Television in Thailand, as in many nations, can be regarded as an essential form of popular media. Although television plays an important role within and across all levels of society, the relationship between television and Thai cultural identity is a problematic and ambiguous one; it is also a subject of study often neglected or not taken seriously enough in Thailand. This research project, "Popular Television and the Construction of Contemporary Thai Cultural Identity', is an exploration into the relationship between television and the formation of contemporary Thai cultural identity. It draws together media and cultural studies and the study of television in contemporary Thailand. Through interviews with key media practitioners and an analysis of popular television programmes (such as the controversial game show 'The Weakest Link', popular dramas, youth programmes, and broadcasts of national rituals), the research has found that television plays a prominent role in Thai cultural identity formation. One existing line of argument is that Thai cultural identity in the era of globalisation has been inevitably influenced by western homogenisation, as is suggested by the thesis of Cultural Imperialism. Yet on the other hand, globalisation has played a multi-faceted role in creating the sense of Nationalism which has led to the strengthening of Thai traditional identity, evidence of which can be seen in the Thai government's use of television to support Thai tradition and values. In this way, television has played a unifying role in the formation of Thai cultural identity. Moreover, globalisation, as a new global-local articulation, has also created a new kind of cultural hybridity which is apparent in the styles, forms, and language usage in certain youth programmes. In addition to the theoretical analyses, focus-group discussions and in-depth interviews have been conducted in order to examine the 'cultural hybridity' of 'mixed-race' youngsters in Thailand, and the roles television has played in the formation of their identity. The research has further found that 'mixed-race' youngsters (`third-culture kids' or TCKs) in Thailand have learnt to 'translate' themselves within the different cultures. And television, in some way, has helped them make sense of, and negotiate between, the different cultures they are living in.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the most common progressive neurological disease in young adults can take a relapsing remitting (RR) course especially in the early stages. There is a gap in knowledge in the application of self-management and self-efficacy with progressive long-term conditions. This research explored the experience of individuals with RRMS with particular focus on their attitudes to self-management and development of self-efficacy. The research addresses the question about engagement with self-management and self-efficacy influencing the journey of people with RRMS and their formal and informal carers. The research draws on the experiences, perspectives and understanding of the social processes and reality through interaction. Using grounded theory for generation of the themes captured from people with RRMS, their partners/carers and professionals involved in their care. The research design around a conceptual framework, used longitudinal studies capturing the experiences of people with RRMS and their partners/carers, through individual interviews and self-efficacy qualitative questionnaires over eight monthly meetings. The research sample of people with RRMS was three male and three female with an average age of 44.5 years, a mean duration with RRMS for 9.6 years. Professionals shared their perceptions and experiences through a focus group and individual interviews. Personal and reflective diaries kept by the researcher of events throughout the study enabled decision and audit trials to contribute to the rigour of the research. The data analysis has generated a number of themes that have been developed and presented throughout the thesis. The research process has generated new theory around the knowledge of and experiences of the three groups of research participants. Fluctuations of living with RRMS across roller coaster journeys, with transitional processes of daily changes and meanings brought threats and challenges. These highlight the importance of self-efficacy and self-control, of coping with uncertainty and unpredictability, through engaging with self-management behaviours. These enhanced perceptions of self- determination, positiveness, independence, quality of life and well-being. The transformation of uncertainty secured hope, opportunities and embracing RRMS through coping mechanisms and self-confidence. Formal and informal support was required where the People with RRMS deemed appropriate. The epistemological perspective has explored power as a multilayered and dynamic concept with different knowledge bases and issues that need addressing prior to successful partnership working. The research is original in terms of the groupings, the areas reviewed for this RRMS group and the potential for ongoing work, policy and practice changes both locally and nationally. Implications for practice, policy and further research were derived from the conclusions. In practice more empowerment, advice and information are required for people with RRMS to live independently. Policies for skills and knowledge training in these areas are required for shared decision-making and partnership working. Further research is required into utilisation of Integrated Care Management of ways of supporting independence, self-control and personalised plans for people with long- term conditions and their informal carers.

