The development of fin damage in Atlantic salmon parr was investigated using social network analysis of behavioural interactions occurring under different feeding and stocking conditions. Four separate experiments were carried out in which groups of fish were subjected to a long food restriction period (30 days) described in Chapter 2, high (30 kg/m3) or low (8 kg/m3) fish stocking densities (Chapter 3), predictable or unpredictable food delivery regime (Chapter 4) or a short food restriction period (10 days) described in Chapter 5. Dorsal fin damage (erosion, splits and fin index) was significantly higher in groups of fish subjected to food restriction periods (short and long), held at high stocking density (30 kg/m3) or with an unpredictable food delivery regime. No other fins were found to be affected by fin damage irrespective of the treatment. The social networks based on aggressive interactions showed higher centrality, clustering coefficients, in-degree centrality, out-degree centrality and less dense networks in groups subjected to food restriction (short and long), low stocking densities 8 kg/m3), and unpredictable food delivery. The high centralities and clustering coefficients indicated separation of fish within the groups into initiators of aggression and receivers of aggression. This separation of roles was seen only in the food restricted group, high density groups and unpredictable food delivery groups. Initiators had higher out-degree centrality while receivers showed high in-degree centrality. Also, initiators of aggressive interactions had less fin erosion, higher final weights and higher body lengths than receivers of aggression. The severity of fin damage was significantly higher when this role differentiation occurred, and it was highly correlated with fin biting events. Additionally, overall aggression was higher in food restricted groups, low density groups and unpredictable groups. The dynamic analyses of networks over time (Chapter 6) showed that fish classified as initiators of aggression did not change this behaviour after normal/control environmental conditions were restored (i.e. ad libitum food delivery, low stocking density or predictable food delivery). The latter result indicates that individual fish maintained their behaviour irrespective of their social context, which is consistent with the definition of behavioural syndromes, personalities or temperament defined for other non-human animals. Overall these studies demonstrated the importance of using social network analysis to clearly identify and quantify roles that individual fish assume within their network group and through time based on their behavioural interactions leading to dorsal fin damage and differential physical characteristics. The results are potentially applicable within the commercial aquaculture industry as a valuable technique to evaluate and improve the welfare of farmed fish.

The University of ManchesterEsther NelsonDoctorate in Educational and Child Psychology Exploring professional action around sexually inappropriate behaviour and children in schools2013Background: Sexually inappropriate behaviour (SIB) displayed by children and young people often results in pupil school exclusions and, at present, a national intervention pathway is not available (DfE, 2010). School staff feel ill equipped to recognise and respond to SIB (Flanagan, 2010), and within the present research context, they may be placed in ‘out of city’ specialist settings, with attendant social, emotional and financial implications. Participants: From Local Authority (LA) with local SIB pathway: 2 Educational Psychologists (EPs). From non-pathway LA: 2 EPs and 6 school professional participants with SIB case experience.Methods: A qualitative mixed methods investigation, consisting of surveys, semi-structured interviews and a focus group. A documentary analysis of the existing regional LA policies and pathways was completed. Semi-structured interviews were completed with EPs; a focus group with professionals with experience of children displaying SIB to discuss the knowledge, thoughts and feelings of these staff members in relation SIB, and the current processes and pathways in use within the school and the LA. Analysis/ Findings: Content analysis of the existing policies reveals much variation between LAs in how incidents of SIB are managed in schools. Thematic analysis of interview data with EPs reveals both facilitators and potential barriers for managing incidents of SIB. Thematic analysis of interview data with school staff reveals practical approaches and strategies which if included in a pathway would be beneficial in dealing with incidents of SIB.Conclusion/ Implications: Procedures for managing incidents of SIB vary widely within LAs in the region. Pathways and procedures should include practical advice for managing these incidents and would benefit from being designed through a bottom up approach, focusing on the approaches and strategies that teaching staff at the front line would find beneficial.

