The persistent increase in the price of energy, the clamour to preserve our environment from the harmful effects of the anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil fuels and the need to conserve these rapidly depleting fuels has resulted in the need for the deployment of industry best practices in energy conservation through energy efficiency improvement processes like the waste heat recovery technique. In 2006, it was estimated that approximately 20.66% of energy in the UK is consumed by industry as end-user, with the process industries (chemical industries, metal and steel industries, food and drink industries) consuming about 407 TWh, 2010 value stands at 320.28 TWh (approximately 18.35%). Due to the high number of food and drink industries in the UK, these are estimated to consume about 36% of this energy with a waste heat recovery potential of 2.8 TWh. This work presents the importance of waste heat recovery in the process industries in general, and in the UK food industry in particular, with emphasis on the fryer section of the crisps manufacturing process, which has been identified as one of the energy-intensive food industries with high waste heat recovery potential. The work proposes the use of a dual heat source ORC system for the recovery and conversion of the waste heat from the fryer section of a crisps manufacturing plant to electricity. The result, obtained through modelling and simulation, shows that the proposed technology can produce about 92% of the daily peak electricity need of the plant which is currently 216 kW. Also, the economic analysis shows that the proposed technology is viable (even at an inflation rate of 5.03% and discounted rate of 6%), with a payback period of approximately three years and net present value of over £2.2 million if the prices of electricity and carbon is at an average value of £0.16 and £13.77 respectively throughout the 30 years service life of the plant. The life cycle assessment study shows that the proposed technology can reduce the CO2 emission by 139,580 kg/year if the electricity produced is used to displace that which would have been produced from a conventional coal-fired power plant.

The goal of this thesis is to look at the emergence of the thematic contemporary art exhibition in Italy through an analysis of the influence of Fascism and the commercial sector in the three exhibitions composing the Cycle of Vitality, organised between 1959 and 1961 at the Centro Internazionale delle Arti e del Costume (CIAC), opened at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice in 1951. The cycle falls within the fields of both curatorial studies and the history of modern and contemporary exhibitions, two disciplines that have been developed since the 1990s. This inquiry contributes to them by clarifying further their specific fields of investigation, or in presenting alternative genealogies by casting light on overlooked antecedents; and by addressing the curator as a distinct cultural producer, the institution as a medium for social change and the history of exhibitions. The exhibitions analysed belong to the genealogy that resulted from the shift in the display language of international inter-war avant-garde experiments in exhibition design as manipulated by Fascism and commerce in the 1930s. Modernist architects were engaged in turning the exhibition into a medium for social change, and a mass-medium to bring a sense of the future into the present: It was from this premise that the model of the thematic exhibition emerged. Its further development in post-war Italy paralleled the questioning of the fine art museum’s entanglement with the discipline of art history, enacted by those architects trained in the 1930s. The Cycle of Vitality paired the two models in the thematic contemporary art exhibitions – Vitalità nell’arte (1959); Dalla natura all’arte (1960) and Arte e contemplazione (1961) – organised by curators avant-la-lettre Paolo Marinotti and Willem Sandberg. Crucial to the analysis of the Cycle of Vitality is the questioning of the relationship between contemporary curators, museums and the discipline of art history, as a consequence of Italian exhibition culture between 1932 and 1961. Within this historical framework, these exhibitions were influenced by the original profile of the CIAC, a cultural centre sponsored by the SNIA Viscosa, a company manufacturing man-made fibres. The CIAC allowed for the development of exhibitions that were intended to reshape the social body rather than to present the results of art historical research as was traditionally the role of museum or fine art exhibitions. In the 1950s, modernist Italian architects played a strategic role in rethinking the museum, a tendency further fostered by curators avant-la-lettre who, as cultural producers, turned the institution into their medium rather than considering it a function of the discipline of art history.

The history of design criticism in the latter half of the twentieth century in the US and the UK is punctuated with self-reflective interruptions during which design critics were acutely self-conscious about their purpose, role in society, relationship to their publics and use of critical techniques and formats. This thesis examines a selection of such moments and considers the extent to which they disrupted, and even redirected, the ways in which design criticism was practiced, produced, and consumed. The chapter focuses are as follows: a selection of articles published in the design magazines of the mid-late 1950s and early 1960s which forcibly activated a new set of values with which to engage with expendable, mass produced product design; a protest at the International Design Conference at Aspen in 1970 which posed a challenge to the established conference lecture format and to a lack of political engagement on the part of the liberal design establishment; a set of articles by cultural critics that critiqued the prevailing celebratory commentary on style and lifestyle in 1980s London; an independent exhibition that offered an alternative view of contemporary design in contrast to government-endorsed design exhibitions in 1990s London, with an additional focus on an intensification of thought about the designed object as a potentially viable critical format; and, lastly, a debate between the authors of a US design blog and an established British design critic writing in Print magazine that drew attention to a rift between the energetic amateur impulses of blogging culture and the editorial values of traditional print media. Three main problematics are used to provide continuity throughout the discrete time periods of this thesis, as well as points of comparison between the critical works examined: criticism’s contesting conceptions of its instrumentality, purpose and methods; criticism’s idealized perceptions of, and actual engagement with, its publics; and, finally, criticism’s adoption of a literary sensibility and narrative qualities in an attempt to transcend the limitations of design’s promotional and market-based concerns. In identifying five moments of historical discontinuity in the practice of design criticism, therefore, this thesis assembles a time-lapse portrait of the intellectual, stylistic and material constitution of design criticism between the early 1950s and the early 2000s, and in doing so, aims to contribute meaningfully to a growing historiography of design criticism.

