Now showing items 1-20 of 7489

    • Tertiary Education

      Lambert, Steve; University of Chester (Springer, 2020-01-01)
      Entry on Tertiary Education
    • Integrating human and wildlife dynamics in co‐occurrence modelling

      Rolle, Francesca; Boiani, Maria V.; Fardone, Luca; Gaydou, Francesca; Macario, M.; Parentela, Filippo; Ruco, Valentina; Sigaudo, D.; Marucco, Francesca; University of Torino; University of Chester; Ente di Gestione delle Aree Protette delle Alpi Marittime (Wiley, 2025-02-17)
      In shared environments, where different species interact depending on overlapping resources, complex interspecific interactions emerge, with human activities impacting these dynamics and influencing wildlife abundance and distribution. In the Alps, the presence of multiple species of ungulates, such as roe deer and red deer, and a predator, the wolf, creates a web of spatial and behavioral interactions in an area where farming, hunting and tourism have persisted over time, with tourism recently experiencing a substantial growth. Accounting for these multiple interactions, we modelled the co‐occurrence probabilities of roe deer, red deer and wolves in an area of the Maritime Alps using data derived from 60 camera traps. We applied multi‐species occupancy models to investigate (i) the role of species co‐occurrences in explaining the occupancy of model species across the landscape, (ii) the role of human presence and activities on species occupancy and (iii) the potential effect of the hunting season on the species detection probabilities. Among the identified species, roe deer reported the highest frequency of recorded events and were the most widespread species. We provided important evidence of interspecific dependence, revealing that pairwise interactions among species had a greater impact than only considering individual environmental effects. We documented that the setting of cameras on trails increased the likelihood of detecting wolves but decreased the likelihood of detecting ungulates. Most importantly, the hunting season significantly reduced the likelihood of capturing roe deer, while having no effect on either red deer or wolves. Our results confirmed the relevance of including prey, predators, and human dynamics as a whole. Since the sharing of habitat makes human activities significantly important in defining predator–prey mechanisms, our insights are particularly relevant for defining solutions to optimize human‐wildlife coexistence, especially in a highly anthropogenic system such as Europe.
    • Evaluation of ADAPTS-Powys (Shared Prosperity Funding)

      Arya-Manesh, Emma; Sampson-Chappell, Lynn; Claro Morais, Neuza; University of Chester (Powys County Council, 2025-02-07)
      The Accelerating Decarbonisation and Productivity through Training and Skills (ADAPTS) programme, funded by Powys County Council's UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation, aimed to support up to 16 businesses across various sectors in Powys. The initiative provided access to knowledge transfer, training, upskilling, and advanced manufacturing technology to enhance digital and decarbonisation competencies. Participating companies benefited from assessments and reviews conducted by engineers from AMRC Cymru, focusing on automation, manufacturing intelligence, and design. The programme sought to decarbonise operations, boost productivity, foster innovation, and elevate employee skill levels.
    • A new age of leadership in academia: Need for change and innovation during COVID-19

      Khan, Mukaram A.; Ghafoor, Muhammad M.; Mukaram, Aamna T.; Zubair, Syed S.; Bokhari, Syeda Z.; University of the Punjab; The Islamia University of Bahawalpur Pakistan Ringgold Standard Institution; University of Chester (SAGE Publications, 2025-02-14)
      The aim of this study is to explore the role of academic leadership and adaptive leadership on organizational readiness for change. During times of pandemic, adaptive leadership has emerged as a vital leadership discipline along with academic leadership due to uncertainty and sensitivity of situation. In addition, demand of innovative behavior has also increased over the years particularly during Covid-19. The study has been carried out in Higher Education Institutions of Pakistan where the data was collected from deans, directors and head of departments in two phases. Quantitative research strategy was opted for the study. Survey research design was followed to respond objectives of the study. The purpose behind the selection of senior academicians is to draw empirical results from the perspective of all the heads of their relevant departments. The data was collected from seven public sector universities across Pakistan. About 251 responses were found valid. Covariance based SEM was used to analyze the data. Analysis reveals a positive and direct relationship between academic and adaptive leadership and organizational readiness for change and similar results were found by placing innovative behavior as a mediator leading to the acceptance of all developed hypotheses. This study is unique in nature and has implications for leaders in academia in terms of unleashing the potential toward uncertain situation in higher education institutions. Study’s major limitation include less representation of the Pakistan as whole country as it included Punjab province only for data collection.
    • Too Good To Hide: Tony Hayes

