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Background: Digital technologies for both type 1 diabetes (T1D) self-management and for physical activity are developing at pace. In both fields, for example, technology is moving towards using sensors, artificial intelligence, and algorithms to predict, monitor and track (and in some cases regulate) both movement and glucose variation. This automation offers an opportunity to significantly reduce human burden related to managing physical activity levels and controlling glucose levels safely. However, little is known about the nature of the use of technology to support physical activity (PA) of adolescents living with type 1 diabetes, and the role of parents/caregivers as co-users. Aims: To explore the lived experience of adolescents (and their parent caregivers) when managing both type 1 diabetes and physical activity and to understand better how technology can support these interactions. Methods: The PhD thesis presents three qualitative lived experiences studies with adolescents living with T1D (and their caregivers). The first study presents past experiences explored by asking adults to reflect on childhood physical activity whilst living with type 1 diabetes, using social media digital stories. The second study, focused on current interactions and experiences of physical activity, technology, and type 1 diabetes, using photovoice (photographs and narratives) written by the adolescents and their parents. The third study used online design workshops to explore the future needs and requirements of adolescents (and their caregivers) for how technology can better support physical activity while managing type 1 diabetes. Results: Across three qualitative empirical studies, key themes highlighted unmet needs of technology to support engagement, and participation of physical activity. Study 1 revealed psychosocial factors related to diabetes self-management which can affect physical activity behaviours. Peer support and education was established as an important aspect of intervention design, along with the requirement for person-centred educational content. Study 2 reported similar findings of psychosocial impact and challenges involving reliance and risk, whilst using immature technology, for both adolescents and their parent/caregivers as co-users. The need for more interoperable technology was established in study 2. Study 3 showed the need for interventions to encourage mastery and empowerment, for technology troubleshooting/risk management. Conclusion: Physical activity is a complex area for those who live with type 1 diabetes, and for those who are directly involved in the care of someone living with type 1 diabetes. This PhD highlights long-standing unmet needs regarding psychosocial care and appropriate peer support and education. Usability of technology for physical activity is affected by factors such as human burden in type 1 diabetes. Present technology does not yet meet the needs of adolescents and their parents/caregivers to participate in physical activity without added life risk or concern for health. A re-examination of current physical activity guidelines for adolescents living with type 1 diabetes is necessary and this should include socio-technical solutions to support participation in physical activity with type 1 diabetes. Adolescents and their parents/caregivers as co-users should be involved in the design of these physical activity guidelines to design meaningful, appropriate, and person-centred informed recommendations.

In both the Republic and Statesman, Plato presents cases that the person who should rule the state is the person who has knowledge. In the Republic, philosophers are presented as the best rulers since they will have knowledge of the form of the good and all the characteristics essential for ruling well. In the Statesman, a ruler with a narrower scope of knowledge, the true statesman, is presented whose expertise is specifically focussed on ruling the state. In this thesis, I will investigate how far, and for what reasons, Plato's position on the role of knowledge in ruling the state changes between the Republic and Statesman. This thesis considers each of the two dialogues in a separate but parallel fashion with the first half of the thesis considering the Republic and the second half the Statesman. I will consider alternatives to knowledgeable rule presented in each dialogue, the content of the knowledge of each ruler and how the knowledge is to be used to rule each state designed by Plato. Throughout, I will bear in mind the contexts of the states within which the rulers will rule. I will show Kallipolis to be a state the elements of which need to be perfect for the state as a whole to harmonise. The knowledge, forms and state all have an element of unchangingness to them. The Statesman, on the other hand, presents a constitution that is acknowledged as not being the best yet the state seems to have more flexibility and, indeed, applicability to the individual in the state. In my final chapter, I will compare these elements of each dialogue to show the change in Plato's position. I will cite the contrast of a rigid and seemingly perfect, yet fragile, state in the Republic with the flexible and resilient, yet compromised, state found in the Statesman, and will investigate how the change in Plato's approach to knowledge in regard to the state underlies and explains this contrast.