Through the years, stereotypical representation of others has been present in video games. There exist numerous games which consist of characters that are being represented stereotypical in a negative way. The aim of this thesis is to discuss how stereotypes occur ingame animation and to see if an understanding of the culture represented will help inavoiding negative stereotypes. Possessing knowledge of the represented culture, I proposethat a negative stereotypical representation of others can be kept to a minimum in theanimations of the game Crest. This was tested on ten participants from Sweden and tenparticipants from South Africa with a qualitative questionnaire. Based on the questionnaire results, it can be seen that the majority of the participants think the animations was stereotypical. However, the participants also think the animations were not represented in a negative way, meaning that they find the animations stereotypical in a positive way. Thus, it indicates that with the knowledge of the culture represented, negative stereotypes in game animation can be minimized. This study shall serve as a small part of a solution to a worldwide and larger problem of stereotypical representations in game animation and games in general. With a larger and broader research on the subject, an answer to how to avoid negative stereotypes in games might be found.

A Network's topology and its routing algorithm are the key factors in determining the network performance. Therefore, in this thesis a generic model for implementing logical interconnection topologies in the software domain has been proposed to investigate the performance of the logical topologies and their routing algorithms for packet switched synchronous networks. A number of topologies are investigated using this model and a simple priority rule is developed to utilise the usage of the asymmetric 2 x 2 optical node. Although, logical topologies are ideal for optical (or any other) networks because of their relatively simple routing algorithms, there is a requirement for much more flexible algorithms that can be applied to arbitrary network topologies. Antnet is a software agent based routing algorithm that is influenced by the unsophisticated and individual ant's emergent behaviour. In this work a modified antnet algorithm for packet switched networks has been proposed that offers improvement in the packet throughput and the average delay time. Link usage information known as "evaporation" has also been introduced as an additional feedback signal to the algorithm to prevent stagnation within the network for the first time in the literature for the best our knowledge. Results show that, with "evaporation" the average delay experienced by the data packets is reduced nearly 30% compared to the original antnet routing algorithm for all cases when non-uniform traffic model is employed. The multiple ant colonies concept is also introduced and applied to packet switched networks for the first time which has increased the packet throughput. However, no improvement in the average packet delay is observed in this case. Furthermore, for the first time extensive analysis on the effect of a confidence parameter is produced here. A novel scheme which provides a more realistic implementation of the algorithms and flexibility to the programmer for simulating communication networks is proposed and used to implement these algorithms.