      Clarke, Stephen; University of Chester (Double Negative, 2024-08-16)
      The article ‘Too Good To Hide: Tony Hayes’ was written in relation to the exhibition of the same name at the Rainbow Tea Rooms in Chester (July - October 2024). The exhibition was curated by Stephen Clarke, and was the fourth curatorial project for Clarke at the café’s exhibition space in Chester city centre. Tony Hayes is a photographer based in Widnes who has undertaken an AA2A (Artist Access to Art Colleges) residency at the University of Chester. In the article Clarke considers how the camera operates as a series of lenses and mirrors to view a subject. Clarke refers to the catalogue essay by John Szarkowski for the exhibition ‘Mirrors and Windows: American Photography since 1960’ at the Museum of Modern Art New York in 1978. Szarkowski describes how a photographer uses a camera either as an objective ‘window’ to view the world or a subjective ‘mirror’ that reflects the photographer’s own sensibility. Clarke applies this discussion to the work of Tony Hayes who has made a series of photographs looking into shop windows that record both the view through the glass pane and the reflection of the photographer. Stephen Clarke and Tony Hayes were interviewed by Sean Styles on BBC Merseyside in Liverpool at 1.30pm on Sunday 6th October 2024.
    • Stephen Clarke: Stars, Stripes and Steam

      Clarke, Stephen; University of Chester (Oriel Colwyn, 2024-09-20)
      The photographs of New York city in this exhibition were taken by Stephen Clarke during two visits to New York in the mid-1990s. Paul Sampson, curator at Oriel Colwyn, organised the exhibition to coincide with the 2024 Presidential Election in the United States of America. The closing night of the exhibition was the final polling day for presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The starting point for this exhibition was a number of photographs of the US Flag – the Stars and Stripes – along with images of steam rising from the underground heating systems in New York city centre which gave the show its title – Stars, Stripes and Steam. This is a humorous comment on the nature of political discourse that mixes patriotism and heated debates. Stephen Clarke (photographer) and the Paul Sampson (curator) wanted the audience to reflect on the historical perspective of New York city while considering the future of the new presidency and the USA. This was Stephen Clarke’s second solo exhibition at Oriel Colwyn; his first was ‘Shifting Sands’ (22/12/12 – 15/03/13). Some of the photographs in Stars, Stripes and Steam were previously published by the independent photobook publisher Out Of Place Books (2020) in the photobook ‘NYC-19XX’ by Stephen Clarke.
    • Blackpool 1980s – 1990s

      Clarke, Stephen; University of Chester (Café Royal Books, 2023-02)
      Blackpool 1980s - 1990s was published by Café Royal Books in an edition of 250 in February 2023. It was edited by Craig Atkinson, founder of Café Royal Books. Clarke photographed Blackpool seafront and Pleasure Beach fairground throughout the 1980s and 1990s. This extensive collection of images is part of his larger archive of photographs of the British seaside. The CRB photobook includes a number of key leisure features of Blackpool Pleasure Beach including the roller coaster rides ‘The Grand National’ and The Big One’. Also pictured in this CRB publication is the now defunct monorail that was a ride at the Pleasure Beach.
    • Building Decompanion: A step towards standardisation and the enhancement of inter- and trans-disciplinary research in forensic taphonomy