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Propranolol (PROP) is a β-blocker prescribed mainly to treat human cardiac diseases but with its wide usage it often makes its way into the aquatic environment. This study examined whether PROP alters developmental patterns and catecholamine (CA)-regulated processes in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and if exposure during early life alters the stress response and behaviors of adults. The 48 h LC50 was 21.6 mg/L, well above environmental levels (0.00059 mg/L). Embryos/larvae continuously PROP-exposed had decreased and increased transcript levels of the β1-adrenoceptor at 1 dpf and 5 dpf, respectively. Stressed, PROP-exposed zebrafish had reduced testosterone and estradiol levels and exhibited less anxiety behaviours than control fish. Furthermore, adults previously PROP-exposed as embryos/larvae had decreased growth in terms of body length (0.0006 mg/L PROP) and mass (20 mg/L PROP). Changes in cholesterol and testosterone levels occurred in PROP-exposed fish. Thus PROP-exposure alters developmental patterns and CA-regulated process that are essential for normal behaviours and responses to stress, and at least some of these changes persist in the adult zebrafish.

Caregivers of children with health problems have been demonstrated to show poorer physical and psychological health than caregivers of healthy children. It has been suggested that child behavioural problems are key and account for a large proportion of the variance in caregiver health. Currently, the relation between behaviour problems and caregiver health remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis and a secondary data analysis using national data to describe and compare the associations between internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems and caregiver health. Meta-analytical results suggest an association between child behaviour problems and parental stress, depression, and presence of psychiatric symptoms. National data analyses suggested an important association between child behaviour problems, particularly externalizing behaviour problems, and caregiver physical and psychological health when accounting for socioeconomic variables. Results suggest mothers may be more impacted than fathers, and that externalizing behaviour problems may contribute to bigger caregiver health effects than internalizing behaviour problems.

This thesis investigates bullying and negative behaviour among chefs working in commercial kitchens. The idea for this study arose due to evidence from the hospitality industry and amongst chefs in particular which suggested that negative behaviour and bullying were widely accepted practices. However, much of this evidence has been either anecdotal from media reporting or based on small scale studies.The industry has also complained about high labour turnover and the need for a trained workforce. Therefore, this study examines the behaviours to which chefs are exposed and if negative behaviours cause them to leave the industry.This thesis has used a questionnaire to measure responses from chefs who were either in training in catering colleges or working in the industry. Questionnaires were distributed to first year student chefs (n = 202), final year student chefs (n = 153) and working chefs (n = 304). Working chefs and final year student chefs were given questionnaires that included a behavioural method of measuring bullying, known as the NAQ-R, a self labelling method of measuring bullying and items about kitchen specific behaviours. Working chefs and final year student chefs were also asked about positive aspects of work and job satisfaction. First year student chefs were also given a personality instrument as well as being asked their opinions of kitchen specific behaviours.The findings suggest chefs’ exposure to regular bullying was in line with another major UK study (Hoel, 2002). However, occasional bullying was much higher. An examination of industry specific behaviours revealed that chefs tolerate a range of behaviours from verbal abuse on the one hand to physical and sexual abuse on the other. There were also positive aspects about the freedom of work and job satisfaction but this study was unable to find any evidence as to what made chefs stay in the industry.The study found that as student chefs become socialised into their role they were more likely to tolerate negative work behaviours and could identify reasons for their use although, this did not mean that they necessarily agreed with them. In fact, as the working chef sample was very different in ethnicity, gender and nationality from the student sample it could mean that due to negative behaviours on graduation students may not work as chefs.

This thesis presents the results of a comprehensive research study of the bearing behaviour of single or multiple bolted plates in bolt shear at ambient and elevated temperatures. A total of 18 tests were carried out to provide detailed experimental information on bearing behaviour of plates with single bolt. A series of parametric studies using the commercial finite element package ABAQUS were conducted to investigate the effects of different design parameters on the connected plate bearing behaviour, including initial stiffness, ultimate resistance and deformation at the ultimate resistance. The finite element models were verified by comparing the simulated results against the author’s tests conducted as part of this research and other researchers’ test results. Based on the parametric study results, an analytical model was proposed to predict the bearing load-deformation relationship of bolted plate in bolt shear. It was found that the stiffness and ultimate resistance could be predicted accurately by using existing methods. The main contribution of the analytical study was the development of a simple method to calculate the maximum plate deformation (bolt-hole elongation) at the ultimate resistance, based on proposed strain distributions according to different failure modes. This method has been verified against the parametric study results and has been found to be suitable for ambient and elevated temperature applications.

