Yes / Studies estimate that Africa's urban population is expected to triple over 40 years, from 395 million in 2010 to 1.339 billion in 2050. Challenges associated with increasing urbanisation and the rise of large cities in the African sub-region represent critical challenges to the environment and the rich ecosystem. The growing population, particularly in most cities in Africa, has resulted in increasing demand for non-degradable consumable waste products, changes in lifestyle and consumption patterns, and rising demand for transportation and associated solid waste disposal problems, especially tyre waste. However, few studies have examined circular economy practices such as tyre pyrolysis to attenuate Africa's ever-increasing waste disposal challenges. Moreover, most of these studies failed to account for specific risk-based decision-making attributes in an integrated way, such as technology readiness, risk identification, carbon footprint analysis, supply chain and procurement factors, and financial risk quantification. As a result, to the best of our knowledge and understanding, research-based tyre recycling feasibility practices are limited and scattered. We contribute to the literature by providing systematic literature on tyre pyrolysis in Africa from 2008-2022 inclusive, covering 16 African countries. To address tyre waste in Africa, this chapter provides a 10-point strategy on how pyrolysis can be integrated into production plants and associated businesses to minimise tyre waste in Africa. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 29 July 2025.

Yes / Purpose Pharmaceuticals are a key input into healthcare operations and so their effective management is vital. This issue is of key importance in Thailand and is aligned with the Thailand’s 2nd National Logistics and Supply Chain Research Strategies (2012-2016) focusing on healthcare green logistics. Pharmaceuticals in hospitals account for more than 50% of the total hospital purchasing budget. Moreover, the overuse of medicine was generally found to be prevalent in Thai hospitals despite serious financial concerns. The aim of this study was twofold: Phase (i) to investigate the movement and lifecycle of pharmaceuticals within Thai hospital sites and Phase (ii) identify the GL practices that effectively control/minimize the use of pharmaceuticals. Research Approach Using a case research method six hospitals were examined, to give coverage of the different types/sizes, locations and a range of environmental performance issues. Hospital visits were undertaken during January to July 2014, to obtain data by using a multi-method approach: interviews, documentation reviews and in situ observation. Purposive respondent sampling was undertaken to ensure that data was collected from staff with experience of pharmaceutical management and a bespoke form of content analysis used for the data review before further cross-case analysis. Findings and Originality The result of Phase (i) revealed that pharmaceutical flows appeared to be sophisticated and problematic, caused by issues such as limited budget allocation, ineffective governmental processes, and the over-prescribing of medicine for chronic patients. The findings also identified effective GL practices such as: (i) prescribing medicines for only 1-2 months for some patient conditions/drug types and increasing the frequency of follow-up reviews, (ii) conducting a medicines return programme and (iii) having a clearly defined system of pharmaceutical product review. The outcomes of the study proposed key practices to support a Sustainable Health System at both policy and hospital levels. Within this were: (i) a representation of stakeholder views, (ii) the provision of healthcare education and communication, (iii) addressing self-health management issues and (iv) planned system review and improvement. The design and execution of such a system should be grounded in Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) concept. Research Impacts In the GL research paradigm public healthcare, developing nations, human elements and life-cycle products have received limited attention; this study therefore contributes to the reduction of these gaps. The SEP concept was highly recommended by the United Nations, instead of Sustainable Development, in addressing GL practices in Thai culture to promote sustainable health standards and this underpins the focus and the originality/impact of this study. Practical Impacts This study recommends that staff in Thai hospitals focus on effective pharmaceutical management to contribute to the sustainability of good GL practices (as identified) and to the design and delivery of a Sustainable Health System in Thailand. The study presents guidance and support to do this.