      Tynan, Verity Paige (University of ChesterWrexham University, 2025-01)
      This thesis introduces Decompanion, an innovative online platform designed to standardise and enhance inter- and trans-disciplinary research within the field of forensic taphonomy. Forensic taphonomy, a subfield of forensic science, focuses on understanding postmortem processes to aid legal investigations. Despite its importance, the field faces significant challenges, including a lack of standardised methodologies and terminologies, limited interdisciplinary collaboration, and insufficient data sharing. This research addresses these challenges by developing a tool that standardises forensic taphonomy practices, integrates emerging technologies, and fosters global collaboration. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining empirical research with analytical techniques to assess the need for and impact of Decompanion. Key findings demonstrate the tool's potential to significantly improve the consistency and reliability of forensic taphonomy data by standardising methodologies and terminologies across the field. Additionally, the integration of advanced technologies such as 3D scanning and Forward Looking Infrared imaging within Decompanion has the potential to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of data collection and analysis, offering new insights into decomposition processes. A contribution of this thesis is the focus on decomposition in a humid temperate climate, specifically within the context of the United Kingdom. The research documents and analyses decomposition using pig carcasses as human analogues, capturing high-resolution data through advanced imaging technologies. This regional focus fills a critical gap in the literature, providing essential baseline data for forensic investigations in similar climatic regions. Moreover, the thesis underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing forensic taphonomy. Decompanion facilitates the sharing of research designs, protocols, and data, promoting a more cohesive and integrated approach to forensic investigations. The platform's user base, which reached six of the seven continents within just four weeks of its launch, demonstrates its global relevance and the widespread need for such a tool. Despite its significant contributions, the study acknowledges certain limitations, including the geographical specificity of the research and the challenges associated with using pig carcasses as human analogues. Future work is recommended to expand on the study by comparing different climates, incorporating human cadavers, and integrating more advanced technological tools such as machine learning algorithms. This thesis fills critical gaps in forensic taphonomy, offering practical solutions to longstanding challenges in the field. Decompanion not only sets a new standard for data standardisation and interdisciplinary collaboration but also serves as a valuable resource for forensic researchers and practitioners worldwide. The research has far-reaching implications for both the academic community and policy within forensic investigations.
    • Supply of energy and selected nutrients in meals consumed by Moroccan students at home and on a university campus

      Elarbaoui, Maria; Jafri, Ali; Makhlouki, Houria; Ellahi, Basma; Derouiche, Abdelfettah; Hassan II University of Casablanca; Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences; University of Chester (National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute, 2022-09-27)
      BACKGROUND: Student life is often accompanied by changes in eating behavior. Adopting a balanced and varied diet and healthy eating habits can promote the health, growth and intellectual development of young people at different stages of life. According to the WHO, a healthy diet helps protect against all forms of malnutrition, as well as against noncommunicable diseases. The nutritional and energy intake must follow nutritional norms, for example energy intake must be adapted to expenditure. To avoid excessive weight gain, fat should not exceed 30% of total energy intake OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare energy consumption, macronutrients and selected minerals in food rations consumed by students at university campus and at home. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The subjects were chosen at random from among volunteer students from Hassan II University in Casablanca. A sample of 130 students (54 women and 76 men) aged 18 to 25, participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements were performed to assess general characteristics, and records of one-day food intakes at university and at the parental home were performed by 24-hour food diary, and as well as conducting face-to-face. Variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to check the normality of data. RESULTS: In accordance with the body mass index classifications, 69.5% of male university students and 77.7% of female were in normal weight categories. The overweight classes were 25.1% and 5.6%, respectively, for men and women. Assessment of the energy and nutritional intakes of university and home meals shows that students consume more calories, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, and iodine at home than at university, but these contributions remain insufficient in relation to the RDAs. Students consume more fat, especially saturated fatty acids, at university than at home. More than half of students exceed the recommended daily recommendations for saturated fatty acids. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that a university students’ diet is influenced by their behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge. Hence the importance of nutrition education, based on what foods to consume rather than what foods to avoid, a societal issue that requires a multidisciplinary, multisectoral and culturally appropriate approach.
    • Isolation and characterisation of acid soluble collagens and pepsin soluble collagens from Eel (Anguilla japonica Temminck et Schlegel) skin and bone

      Zhang, Ningning; Guo, Shaoli; Zheng, Yuting; Li, Weili; University of Chester; Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (MDPI, 2025-02-05)
      Eel (Anguilla japonica) is an important and valuable food fish in East Asia and its by-products have been reported to include bioactive and profitable components. This study aimed to extract, characterise, and compare the structure and properties of acid-soluble collagens (ASCs) and pepsin-soluble collagens (PSCs) from the skin and bone of eel (Anguilla japonica), providing insights into their composition, structure, and properties for various applications. The yields of ASC-S (from skin), PSC-S (from skin), ASC-B (from bone), and PSC-B (from bone) were 12.16%, 15.54%, 0.79%, and 1.34% on a dry weight basis, respectively. Glycine, the dominant amino acid, accounted for 16.66% to 22.67% of total amino acids in all samples. SDS-PAGE and FTIR analyses showed the typical triple-helical structure of type I collagen with slight variations in molecular order in extract and intermolecular cross-linking between skin and bone collagens. The denaturation temperature (Tmax1) measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is 81.39 °C and 74.34 °C, respectively, for ASC-B and ASC-S. Bone collagen has higher thermal resistance than skin collagen. Surface morphology imaged using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the bone collagen had a denser network structure, whilst the skin collagen was more fibrous and porous. The findings suggest that eel-derived collagens from skin and bone can serve as potential alternatives in the food, cosmetic, and healthcare industries.
    • FTO rs17817449 variant increases the risk of severe obesity in a Brazilian cohort: A case-control study