The gut bacterial community plays a vital role in human health with a diverse and complex composition, sculpted by complex host – microbe interactions. Neonates born prematurely are vulnerable to various infections due to their weak immune system and the immaturity of the gut. The most significant diseases are necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis. With the advent of molecular techniques the development of the microbial community were better characterised. Leading to better understanding of the microbial contribution to preterm diseases and how clinical and dietary interventions can be tailored to reduce their incidence. The aim was to study the impacts of clinical and dietary interventions on the community structure and function of the preterm gut microbiota by using high throughput molecular techniques. The microbial communities derived from clinical samples that are implicated in gastrointestinal disease were explored. By utilising ecological theory, high-throughput sequencing, metabolomic profiling, and statistical modelling to identify how the assembly, phylogenetic diversity, and overall function of these communities impact on disease state. The comparison of archeal and fungal diversity between preterm infants diagnosed with NEC and/or sepsis, compared to healthy controls, showed no significant differences in the community profiles between health and disease. To study if microbial load was associated with NEC, independent of community profiles, total bacterial load was quanitified temporally in NEC infants and matched. The results showed no significant differences in the bacterial load between NEC samples before or at diagnosis, compared to healthy controls, with the only difference occurring following diagnosis, with NEC samples showing significant reduced bacterial load. To better understand clinical intervention in shaping the developing microbial community and the resulting contribution to NEC and sepsis disease mechanisms, the commonly administered antibiotics and probiotic supplementation were investigated. The result of the findings confirm existing publications, showing probiotic species administered to preterm infants significantly reduce the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria associated with NEC and LOS. In the first study of its kind, the study followed the same neonates longitudinally through probiotic administration, including post discharge several months after cessation. Crucially, this novel analysis revealed that supplemented bifidobacteria was able to colonise the gut long-term, but supplemented Lactobacilli did not. As well as changes in the bacterial profiles, further metabolomic profiling of functional small molecules confirmed that probiotic supplementation caused functional changes in the preterm gut microbiota. Antibiotic administration represents the most important element of current clinical practise that causes profound shifts in the gut microbiota. To further explore the routinely used antibiotics in neonatal intensive care units and to what extent this intervention alters the preterm gut microbiome, the infants were followed temporally through different antibiotic courses. This revealed that antibiotics differentially affected the preterm gut microbiome, with no single combination found to cause consistent changes between individuals. At a time when antibiotic use is under scrutiny, the outcomes show that much greater understanding of the short and long-term effects on the developing microbiome is necessary. This thesis has combined a range of molecular methods to explore the microbial community in the developing preterm gut microbiota, including bacteria, fungi, and archaea, finding no association in pathogenesis of NEC. Metabolite profiling was also performed, determining how changes in the gut microbiota cause functional changes in the gut. Combining the data from these powerful analyses revealed probiotics help to modulate a healthy gut microbiome, but antibiotics may disturb the developing bacterial community. Ultimately, better understanding of the consequences of clinical intervention will lead to more refined and personalised care.

The construction industry suffers from a time predictability problem. To address this, previous research has investigated various improvement strategies, including the exploitation of innovations. An innovation is some ‘thing’, unfamiliar to an entity, which can facilitate product, process or systemic improvements. Innovation diffusion theory (IDT) is the body of work concerned with explaining how some innovations successfully ‘stick’, whilst others fail to propagate. These phenomena occur across society, but construction is particularly perceived to suffer from a low ‘innovation rate’. 4D BIM is an innovation with potential to provide construction planning improvements that can address the time predictability problem, but there are concerns around its prospective industry absorption. This research investigates the applicability of classic IDT to the adoption of 4D BIM by the UK construction industry. A mixed-method study was undertaken, informed by a pragmatist philosophy. It combines an initial exploratory stage that uses case study and questionnaire survey research, with a subsequent explanatory stage concurrently employing a second questionnaire survey with semi-structured interviews. Classified as a modular technical process-based innovation, use of 4D BIM is found to advance construction planning. It increases feedback opportunities, planning efforts, and the quality and validity of the plans produced, whilst also having potential for improving project time performance. It is established that 4D BIM usage is principally limited to work-winning, methods planning, and the visualisation of construction processes, alleviating problems of communication and understanding. The importance of existing diffusion concepts of compatibility and trialability, are reinforced, and several new contributions are made. These include: how organisations using BIM risk employing hybrid project information delivery processes, resulting in duplication of effort and inefficiency; how personal use of 4D BIM is linked to organisational characteristics; and what the usual time lag between first awareness and adoption is. Furthermore, an existing innovation-decision process model is built upon, with additional stages, decisionaction points and outcomes added. This new model can assist in the future adoption/rejection decisions of such modular technical process-based innovations.

Pain is multidimensional and self-management is advocated to manage the biopsychosocial impact of this on individuals’ lives. Thus, these individuals’ perspectives regarding self-management have been explored. This study aimed to firstly explore how self-management was understood in the context of low back pain through the experiences of people living with low back pain and physiotherapists’. This then led to informing the development of an education programme for physiotherapists to support self-management. The study used a mixed method approach, which involved three phases being carried out over a period of time with each informing the subsequent phase. Phase 1, a qualitative synthesis examined primary qualitative research focusing on people living with low back pain and physiotherapist experiences of self-management of low back pain. The synthesis informed phase 2, two qualitative studies addressing areas of paucity found within the literature. The final phase, a feasibility study involved the development of an education programme for physiotherapists who completed pre and post outcome measures. Focus groups were also used in evaluating the intervention. The qualitative synthesis revealed a limited amount of literature regarding physiotherapists’ views and experiences of self-management of low back pain. A large proportion of studies that related to physiotherapy focusing on people living with low back pain experiences of self-management concentrated on strategies, in particular exercise with limited relation of this to daily life. The primary qualitative studies highlighted some difficulties physiotherapists faced when supporting the management of the biopsychosocial impact of LBP. Further, at times self-management could be used as a last resort. In relation to this, half of the people interviewed living with low back pain found this to be restricting their daily activities and were fearful and concerned regarding worsening pain in the future. These findings suggested people were not managing the biopsychosocial impact of low back pain and physiotherapists at times viewed influences on the pain experience as separate rather than integrated. Pain neurophysiology education linked to clinical practice was used to demonstrate the integrated nature of the pain experience, be relevant to physiotherapists and ultimately facilitate biopsychosocial self-management through enhancing understanding of the multidimensional nature of pain. Collectively, this thesis has developed understanding of self-management from the physiotherapist perspective, illuminating the support required for physiotherapists and revealed physiotherapists value pain neurophysiology education linked to practice however further support is required to implement this in clinical practice.