The main objective of this research programme was to determine the factors influencing the decolourisation of dyes at low pH by different peroxide species, both in the presence and absence of metal ion catalysts and, therefore, to find a set of optimal conditions for application to wastewater treatment processes. An additional study looked at whether peroxoborates were capable of acting as nucleophiles. The specific aims of the study were: to investigate the in-situ formation of peracetic acid from the equilibrium formed between hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid, and whether this can be achieved without the addition of an acid catalyst such as sulphuric acid; to study the comparative reactivity of in-situ generated peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide towards a range of dyes used in industry; to investigate the catalytic potential of a range of metal ions towards the reaction between peroxides and dyes; to investigate the structural features of dyes that might influence reactivity (decolourisation); and to investigate the reactivities of other peracid-like peroxide species that can be generated from hydrogen peroxide (peroxoborates and peroxocarbonates).The novel aspects arising from this study were: (a) The development of a new method for the in-situ generation of peracetic acid that gives the same equilibrium yield as established methods yet does not require the addition of an acid catalyst;(the reaction was slow, but there was minimal decomposition and so it is ideal for circumstances that allow the preparation of peracetic acid well in advance of use). (b) The first comprehensive study of the bleaching potential of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide towards a wide structural range of dyes both in the presence and absence of metal ions (iron, manganese, silver and copper). (c) The inference that for iron-catalysed bleaching of azo dyes by peracetic acid the catalytic mechanism involves pre-complexation of iron and dye, followed by reaction of the 'activated' complex with peracetic acid rather than a free radical mechanism that might have been expected for such systems. (d) The evidence that, in contradiction to literature studies, peroxoborate species do not act as nucleophiles. As an introduction to this work the reactions of peroxyacids are described in general terms. The experimental work is divided in three parts. In Chapter two, the homogeneous preparation of peracetic acid (PAA) from acetic acid (AA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was investigated with and without the catalysis of sulphuric acid (H2SO4). The formation of PAA and total peroxide content was determined by iodimetric titration. The reaction was slow in the absence of a strong acid catalyst, and was faster with a sulphuric acid catalyst. There was no loss of total peroxide over the timescales of both reactions, whether a catalyst was used or not. The equilibrium constant for peracetic acid formation at temperature of 20 was found to be 2.04 with a catalyst, and 2.10 without catalyst. The rate constant for the hydrolysis of peracetic acid for both forward and reverse reactions increased when the sulphuric acid concentration was increased from 0.02 M to 0.32 M. Linear relationships were found between the observed rate constants and H+ concentrations at 25oC. Moreover, it was found that the preparation of peracetic acid showed a first-order dependence with respect to peroxide concentration. In Chapter three, the application of this preparation of peroxyacids to the degradation of different types of dyesstuffs was investigated. As we know, physical or other chemical methods for dye degradation are expensive and can generate secondary pollution. In this part of the study the reactions of dyes with hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid in the absence and presence different metal ions (Fe3+, Cu2+, Mn2+ and Ag+) were investigated. The iron/peroxyacid system was found to be the most effective. Consequently, Chapter 4 evaluates the decolourization of five azo dyes under conditions of bleaching by peracetic acid in the presence of Fe3+ as a catalyst. The experiment was carried out in aqueous acidic media. Dye oxidation systems are complex because: they involve several different tautomers; there is the possibility of dye aggregation at lower dye concentrations; and the oxidant species involved can be either the undissociated peroxide acting as an electrophile, or the dissociated peroxide acting as a nucleophile. The results obtained for the reaction of azo dyes with peracetic acid without added iron, when converted to the second order rate constant for the electrophilic reaction, k2E gave a value of 4.5x10-6 dm3 mol-1 s-1 for orange II, which is very high. This may be due to trace metal ions still being present and catalysing the reaction, possibly from impurities in the dye itself. No metal ion chelators were used in the present study because the bulk of the study was designed to elucidate the effect of metal ions concentration on reaction rate. For the catalysed reactions a significantly increased rate of absorbance decrease with increasing iron concentration was observed. Saturation of iron was also demonstrated at high iron concentrations, suggesting the formation of an iron (III)-dye complex which then reacted with peracetic acid. The maximum rate of reaction was observed at an iron concentration of 0.012 M, and the results showed a reactivity order of Ponceau 4R > Amaranth > (Orange II & Carmosine) > Black PN; Orange 1 was unreactive under these conditions. Also one of the key objectives of this chapter was to determine the optimum conditions for dye degradation in terms of pH and oxidant and catalyst concentrations. The optimum conditions