      Salum, Kaio C. R.; da Silva Assis, Izadora Sthephanie; de Almeida Kopke, Úrsula; Palhinha, Lohanna; de Medeiros Abreu, Gabriella; Gouvêa, Laura W.; Teixeira, Myrela R.; Mattos, Fernanda C. C.; Nogueira Neto, José F.; de Freitas Martins Felício, Rafaela; et al. (Dove PressTaylor & Francis, 2025-01-31)
      PURPOSE: Obesity is a complex disease caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors, and is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases. The leptin-melanocortin pathway integrates peripheral signals about the body's energy stores with a central neuronal circuit in the hypothalamus. This pathway has been extensively studied over the years, as genetic variations in genes related to it may play a crucial role in determining an individual's susceptibility to obesity. Therefore, we analyzed the association between obesity and specific polymorphisms in leptin-melanocortin-related genes such as LEPR rs1137101, POMC rs1042571, LEP rs7799039, BDNF rs6265, FTO rs17817449, CART rs121909065, and NPY rs16147/rs5574. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 501 participants from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with obesity class II or greater (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) and normal weight controls (18.5≤ BMI ≤24.9 kg/m2). We collected demographic, body composition, biochemical, and genotyping data by real-time PCR, and performed logistic and linear regression analyses to investigate the association of polymorphisms with severe obesity status and obesity-related quantitative parameters. RESULTS: Individuals with severe obesity had significantly higher anthropometric measures, blood pressure, and biochemical levels. The FTO rs17817449 TT genotype was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing severe obesity, and distinct cytokine expression was observed across the FTO rs17817449 genotypes. The BDNF rs6265 dominant-model and NPY rs16147 CC genotypes were associated with triglyceride levels and childhood obesity, respectively. Finally, individuals with obesity were more likely to carry a greater number of risk alleles than those without obesity. CONCLUSION: Our study observed an important association between FTO rs17817449 polymorphism with obesity and obesity-related traits. Additionally, BDNF rs6265 dominant-model was associated with triglyceride serum levels, and NPY rs16147 may have a role in obesity onset.
    • Assessing risk factors for drug storage practices in veterinary surgeries: A questionnaire study of UK veterinary professionals.

      Perry, Jordan; Gouveia, Kelly; orcid: 0000-0001-7052-8933 (2025-01-31)
      BackgroundSafe drug storage practices are essential in veterinary practice to maintain optimal standards of animal care. Practical challenges in clinic may impact their uptake, which could affect drug efficacy and the success of treatment. The UK is presumed to provide high standards for animal care and welfare in the veterinary profession and may provide an interesting case study to assess veterinary drug storage practices.MethodsAn online survey with 184 practice participants assessed UK veterinary professionals' responses on drug storage practices. This included socio-demographic information and questions or statements that examined storage practices compliant with the requirements established by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the regulatory body for veterinary practice in the UK.ResultsOverall, practices followed RCVS-recommended measures, though there was clear selectivity for stock temperature checks (72.2%), over other measures, particularly, replacing stock (54.4%) and returning medications to refrigerated storage (52.5%). Clinical experience and practice type impacted most on drug storage practices, with more experienced clinicians and small animal practices showing greater uptake of best measures.ConclusionsWe suggest that practices should adopt all of the RCVS measures in relation to veterinary drug storage practices. Socio-demographic factors should be considered because they can act as risk factors influencing best practice in clinics. Our findings may have wider implications for the veterinary profession in general, given similar demographic trends in veterinary practice in many European countries.
    • Anti-inflammatory effects of Phyllanthus amarus extracts against Benzene-induced Leukemia in rats