The aim of this research was to explore the user participation behaviours in the emerging structure of organisational social media platforms; a term coined and defined in this thesis. This emerging community structure originates from technical discussion forums and knowledge repository systems, and appears to be concerned with solving user problems, generating professional and technical content, and facilitating interaction in the external organisational domain. This research has explored three such platforms in the software and technology sector; namely, the SAP Community Network, the Oracle Community site, and Microsoft's professional platforms, MSDN and TechNet. Qualitative open-ended interviews were conducted and analysed under the interpretive paradigm, to generate a theoretically-grounded account on the use of social media tools in this context, the benefits and value outcomes gained, the underlined reasons and motivations that drive participation, and the emerging impact of active contribution as external users gain recognition. It was found that organisational social media platforms enable the development of rich technical content, personalised experience and thought leadership, creating in this way an environment for problem solving, professional development and expert recognition. The voluntary participation observed is evidently underlined with a combination of altruistic attitudes (e.g. satisfaction, enjoyment and a pro-sharing attitude), reciprocal helping behaviours (e.g. paying it forward, and sharing knowledge and experience) and personal gain expectations (e.g. visibility, recognition and career advancement). The individual platform users appear to acquire participation roles based on their technical expertise (newbie, knowledgeable and expert) and on the level of engagement they wish to undertake (lurker, contributor, community influencer and recognised user). A group of highly active users is formed in this way at the top tier of participation that establishes channels for professional credibility, product feedback and external advocacy through a close relationship with organisational members. These findings suggest that organisational social media platforms can constitute a new interface with the external environment and a potential business model, under which flexible forms of communication and interaction affect the support infrastructure changing the way in which customer service can be delivered, product and sales advocacy can be established, and innovation and product development can be achieved; complementing in this way internal processes with external activity.

The research component of the study was undertaken in two global industries locally. The pilot study was conducted in the airline industry. Due to the very nature of an Airline as a global operator in the service industry, the choice of the Airline Industry as research domain was logical. There exists an expectation that because of the global activities an Airline takes part in and global services that it offers, it should be exceptionally positioned to embrace globalisation and its accompanying shaping forces and trends.

Complex mixtures of biologically active pharmaceutical residues continuously enter aquatic environments via wastewater, where it can affect species through preserved human drug targets or cause unexpected effects in non-target species. Benzodiazepines and antihistamines are two highly consumed groups of pharmaceuticals that have been shown to bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms and induce behavioural alterations affecting individual fitness. Few studies have investigated bioaccumulation and possible ecological effects of co-occurring pharmaceuticals in food-webs. The aim of this study was to: 1) quantify and compare species-specific bioconcentration and bioaccumulation, by exposing a tri-trophic system consisting of algae, zooplankton and three-spined sticklebacks to oxazepam (benzodiazepine), fexofenadine (antihistamine) and a mixture of both, and 2) analyse if exposure to these pharmaceuticals induce behavioural alterations in sticklebacks, by using standardized behavioural experiments. Species-specific bioconcentration of both oxazepam and fexofenadine was confirmed (F3,98 = 3.061, p = 0.03) were algae and zooplankton bioconcentrated substantially more pharmaceuticals (~50-1800 μg kg-1) compared to sticklebacks (~0.1-6 μg kg-1). Uptake of oxazepam in both zooplankton and sticklebacks was significantly higher compared to fexofenadine (p < 0.001).  Zooplankton and sticklebacks retained 16 and 0.3%, respectively, of fexofenadine from the consumed contaminated prey. Sticklebacks showed no direct behavioural alterations, but possible direct and indirect cascading effects might occur in co-occurrence with fish species exhibiting pharmaceutical-induced alterations. These findings highlight the importance of including consumption of contaminated prey as an important exposure route, when assessing effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Contamination magnitudes and subsequent effects are species-specific and vary depending on type of pharmaceuticals.