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in females in the UK. It is a heterogenous disease with subtypes which behave differently. There are targeted treatments available for luminal and HER2+ cancers but treatment resistance and cancer recurrences occur. There are currently no targeted treatments for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). New prognostic tools to stratify risk to guide use of the most aggressive treatments, and new therapeutic targets are desirable. The role of the tumour microenvironment in tumour progression is increasingly recognised. Features of the tumour such as necrosis and budding have been reported to have a prognostic role in cancer and may be influenced by the tumour microenvironment. Cell signalling pathways such as the IL6/JAK/STAT3 pathway provide a link between the tumour microenvironment and tumour cells. Better understanding of these features and pathways may lead to identification of new prognostic and predictive tools and of new therapeutic targets. The work of this thesis is carried out in two cohorts of patients with primary operable breast cancer with mature follow up. Data was available from clinical records for both regarding patient age, tumour pathology, treatment details and survival. Full section slides from surplus tissue were available from both cohorts and a tissue microarray (TMA) had been previously constructed for the largest cohort. The majority of the work in this thesis is carried out using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained full section slides and TMA slides stained using immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques for various proteins. Staining for IL6 expression was carried out using RNA scope. Transcriptomics was carried out using TempOSeq to identify genes associated with tumour budding. The work of this thesis describes a new combined score of tumour necrosis, budding and tumour-stroma percentage (TSP) which has prognostic value in primary operable breast cancer. It identifies a poor prognostic group in oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) disease which could be targeted for more aggressive treatment, and stratifies risk in ER- disease. 9 genes of potential interest for further investigation are identified as being associated with the high budding phenotype in ER- cancers. For the first time in the literature, this work will describe, in luminal A cancers, an association between tumour IL6 and membranous IL6R expression and worse cancer specific survival (CSS), and an association between pSTAT3(Ser727) and improved CSS, indicating potential roles as prognostic markers in this subtype. It will describe the expression and associations with survival of other members of the pathway, informing further research regarding in which subtypes inhibiting targets in the pathway may be of clinical value.

The impact of social media use on young peoples' body image is gaining increased attention both in academia and in the media. Far less consideration has been given to whether young people emulate body image ideals in their online visual self-presentation. This study examined the online self-presentation of a group who may be vulnerable to body image difficulties, young dancers. Forty-seven contemporary dancers and twenty-four ballet dancers took part in the study. Participants' most recent five images on Instagram were screen-captured and content analysed. In addition, participants completed a brief survey comprising measures of Instagram use, self-objectification, body surveillance, eating disorder psychopathology and depression. There were no differences between dance genres in their conformity to idealised body image in their self-presentation. However, the dance groups differed in objectifying behaviour, as contemporary dancers demonstrated more sexually objectified images and ballet dancers posted more images that focussed on a body part instead of their face. In terms of audience reaction to idealised/non-idealised content, there were no differences in positive feedback between image-type and dance genre. However, regression analyses highlighted positive relationships between number of 'likes' and proportion of idealised and objectifying images posted. Finally, no significant relationships were established between features of self-presentation/Instagram use and assessments of self-objectification, body surveillance, eating disorder psychopathology and depression. All dancers also showed low levels of psychopathology across all measures. This study can offer young dancers and dance schools an insight into the visual self-presentation practices of young dancers. Instagram provides them with a constructive venue for identity expression. However, some of this aligns with idealised body shape or objectifying appearance, which should be considered. Results also invite more optimism and fewer negative preconceptions regarding body image in young dancers.

This research project explored how children with additional needs experience interaction with animals. The value of animals in therapy, and related 'green care' approaches in health,is gathering evidence in the literature, however the use of qualitative methods is lacking. Exploring this phenomenon by gathering data directly from the children participating, rather than parents or healthcare providers, offers insight into how these practices can be adapted to suit children, especially those with additional needs. A descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted, and the project used observations to collect data. Colaizzi's seven step process of analysis was used, in keeping with the methodological stance. Twenty-three parents and thirty-one children participated in the study, which comprised four animal encounter experiences. Sessions were audio recorded and later transcribed, with observation notes included to add further context. The participant group was recruited from a local charity offering outdoor activities for children with additional needs. Husserl's descriptive phenomenology was the approach used, which enabled the researcher to delve into the lived experience of the children participating and describe the phenomena in detail, as perceived by the children under study. The findings showed the children were inspired by the animal interaction to ask questions, communicate with each other and the session leader. The animals provided a sensory experience and encouraged bonding with parents. Some children experienced some difficulties with following rules and becoming distracted at times. Excitement about the animals attending was a prominent feature of the day, although some children also presented some anxiety about some of the creatures. Sharing knowledge and previous experiences, and opinions on their favourite animals, highlighted the social element of the interaction. This research provided a useful opportunity to explore what it is about contact with animals that, according to the literature, can offer therapeutic benefits for children with additional needs. Previous research in this area has found improvements in social behaviours, communication and positive social interaction. Some physical improvements have also been found such as improved motor skills. The current study built on these findings; similar improvements were noted in the social domain, with additional findings including shows of empathic behaviour, the importance of a varied sensory experience and how including the family and others to provide a 'shared experience' alters the dynamic for the children participating. Using qualitative methods and exploring the phenomena predominantly from the children's perspective is unique in this area of research and offers a valuable contribution to substantive and methodological knowledge in this field.