      Anyiam, Arinze F.; Muhibi, Musa A.; Iyare, Godfrey I.; Omosigho, Pius O.; Olaniyan, Matthew F.; Obi, Ejeatuluchukwu; Arinze-Anyiam, Onyinye C.; Emmanuel, Fagbile O.; Rachel, Oyinloye O.; Obeagu, Emmanuel I.; et al. (Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, 2024-12-31)
      BACKGROUND: The present study examined the protective effects of extracts from Phyllanthus amarus on benzene-induced leukemia in Wistar rats. Benzene is a carcinogen linked to increased leukemia risk. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to assess the impact of P. amarus extracts, prepared via different drying methods, on immunological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters. METHODS: Aqueous, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts were prepared from P. amarus using room drying, oven drying, and sun drying. The rats were treated with benzene and the extracts. For the immunological parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-8 (IL-8), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and IL-10 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For biochemical parameters, microalbumin, urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were assessed using spectrophotometry. At the same time, for histopathological examination, liver and bone marrow tissues were stained using hematoxylin and eosin and analyzed for morphological changes. RESULTS: Research findings showed no significant difference in CRP among the groups (P=0.197), indicating no significant inflammation or tissue damage. TGF-β levels were significantly lower in treatment groups compared to the positive control group (P=0.015), suggesting anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive effects. No significant differences were found in IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-10 levels. The aqueous extract prepared by room drying significantly decreased microalbumin levels (P=0.016), representing potential protective effects on kidney function. The methanolic extract prepared by sun drying significantly reduced creatinine (P=0.032) and ALT (P=0.048) levels, implying beneficial effects on liver function. Histopathological examinations revealed that the extracts modulated bone marrow and liver morphologies, reducing inflammation while improving cellularity and morphology. CONCLUSION: P. amarus extracts demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory effects in benzene-induced leukemia by significantly reducing TGF-β levels without inducing inflammation, as evidenced by stable CRP, IL-8, and TNF-α levels. These findings suggest that the extracts may help mitigate inflammation associated with benzene exposure, highlighting their potential as adjunctive therapies in leukemia treatment. More studies are needed to understand these protective processes completely and investigate their clinical uses.
    • Creative Health a joke or valuable learning experience; A mixed methods study

      Ridgway, Victoria; Skyrme, Sarah; Henshaw, Russell; Blain, Janet; Devine, Jenny; Mitchell, Debbie; Duffett, Mark; Bailey-McHale, Rebecca; University of Chester (Elsevier, 2025-02-10)
      BACKGROUND: Creative Health has been recognised to be beneficial for wellbeing and population health. Recommendations have been made that health care students and professionals should receive education and practical experience of the arts. This paper reports on a pilot creative health placement for undergraduate nurses at a UK University. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a Creative Health placement, investigating the placements impact on student's knowledge and understanding of arts-based activities, including social prescribing. To reflect on the overall value of Creative Health placements for nursing students and to make recommendations for future Creative Health placements. DESIGN: A mixed methods approach was adopted using the principles of ethnography to evaluate the experiences of the students, artists, service users and practice assessors/supervisors. SETTING: Data was collected from one University Centre that facilitated the Creative Health placement. PARTICIPANTS: 60 Bachelor of Nursing Students, 4 practice assessors/supervisors and 6 Creative Health artists and 89 service users participated. METHODS: Ethnographic data, including artefacts, photographs, diaries, qualitative reflections were collected alongside a quantitative evaluation survey that students completed. Service user feedback forms were used to collect user experiences and two focus groups for the artist and practice assessor were employed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The placement provided the students insights and understanding about creative health and social prescribing, however there were challenges regarding conceptualising creative health as part of their nursing practice. Students talked about the impact the placement had on their own wellbeing. 81.8 % agreed working with the artists provided insight into Creative Health practice and 86.4 % indicated the placement enabled them to understand the impact of Creative Health on wellbeing. Creative Health artists and the practice assessors/supervisors wanted greater collaboration to support learning and assessment. Service users provided positive feedback about their experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the placement was a success and there were valuable lessons learnt for future placement plans. We concluded that creative health placements should be an essential part of the nursing programme.
    • LinkedIn as a research participant recruitment tool: reflections from the football industry