for maximum degradation occurred at the highest pH of 3.0 and at about 1x10-3 M iron. Evidence of the possible involvement of radicals in our studies comes from the observation of a lag phase followed by a more rapid bleaching phase in the oxidation of azo dyes by peracetic acid at the lowest iron concentrations (another possibility is that at these iron concentrations the reactive iron complex forms at a much slower rate). However, this process is slow by comparison with the rate of oxidation at higher iron concentrations that do not exhibit this lag phase; consequently, if free radical mechanisms are suggested then they are not significant compared to the proposed formation of a reactive iron-dye complex.ixThe work contained in final experimental Chapter aimed to clarify whether or not any of the peroxyborate species displayed nucleophilic characteristics and thus accelerated the rate of the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with p-nitrophenyl acetate. The pH range of 6.0 to 8.0 is critical in terms of the distribution of peroxide species for a hydrogen peroxide / boric acid system. The triganol peroxoboric acid, B(OH)2OOH, is the only significant peroxoborate species below pH 6.5. However, above this pH, increased concentrations of the monoperoxoborate anion, B(OH)3OOH, the peroxodiborate anion, (HO)3BOOB(OH)32-, and the diperoxodiborate anion (HO)2B(OO)2B(OH)22-, are formed, with diperoxoborate, B(OH)2(OOH)2- forming at higher hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Therefore this is the ideal pH range in which to elucidate any effects of borate on the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and PNPA. The observed second order rate constants (k2obs) for the reaction between p-nitrophenyl acetate and hydrogen peroxide, and the corresponding second order rate constants, k2, for the reaction of the perhydroxyl anion with p-nitrophenyl acetate was determined by equation:In borate buffer the k2 values were significantly reduced compared to other buffers; this reduction was consistent with the hydrogen peroxide complexing with borate to form a range of non-reactive (towards carbonyl groups) peroxoborate species, thus also reducing the equilibrium concentration of the perhydroxyl anion. There was no evidence for peroxoborate species that could act as nucleophiles, in contradiction of literature claims. Values of k2 in the case of phosphate buffer compared reasonably well with values in the literature of 3140 and 3520 dm3 mol-1 s-1 obtained at pH 6.8 in ionic strengths of 0.02 dm3 mol-1 and 0.1dm3 mol-1 respectively. In carbonate buffer the literature value is 3785 dm3 mol-1 s-1 at pH 10, ionic strength 0.1 M, in borate buffer.

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Background: The recent advent of non-invasive functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) has helped us understand how visual information is processed in the visual system, and the functional organising principles of high-order visual areas beyond striate cortex. In particular, evidence has been reported for a constellation of high-order visual areas that are highly specialised for the visual processing of different object domains such as faces, bodies, and tools. A number of accounts of the underlying principle of functional specialisation in high-order visual cortex propose that visual properties and object domain drive the category selectivity of these areas. However, recent evidence has challenged such accounts, showing that non-visual object properties and connectivity constraints between specialised brain networks can, in part, account for the visual system’s functional organisation. Methodology: Here I will use fMRI to examine how areas along the visual ventral stream and dorsal action stream process visually presented hands and tools. These categories are visually dissimilar but share similar functions. By using different statistical analyses, such as univariate group and single-subject region of interest (ROI) analyses, multivariate multivoxel pattern analyses, and functional connectivity analyses, I will investigate the topics of category-selectivity and the principles underlying the organisation of high-order visual areas in left occipitotemporal and left parietal cortex. Principle Findings: In the first part of this thesis I report novel evidence that, similar to socially relevant faces and bodies, the human high-order visual areas in left occipitotemporal and left parietal cortex houses areas that are selective for the visual processing of human hands. In the second part of this thesis, I show that the visual representation of hands and tools in these areas show large anatomical overlap and high similarity in the response patterns to these categories. As hands and tools differ in visual appearance and object domain yet share action-related properties, the results demonstrate that these category-selective responses in the visual system reflect responses to non-visual action-related object properties common to hands and tools rather than to purely visual properties or object domain. This proposition is further supported by evidence of selective functional connectivity patterns between hand/tool occipitotemporal and parietal areas. Conclusions/Significance: Overall these results indicate that high-order visual cortex is functionally organised to process both visual properties and non-visual object dimensions (e.g., action-related properties). I propose that this correspondence between hand and tool representations in ventral ‘visual’ and parietal ‘action’ areas is constrained by the necessity to connect visual object information to functionally-specific downstream networks (e.g., frontoparietal action network) to facilitate hand-tool action-related processing.