Assessment tools were developed to address the need for a low cost, rapid method of quantifying the quality of agricultural best management practices (BMPs). Best management practices are either cost-shared, where some or all of the capital costs of the practice were subsidized with federal, state, or local funds, or non cost-shared, where the cost of the practice and its upkeep is paid for by the landowner or farm operator. Cost-share practices are required to comply with state standards, while non cost-share practices are not subject to any standards. For this study, BMP quality is defined as the adherence to design, site selection, implementation, and maintenance criteria relating to water quality as specified by state and federal agencies promoting BMP implementation. The two objectives of this research were: 1. develop a set of assessment tools to quantify the quality of agricultural best management practices in a rapid low-cost manner, and 2. test the tools and determine if differences in quality exist between cost-share and non cost-share BMPs in the James River Basin of Virginia. Assessment tools were developed for sixteen practices: alternative water systems, stream fencing, streambank stabilization, grass filter strips, wooded buffers, permanent vegetative cover on critically eroding areas, permanent vegetative cover on erodible cropland, reforestation of erodible crop and pasture land, animal waste storage facilities, grazing land protection systems, loafing lot management systems, late winter split application of nitrogen on small grains, protective cover for specialty crops, sidedress application of nitrogen on corn, small grain cover crops-fertilized and harvested, and small grain cover crops for nutrient management. Assessment tools were developed using both Virginia BMP standards and expert knowledge. Virginia Department of Recreation and Conservation (DCR) and Virginia and national Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) BMP standards were collected and sorted into the four quality component categories; design, site selection, implementation, and maintenance. Standards that pertained directly to a BMPs' potential to protect water quality were translated into question format. Multiple-choice or yes/no questions were used as often as possible to avoid potential bias and for ease of processing. Assessment tool development involved an iterative process that included input from a research team (university-based researchers) and an expert team (public and private sector professionals and practitioners responsible for BMP design and assessment). One hundred and fifty-five cost-shared BMPs and 150 non cost-shared BMPs were assessed on 128 independent farms in the James River Basin of Virginia over a period of four months. The assessment tools were loaded onto a personal digital assistant (PDA), which facilitated data collection and eliminated the need for data transcription. Data collected on the PDA were uploaded periodically to a computer database. A digital camera was used to develop a photographic record of the assessed BMPs. Best management practice quality scores were based on five-point scale, with one being the lowest quality score and five as the highest. Statistical analyses conducted on both the overall quality scores and the quality component scores, indicate that there is not a strong significant difference (p = 0.05) in quality between the cost-shared and non cost-shared BMPs assessed for this study. Statistically significant differences between cost-share and non cost-share practices did, however, exist. For the filter/buffer strips practices (grass filter strips and wooded buffers), the implementation quality component cost-share mean (3.35) and the non cost-share mean (3.88) were statistically different at the 0.05 level (p-value = 0.026). One other statistically significant difference was found. For stream fencing, the overall quality cost-share mean was 4.68 while the non cost-share mean was 4.20; the means are statistically different at the 0.05 level (p-value = 0.043). Statistical analyses were performed to determine if age of practice, farm size, or Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) had effects on the BMP quality. No statistically significant differences (p = 0.05) were found relating to the age of an assessed BMP or farm size. One SWCD, the Robert E. Lee district, had a statistically significant difference in the design quality component means; cost-share mean = 4.21, non cost-share mean = 2.94 with a p-value of 0.048. The statistically significant differences that were detected do not establish a clear trend; it appears that for the BMPs assessed here the qualities of cost-share and non cost-share practices are roughly equal. The fact that cost-share practices and non cost-share practices do appear to be roughly equal may be the result of education and outreach programs sponsored by Virginia's SWCDs and Virginia Cooperative Extension. Non cost-share practices may be of equal quality to cost-share practices because those implementing BMPs without the benefit of cost-share may have a greater stake (both financial and personal) in those practices performing well. If no statistically significant difference in quality exists between cost-share and non cost-share practices, then non cost-share practices should be treated equally when accounting for BMPs in NPS pollution in watershed management and computer modeling. Currently, only cost-share practices are included in computer models, in part because these are the only practices tracked by the existing BMP establishment infrastructure. Estimating the numbers and distribution of non cost-share practices and incorporating them into NPS water quality modeling efforts will more accurately reflect the steps agricultural producers have and are taking to decrease the amount of NPS pollution reaching water bodies. Additionally, policy regarding NPS pollution and BMPs should reflect the apparent equal qualities of cost-share and non cost-share practices. The assessment tools developed as a part of this study can potentially be applied to determine the quality of BMPs on basin or state-wide scales to give policy makers a better understanding of the practices and populations that the policies are created for. Moreover, BMP quality scores have the potential to be used as a surrogate measure for BMP performance. Further research recommendations include correlating BMP quality scores with BMP performance, wider scale testing of the tools, continued revision of the tools, and using the assessment tool scores to diagnose BMP quality problems. / Master of Science