      Griffiths, Jacob; Bloyce, Daniel; Law, Graeme; University Campus of Football Business Ltd, Manchester; University of Chester; York St John University (Emerald, 2025-02-04)
      PURPOSE: The article explores the process of using LinkedIn to recruit hard-to-reach groups, reflecting on our experience of the football industry. We propose LinkedIn as a viable option to mitigate recruitment challenges, particularly in employment-focussed research. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: We examine how LinkedIn was used to recruit 43 football backroom staff for a sociological research study. It outlines the process of using LinkedIn to contact participants, the ethical considerations made throughout the research process and reflects on why LinkedIn was effective for a primarily employment-focussed study. FINDINGS: We discuss the importance of insider knowledge for identifying LinkedIn as a potentially fruitful recruitment tool and how the functionality of the platform can be beneficial for a targeted recruitment method. We also explore the ethical and practical considerations of using social media for recruitment. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Previous research discusses social media as if they are indistinguishable and interchangeable with one another and we argue that this neglects the importance of a platform’s functionality. We discuss how the decision to use a particular social media platform to recruit should be grounded in the researcher’s familiarity with the site, the functionality the platform offers and the sample recruited. This article explicitly explores the considerations taken when using LinkedIn to help overcome recruitment challenges.
    • The double-bind of competitive funding: Exploring the consequences of state-funded bidding processes in a locally managed cycling infrastructure project

      White, Chris; Bloyce, Daniel; Thurston, Miranda; University of Chester; Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (TU Delft OPEN Publishing, 2020-10-28)
      In an era of sustained budget cuts, England’s local authorities are increasingly forced to ‘apply’ for infrastructure funding via competitive bidding processes. However, we currently know little about how this method of funding impacts implementation. Accordingly, we consider the consequences of competitive funding by exploring the constraints associated with implementing infrastructure under the state-funded Cycling Demonstration Towns programme. This was achieved via a case study in Chester, a city that was unable to deliver the ambitions of their bid. This study was informed by figurational sociology in order to focus on relational processes. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with personnel involved in the planning and implementation of the project. The key findings were: (1) participants considered the bidding process to be akin to a ‘beauty contest’ where authorities were consciously making fantasy-laden promises in order to ‘impress’ the awards panel; (2) those involved in the bid did not consult key delivery parties, many of whom held car-centric predispositions, until funding was secured, and this led to complications in the delivery process; (3) during project implementation as the chains of interdependency of those involved widened, several unintended outcomes emerged which contributed to the two ‘flagship’ infrastructure proposals being halted; (4) this led to an intervention package that was heavily weighted towards promotional, or ‘soft’, interventions. Theoretical insight from this study suggests that competitive funding is likely to encourage authorities to present bids that are largely detached from the realities of implementing infrastructure, thus leading to difficulties once funding has been awarded.
    • Elasmobranchs and the Inshore Reefs of Southern Mozambique

      Oliver, Simon; Murie, Calum James George (University of Chester, 2024-04)
      The coastal waters off southern Mozambique host a diverse community of elasmobranchs. The complexity of studying sharks and rays in remote locations means that limited research attention focusses on its marine environment. As the region is famed for its coastal reefs and the diversity of its elasmobranch species, a novel opportunity was presented to study elasmobranch species that have become rare in most other regions. This thesis aims to investigate the relationship between elasmobranch species and coastal reef habitat in southern Mozambique. This aim is addressed by investigating the frequency with which elasmobranch species visit reef systems and by comparing this with the environmental and biological conditions on the reefs. A reef camera trap was deployed 60 times on four reefs to record elasmobranch visits and to estimate the relative abundance of each reef’s fish and coral communities. SCUBA-based transects (n = 738) were conducted on 18 reefs in the same region to count elasmobranchs and measure environmental parameters that influence the presence of elasmobranchs on the reefs. Two large Carcharhinus sharks were observed in low numbers during video and SCUBA observations. To monitor their interactions with regional reefs, 18 acoustic tags were fitted to Carcharhinus limbatus and Carcharhinus leucas individuals. The sharks were tracked on 13 omnidirectional acoustic receivers positioned on reefs throughout the Inhambane province of southern Mozambique. The community composition of reef fishes appeared to influence the species of elasmobranch that frequented each survey area. Sharks visited reefs with the most abundant piscivorous fish life, which we determined to be linked to foraging opportunities. Small-bodied stingrays were only observed visiting shallow reefs near intertidal sand flats. Pelagic rays (e.g. Mobula spp.) were most often observed while cleaning on reefs that were proximate to their foraging grounds.Elasmobranch abundance on reefs was found to vary across several spatiotemporal and environmental parameters, resulting in patterns of reef use across various temporal scales. Most elasmobranch species became abundant on reefs during the summer, and tide, water temperature, and moon illumination were found to be strong predictors of their presence and abundance. Closely related species were similar in their responses to the measured environmental and spatiotemporal parameters and these species visited the same reefs with specific biological characteristics. Reducing pressures on the reefs that elasmobranch species rely on, and eliminating the extraction of elasmobranchs around these reefs, could benefit the populations of vulnerable elasmobranchs off the coast of southern Mozambique.
    • Space–time analysis of urban green spaces’ disappearance in Ilorin, Nigeria