This thesis forms a contribution to the historical geography of botanical knowledge. It examines the writings, teaching and public engagement in botany of John Hutton Balfour (1808-1884), Regius Professor of Botany and Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) between 1845 and 1879. The thesis explores the methods and approaches used by Balfour to promote botany. It pays specific attention to his scientific correspondence, publications, teaching and pedagogical practices (including fieldwork) and to his role in promoting the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. The curriculum Balfour constructed covered the major aspects of nineteenth-century botanical knowledge: plant structure, morphology and classification as well as aspects then 'on the fringes' of becoming popular - plant physiology. In order to teach this curriculum, Balfour meticulously shaped scientific, pedagogic and social spaces into places of scientific production and discovery. Study of his published work, classroom, field sites and involvement with the public sphere together form the principal elements of this thesis. These are the central places and productive sites in which his botany was made. Balfour's published work allowed him to develop theoretical aspects in his view of botany. For Balfour, writing was an occupation about which he cared deeply both in terms of its role in knowledge circulation but also from a personal perspective. His publication of texts suitable for several distinct audiences (while financially rewarding,) was also an excellent method of circulating botanical and religious knowledge, two topics he was passionate to promote. The classroom provided the setting for Balfour to teach through practical instruction. He employed sensory stimulating objects in order to encourage students to learn the skill of botanical identification and observation. The 'field', like the classroom, was also a site of practical instruction. Balfour's construction of 'the field' was careful and deliberate. It was based on familiarity of location, experience of working in the field, and an extensive knowledge of the geographical distribution of plants in Scotland. Balfour's engagement with the public was evident in his involvement with the Botanical Society of Edinburgh (BSE), and by lectures delivered to groups with the object of moral improvement through botany. The thesis situates Balfour's work within recent literature on the historical geography of scientific knowledge, with particular attention to the importance of place and the sites of science's making. In this way, Balfour's work is illustrative of wider elements of the situated production, and variable dissemination, of scientific (botanical) knowledge.

This thesis explores physical autocatalysis, or the replication of supramolecular aggregates of surfactants such as micelles. There is a focus on the out-of-equilibrium and non-linear behaviours that can be extracted from a process of physical autocatalysis and which characterise lifelike dynamics and properties. Chapter 2 describes a study of reversibly-formed surfactants which form micelles within a dynamic combinatorial library. Though the system does not demonstrate a process of replication, the study of surfactants containing reversibly-formed bonds is of use towards the design of an out-of-equilibrium replicator. Thus, Chapter 3 describes the development of a physical replicator constructed by thiol-disulfide exchange which can persist, out-of-equilibrium, by the consumption of a chemical fuel, mimicking dissipative biological structures. The second half of this thesis introduces an ambitious design for a process of physical autocatalysis with amplification of chirality. Chapters 5 and 6 detail two experimental attempts. Chapter 5 describes the study of a chiral surfactant constructed by a native chemical ligation reaction, which shows interesting differences in reactivity between homogeneous and biphasic reaction conditions. However, a process of replication is not observed, nor the amplification of chirality. A more successful system is the study in Chapter 6 on the formation of a chiral surfactant based on the autocatalytic reaction studied in Chapter 3. An interesting sense of asymmetry is established; the chiral surfactant appears to be autocatalytic and partitions into a precipitate of enhanced ee and a solution phase of diminished ee.

Platelets play an essential role in haemostasis by adhering to the damaged vessel wall and forming a platelet plug to arrest bleeding. Although platelets are traditionally thought of as pro-coagulant, they possess the ability to harbour functional proteins that are key to fibrinolysis, the breakdown of the blood clot, on their surface. They are therefore substantially well equipped to regulate local fibrinolysis. This thesis aims to further define the role of platelets in fibrinolysis, in particular platelet-derived plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and plasminogen. PAI-1 is the principal physiological inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen is the zymogen for plasmin. In Chapter 3, we show that platelet-derived PAI-1 is released from platelet α-granules by an αIIbβ3 and fibrin dependent mechanism. We found that a significant portion of α-granular PAI1 is retained on the surface of highly activated PS-positive platelets, and activity analysis revealed the majority of PAI-1 on the platelet surface was in its active form. The functional role of platelet PAI-1 was investigated by analysis of tPA-mediated lysis of Chandler model thrombi. Our data revealed a striking dependence for platelet PAI-1 in stabilising platelet-rich thrombi against degradation. Chapter 4 characterises the expression of a novel transmembrane receptor, Plg-RKT, on the surface of human and mouse platelets. This revealed that plasminogen and Plg-RKT augment one another's binding to the platelet surface. Furthermore, analysis of plasminogen binding to the platelet surface revealed two distinct binding sites: 1) via Plg-RKT and 2) via a fibrin and αIIbβ3 dependent mechanism. Finally, Chapter 5 of this thesis discusses the optimisation of a system that monitors thrombus formation and fibrinolysis under flow. Use of this model will help to further elucidate the complex role that platelets play in controlling the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis.