Assumptions are our taken for granted interpretation of the world. They are identified as important in reasoning, sense making, behaviour and action. Anecdotal evidence from users of neurological rehabilitation services suggest that assumptions influence how they are perceived and related to, impacting on their experiences of inclusion. This study investigates the assumptions held by service users and staff about neurological rehabilitation, examines their influence on inclusion and explores the conditions influencing change in assumptions. This doctoral study drew largely on data generated as part of a funded research project, which investigated perceptions of inclusion and inclusive practice in neurological rehabilitation. Both the funded research project and this study adopted a participatory action research approach, using photography, mapping, diaries, interviews and focus groups to generate data. Additional data was generated for this doctoral study through a workshop and reflective questionnaire which focussed specifically on assumptions. Data analysis and sense making used framework analysis and a thematic approach. Research participants and critical friends contributed to validation of findings. The findings identified that assumptions do form the basis for interactions and practices that influence whether neurological rehabilitation is inclusive and/or effective. Addressing assumptions requires that specific attention and scrutiny are given to situations where taken for granted thought has been disrupted, therefore, creating opportunities for critical dialogue and new understanding to be developed. Importantly, when service users and staff work collaboratively to ask the question “how do we do this together” assumptions of role, knowledge and expertise can be challenged and inclusion facilitated. The study recognises that addressing assumptions in practice requires a change in the way of working in neurological rehabilitation. A re-framing of practice is called for and a critical relational ontology proposed to replace the currently advocated person centred approach, with the acknowledgement that this is likely to radically challenge current principles and practices in neurological rehabilitation.

This thesis aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) into the use of Korean Hand Acupuncture (KHA) for pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP). Despite PPGP developing in approximately 20% of all pregnant women, there are currently very few studies that have investigated interventional strategies, with a dearth of UK based studies. Of extant interventions investigated to date, acupuncture has shown some promising findings, although the effects of KHA on PPGP remain unclear. In line with the MRC framework for complex interventions, any potential treatment should be subjected to feasibility testing prior to a definitive RCT. This three phase feasibility study followed a mixed methods paradigm. Phase 1 was a comparative study of 20 non pregnant women, measuring the belief that there had been a needle inserted into the skin, between a penetrating KHA (pKHA) group and a non-penetrating KHA (npKHA) group. Between group analysis found that at initial assessment (p=0.07) and one week post intervention (p=0.643), believability was similar. Qualitative comments were analysed through content analysis, and provided insight into what factors influenced their belief score, such as ‘acupuncture noises’. The study findings helped to develop the intervention protocol in Phase 3. This study was the first to investigate the believability of a non penetrating form of KHA. Phase 2 recruited eight PPGP sufferers and adopted a qualitative approach, using semistructured interviews to gain an understanding of how PPGP affected them. Data was subjected to thematic analysis and produced four themes: The reality of PPGP; Support mechanisms most important in PPGP; Vulnerability and; Knowledge is power. Findings indicated PPGP is a problem that is biopsychosocial, and one which is represented via the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ). It demonstrated that information provision was considered as important to the participants within this study as it is to sufferers outside of the UK, and that they valued health care professional advice and support. This is the first UK based study to investigate women’s experience of PPGP, the first piece of qualitative work with the lead author and interviewer being male, the first to provide a level of validity to PGQ use within the UK and the first to adopt a pragmatic philosophy. Phase 3 was a mixed methods feasibility study, assessing the acceptability and practicality of conducting a definitive RCT on KHA for PPGP. A two armed study consisting of six sessions in either a standard physiotherapy plus pKHA or a standard physiotherapy plus npKHA group. The study recruited 59 women, 40 of whom completed all six sessions. Acceptability and practicality was confirmed through content analysis of the qualitative data produced by the participants, in particular those in the pKHA group who stated they would seek out the treatment again. Further acceptability was noted as all adverse events experienced were minor and transient, and that the retention of women to the study was greater than normally expected from the study population. In addition, trends noted in NRS at present (p=0.002) and PGQ (p=0.041) at the final data point indicated that pKHA may have additional benefits over npKHA for PPGP. The original contributions from Phase 3 are that it is the first study to be conducted using KHA for a pregnancy related condition in the English language and the first study to adopt a mixed methods approach within the UK for an acupuncture study within pregnancy. Finally, it is the first study written in English that has compared pKHA to npKHA for any condition.