      Aduloju, Olalekan T.; Anofi, Abdulfatai O.; Chukwu, Michaelmary T.; Adeniran, Ibrahim A.; Adekunle, Sofiu T.; University of Ilorin; University of Chester; University of Arkansas; Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Technical University, Germany (Taylor & Francis, 2025-01-14)
      In recent years, urban green spaces (UGS) have fought for relevance and dominance with competing urban development agendas, which have often proclaimed moral victory, favoring competing interests over the need for UGS. This study examined the decline of UGS between 1986 and 2020 in Ilorin, Nigeria. The methodology employed survey (population estimates) and remotely sensed satellite data (Landsat imagery). The study estimated the UGS decline, land surface temperature (LST) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for Ilorin from images retrieved from Landsat 5, 7, and 8 thermal infrared sensors using the mono window algorithm and green spaces. Findings revealed the drastic depletion of green spaces, as the combined average reduction effect of riparian and densely vegetated green areas, woodlands, and agricultural sites took place at the rate of 3.37 percent. In comparison, built-up and gray spaces increased by an average of 4.90 percent over the study periods increasing the average LST from 38 °C to over 40 °C. With staunch assurances, Ilorin is on pace to lose 9.51 hectares before 2030. Conclusively, governments and city managers must do enough through environmental investments by revising policies that produce new results that can improve the roles of UGS in ecosystem services provision.
    • Estimating the changes in the built-up area and land use development index of Minna, Nigeria

      Bako, Abdullateef I.; Idowu, Owoeye O.; Aduloju, Olalekan T.; Anofi, Abdulfatai O.; University of Ilorin; Federal University of Technology; University of Chester (Taylor & Francis, 2023-02-09)
      This study estimates the spatial changes in Minna’s built-up areas. For change detection and urban growth analysis, the topographical map of Minna in 1972, the township map for 1979, and the satellite imageries covering 1986, 1996, 2006, and 2015 were all employed. These maps were georeferenced using ArcGIS 10.3 . The study reveals as follows: 1972 (468.3 hectares); 1979 (893.7 hectares); 1986 (4,579.8 hectares); 1996 (5,205.4.5 hectares); 2006 (8,505.1 hectares); and 2015 (19,777.2 hectares). The land consumption rates were estimated as 0.0084, 0.0117, 0.0356, 0.0215, 0.0204, and 0.0273, respectively. We conclude that strategies birthed by systematic planning conclusions must guide cities.
    • Generative Justice in Hindsight: On Knowing, doing, and sharing participatory arts-based research with criminal justice-impacted communities

      Murray, Emma; Arias, Lucia; Buck, Gillian; Ryan, Kemi; Ryan, Natasha; McNeill, Fergus; Corcoran, Mary; Weaver, Beth; Anglia Ruskin University; FACT gallery; University of Chester (Bristol University Press, 2025)
      This chapter re-examines two very different participatory arts-based projects within the justice sector through the lens of Generative Justice (hereafter GJ), an emerging concept-praxis that integrates prefigurative (seed-planting) community practices with criminal justice-impacted individuals to reimagine relationships based on solidarity rather than exclusion (McNeill, 2022; McNeill, Corcoran and Weaver, 2023). GJ constitutes a disruptive social change effort, which, like participatory arts-based projects, involves ‘shifting communities and networks’ working toward localised social transformation (Frödén, 2023: 104). In fact, ‘arts-based interventions have played a key role in enriching and mobilising prefigurative movements all over the world’ (Frödén, 2023: 105). As authors, we have been involved in participatory arts-based research and praxis that aims to challenge and transform power structures by leveraging community-driven creativity. Each of our works were designed to place lived experience of criminal justice systems at the centre of knowledge production, working with imagination to create diverse research communities based on solidarity, hope and systemic change (McNeill, 2022). Despite differences between our two projects, both align with GJ, sharing interests in reciprocity, generativity, active participation, and collective action.