This research thesis presents an investigation into the use of software sizing for cost/schedule estimation, with the assistance of a commercial software development organisation. The investigation was divided into three phases, and involved the use of software sizing with documentation for eleven commercial projects. Research Phase 1 investigated the value of using different levels of sizing rigour by using the Indicative, Estimated and Full NESMA methods with both early bid stage documentation and later stage functional specifications. The Estimated NESMA method was found to provide the optimum value, in terms of estimation accuracy and effort, but it was only deemed acceptable at the bid stage. Research Phase 2 investigated how the use of more detailed functional size data could enhance bid stage estimation. A classification of functional categories was developed and used to compare size estimates developed at both the bid and functional specifications stages. The conclusion of this phase was that the more detailed size data is needed to provide a measure of the completeness of bid stage documentation. Research Phase 3 investigated how the NESMA sizing methods could be adapted to provide greater value. A simplified method was developed and refined using the sample projects, and evaluated against the NESMA methods. The results of this phase showed that the simplified method provided similar estimation accuracy to the Estimated NESMA method, but with a statistically significant relative reduction in the estimation effort. The main contributions demonstrated by this research were: • Size estimation should focus on business value rather than estimation accuracy if it is to encourage adoption within industry. • The level of sizing detail provided by the estimate may be pivotal in determining its value. • Simplified sizing methods should focus on approximating the level of detail provided by full sizing methods rather than on just the overall functional size.

The research explores the experience that students with Dyslexia, on law degrees, have of academic assessment, and the environmental factors that influence their experience and perceptions. The research is situated in one HEI (the Research Institution), which has a student population of 18,800, of which 634 had declared a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) (including Dyslexia) during the academic year 2014/15. Previous research has shown that students with Dyslexia are disadvantaged by traditional forms of academic assessment. Whilst little research has been carried out on Dyslexia and law degrees, the predominance of traditional approaches to assessment is commonly believed to disadvantage students with Dyslexia. This potential disadvantage is explored within the Research Institution (RI). In light of their obligation under the Equality Act 2010 to take reasonable steps to alleviate such disadvantages, specific consideration is given to the RI’s response to potential disadvantages faced by such students. In order to facilitate this objective a multiple-methods approach has been utilised for gathering data. Data has been collected through questionnaires, focus groups and interviews, with law students with and without Dyslexia, with lecturers inside and outside the law school, and with student support staff and other professionals. The range of data was then analysed, utilising an inductive approach. Five main themes emerged, and were explored using a social model of Dyslexia and from an emancipatory perspective. The themes are: 1) diagnosis and categorisation of Dyslexia; 2) the students’ experience of academic assessment; 3) the students’ experience of adjustments to academic assessment; 4) the impact of the law school environment on the experience of students with Dyslexia, and 5) the effect of the wider institutional environment and institutional policy and practice on the experiences and perceptions of how students with Dyslexia, and how they are responded to. The data collected pointed to the fact that students with Dyslexia struggled with traditional academic assessment, to a more significant degree than students without Dyslexia. While reasonable adjustments were provided by the institution to help students with Dyslexia overcome such difficulties, and whilst these were helpful to some extent, their overall effectiveness was shown to be limited. The main reasons for the student experiences that emerged from the research were related to the fact that, due to their Dyslexia, the forms of assessment used by their department presented a direct difficulty for students. Traditional forms of assessment utilised on law degrees are therefore considered to be a ‘disabling barrier’, as they inhibit students with Dyslexia from fully demonstrating their academic ability. The thesis then presents pointers to how law degree providers can respond to this issue. It is argued that this can be achieved by adjusting assessment methods in a way that removes, or at least reduces, the ‘disabling barriers’ faced by law students with Dyslexia. The research suggests that this is made possible by utilising a broader range of assessment methods beyond those traditionally utilised in law degrees. It also details how the individualistic nature of Dyslexia means that the most effective means of improving inclusivity for all students is to provide them with elements of choice as to the form of assessment adopted. The research concludes with proposals for alleviating the disadvantage experienced by law students with Dyslexia in respect of their experience of the academic assessment process and academic assessment outcomes. It is argued that to enhance the quality of their learning opportunities, and in order to be inclusive, academic assessment policy and practice should be informed by/premised upon a social interpretation of Dyslexia.