Yes / Modern, advanced healthcare detects and monitors long-term and life-limiting illness more comprehensively than ever before. However, death is now often considered medical failure, and is a virtually taboo topic of conversation in daily life. At a time when the societal relevance of archaeology is under scrutiny more than ever before, the AHRC-funded Continuing Bonds Project – a collaboration between archaeology and palliative care – explores the potential of the past to promote discussion. Not only does archaeology illuminate the diversity of practice surrounding death, the past provides a safe, distanced platform for considering death, dying and bereavement today. Through archaeological and ethnographic case studies, health and social care professionals and students consider topics such as place, choice and identity, in both personal and professional life. This article examines participant responses to a variety of archaeological material and presents post-workshop reflections which demonstrate the success of archaeology in opening up conversations and increasing confidence in discussing this most enduring and problematic of life events. / Arts and Humanities Research Council

This qualitative descriptive case study examines the pedagogical teaching and instructional practices of fifth, sixth and eighth grade Texas public school English/reading teachers. This study shares the description of each teachers' English and Reading pedagogy, instructional practices, and their successes and/or challenges prior to and during the pandemic. The participants of the study were from two different school districts in Texas. The study utilized surveys and semi-structured interviews as sources of data that revealed reading pedagogy and a self-assessment of reading pedagogy practices prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three conclusive themes emerged after analysis of the data: importance of social emotional wellness of students, teaching and learning became a one size fits all approach, and varied levels of student engagement. Recommendations from this study for educational practitioners include a need to value the importance of the teacher-student relationship and the powerful role it plays in each student's emotional wellness and learning. Practitioners will need to reflect on what the COVID-19 pandemic taught the educational system about digital platforms and learning. Practitioners in the field should consider how the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will impact instructional design, teaching, content pedagogy, student academic gaps and academic progress or lack thereof for years to come. Implications for future research include more descriptive reading pedagogy studies that replicate this study and are inclusive of a larger sampling population of teachers, inclusive of students' and parents' experiences throughout more districts in the state of Texas post the COVID-19 pandemic.

Corporate corruption is a widespread phenomenon that persists in the functioning of both public and private companies of differing size, performance, industry, and national origin. As it generates negative effects both within and outside the organization, corporate corruption has been the subject of scholarly research. Yet, despite attempts to understand its antecedents and consequences, companies continue to struggle to eliminate corruption in their business practices. Thus, the overarching research question for this dissertation is "Why do companies continue engaging in corruption?" To answer this research question, I focused on the topic of organizational corruption control, i.e., a set of mechanisms that purposefully target the prevention of corrupt practices within an organization. Specifically, I investigated the trident of organizational corruption control via its effects and implications on three constructs - corporate social performance, opportunity attractiveness of organizational corruption and corporate corruption recidivism. Using distinct methodologies, I examined corporate corruption control in three separate studies to address 1) the effect of corruption control on the opportunity attractiveness of organizational corruption 2) the effect of corruption control on corporate social performance and 3) the implication of ineffective corruption control on organizational corruption recidivism. Based on interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives and several secondary data sources, the hypothesized effects were empirically tested and insights were derived from a multiple case study approach. The three studies used different firm samples. Study 1 was based on the data of the United States enforcement actions for violations of the 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA) formally prohibiting foreign bribery; firm-level data from the Bloomberg terminal; and a country-level measure from Worldwide Governance Indicators. In Study 1 (N=71 firms involved in foreign bribery), results supported hypotheses that regulatory sanctioning in host countries and bureaucratic controls at a firm level were negatively correlated with corruption opportunity attractiveness. Furthermore, vigilance controls help strengthen negative effect of bureaucratic controls on corruption opportunity attractiveness. Study 2 was based on reports of anti-corruption programs of the world's largest companies from Transparency International, corporate social performance scores from CSRHub, and firm-level financial indicators from the Bloomberg terminal. The findings of Study 2 (N=102 firms) supported hypothesis that corporate corruption controls positively affect Sustainable Resource Management, a sub-dimension of CSP. Importantly, the use of a cross-lagged design helped to specify that the relationship between Corruption Controls and CSP dimensions is not reciprocal (2-way) as was previously discussed in the literature. Study 3, was based on 6 cases of corruption recidivists identified via FCPA enforcements' database, and utilized data from court proceedings, annual reports, and news articles. Data were coded following prescribed steps to arrive at categories and themes. An inductive qualitative analysis performed in Study 3 resulted in a descriptive framework of ingenious deviance that underpins the profile of corporate corruption recidivists. The analysis revealed that a) a combination of underlying contextual and situational factors provided fertile ground for corruption, b) the phenomenon of recidivism occurred in the presence of multiple competing logics, and c) internal controls were subverted through ingenious deviance to facilitate bribery.