed intervention modifications, to maximise acceptability, feasibility and likelihood of behaviour change. Our systematic method for understanding user views enabled us to anticipate and address important barriers to engagement. This methodology may be useful to others developing digital interventions