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The majority of deaths worldwide can now be attributed to so called, diseases of lifestyle, also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These diseases are generally attributed to lifestyle behaviours, such as low fruit and vegetable consumption and lack of physical activity. Whilst historically NCDs have been known as diseases of the rich, current evidence shows that they are most prevalent in individuals with low socio-economic status. This thesis sets out to specifically address this issue by recruiting participants from a low SES population, in order to develop and test a web-based intervention addressing lifestyle behaviours. Initially the research identifies, and explores the barriers experienced by low SES individuals to leading healthy lifestyles, through interview data and further Q-sort analysis. The findings from these studies are used to tailor a health message, making it more pertinent to the target audience; the resulting message is incorporated into a website. The website is developed by understanding what constitutes a credible health related site in the eyes of the target audience. Initially the research identifies, and explores the barriers experienced by low SES individuals to leading healthy lifestyles, through interview data and further Q-sort analysis. The findings from these studies are used to tailor a health message, making it more pertinent to the target audience; the resulting message is incorporated into a website. The website is developed by understanding what constitutes a credible health related site in the eyes of the target audience. Self-affirmation theory (Steele, 1988) posits that reflecting on one’s positive attributes, reduces defensiveness to a potentially threatening health message. A recent study (Epton and Harris, 2008) suggests self-affirmation can lead to an actual change in the behaviour of individuals. This thesis replicates the work of Epton and Harris (2008) in an online environment, by demonstrating self-affirmed participants consumed more fruit and vegetable in the 7 days following exposure to the tailored website. These findings highlight the barriers experienced by low SES parents to adopting healthy lifestyles, and present a novel technique suitable for web-based interventions that has implications for a range of health related behaviours.

Background: There has been little research into the area of future disorientation in adults living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Research conducted in this area tends to focus on women who have been treated for gynaecological cancer and to be cross-sectional. Therefore, little is known about the impact of future disorientation on other groups of people living with and beyond cancer, including men, and little is known about how the experience may change over time. Aims: This thesis aims to develop a conceptual framework illustrating the experience of future disorientation. This was achieved by exploring what the consequence of future disorientation are, what factors cause participants to experience future disorientation and what factors prevent/reduce the impact of future disorientation. Methods: This study utilised an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach (IPA) which informed all aspects of the data collection and analysis process. Eight patients attending follow up clinics in the North East of England were recruited and were interviewed on two occasions six months apart. The interviews were semi-structured and analysed using an IPA approach. Results: The results of this study have shown that future disorientation can be experienced by men and women living with and beyond cancer, that it can persist over time, and have a number of consequences. A number of factors have been identified which may contribute to the experience of future disorientation such as cancer related fears, and anxiety. Furthermore a number of factors emerged which may protect patients from experiencing future disorientation, such as support networks and making lifestyle adjustments. This thesis constitutes an original contribution to knowledge as no work has previously sought to map out the conceptual framework of future disorientation or how it changes over time.

Background: Finding effective ways to care for people with palliative care needs is a national priority. A primary care locality has developed and implemented an Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) for those with life limiting illnesses. It focuses on identifying patients early, regardless of disease type, and uses proactive and patient centred interventions to plan for a good death. Although palliative care pathways present a promising practice framework, the literature does not allow for an assessment of how and when they work best. This thesis aimed to explain which parts of the ICP worked best, for whom and in what circumstances. Design: Realist evaluation was used to guide the analysis of multiple data strands: quantitative data from the GP practices; interviews with palliative care patients and bereaved relatives; bereaved relatives and matched health care professional questionnaires; focus groups with health care professionals; consultation recordings with palliative care patients and their GPs. Results: The results of this study are multifaceted, and focus on the conditions of successful implementation, such as the presence of a champion; palliative care registration decisions for all diagnoses and the importance of leadership and peer support; advance care planning, including the roles of mental capacity and time constraints; communication in consultations and the role of patient and GP traits; and using open multicomponent communication strategies to facilitate home deaths. Discussion: A realist approach has exposed how the ICP implementation has led to positive practice and patient level outcomes. The ICP can be construed as a translational tool, which enables the operationalisation of policy directives on shared decision making, proactivity and patient centeredness in primary care. In the context of palliative care, this study allows important reconceptualisations of shared decision making and advance care planning to be presented.