Lack of sensitive outcome measures is a major obstacle to clinical trials in many neuromuscular diseases (NMD). Lower limb muscle MRI allows non-invasive visualisation of acute and chronic pathology in NMD. This thesis aims to assess the reliability, validity and responsiveness of quantitative MRI in chronic neuromuscular diseases. A comprehensive quantitative MRI protocol of lower limb muscles was developed including T1, T2, fat fraction and magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) measurements. The protocol was assessed for reliability and sensitivity to physiological variation in 47 healthy volunteers with 15 rescanned at a two week interval. This protocol was then performed together with detailed clinical assessments and isokinetic/isometric dynamometry in 20 patients with inclusion body myositis (IBM), 20 patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and matched health volunteers twice at a 12 month interval. In the healthy volunteers, the inter-scan and inter-observer reliability was high (ICC 0.62-0.99) despite small observed physiological variation between subjects. Fat fraction, T2 and MTR showed significant correlations with subject age in thigh and calf muscles and with subject weight in thigh muscles whereas gender did not influence quantitative parameters. Cross-sectional analysis showed strong correlations with both muscle strength and clinical severity measures demonstrating validity of MRI measurements as outcome measures. Longitudinal assessment demonstrated excellent sensitivity to change of MRI measures; in particular muscle fat fraction quantification exceeded that of myometry and clinical measurements with standardised response mean (SRM) over 12 months of 1.1 in IBM and 0.8 in CMT indicating a high level of responsiveness. Annual change in fat fraction could be predicted based on baseline MRI measurements, providing the opportunity to improve SRM further. This thesis demonstrates the reliability, validity and responsiveness of quantitative MRI as an outcome measure providing a comprehensive practical protocol for clinical trials in NMD.

Subsea pipelines form an integral part of the infrastructure associated with offshore oil and gas developments. These pipelines fulfill a range of functions from linking extraction wells to other subsea infrastructure to transporting products onshore, or to a central processing facility. Ancillary pipelines may also be present for gas or water injection to the reservoir or transporting additives. Pipelines are typically installed directly onto the seabed and, in the absence of significant drivers to undertake burial operations, they may remain on the seabed for the remainder of their design life. This is typically the case for deepwater developments. Subsea pipelines are subjected to a wide range of load cases including, self weight, installation loads, thermal and pressure driven expansion and hydrodynamic loading. Design of pipeline systems to accommodate these load cases requires an understanding of pipe-soil interaction. This thesis reports the results of a research study investigating pipe-soil interaction on a clay seabed, as relevant to the design of subsea pipeline systems. This study has utilised numerical analysis techniques based on the finite difference code FLAC to investigate a range of problem definitions. These problem definitions include pipelines subject to both vertical loading (V) and combined vertical and horizontal (V-H) loading. Factors such as variation in interface conditions, large strain and large displacement effects, soil unit weight effects and variation in shear strength conditions were considered in these problem definitions. Reliability based analysis techniques have also been used to investigate both V and V-H loading problem definitions. The analyses and investigations undertaken as part of this study generally achieved the following; reproduction and validation of earlier research with additional interpretation, extension of problem definitions to deeper pipeline embedment depths and investigation of pipe-soil interaction problem definitions that have not previously been considered. Reliability based analysis techniques have also provided some interesting insights into the impact of soil shear strength variation as well as providing a fundamental link between safety factors and probability of failure. Application to design practice of this, and similar studies, has been considered as part of this thesis and potential areas for future research have also been suggested.

Until recent years sperm fitness has been measured using traditional parameters such as motility and morphology. Given the importance of the sperm genome in the subsequent development of the organism, more focus has now been placed on measuring DNA quality of spermatozoa. This study investigated genomic aspects of cryoinjury in the spermatozoa of the model organism Xenopus. The membrane integrity and DNA stability of Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis spermatozoa were evaluated in response to cryopreservation with or without activation. A dye exclusion assay revealed that plasma membrane integrity in both species decreased after freezing, more so in X. laevis spermatozoa than X. tropicalis. The sperm chromatin dispersion test showed that for both X. tropicalis and X. laevis activated, frozen spermatozoa produced the highest levels DNA fragmentation compared to all fresh samples and frozen, non-activated samples. Immediately after thawing, the most relevant for fertilisation use, there was a significant increase in DNA fragmentation in frozen, activated X. laevis samples. DNA damage in frozen, activated X. tropicalis samples was not detected until after four hours of incubation at room temperature. However, the DNA fragmentation dynamics over twenty-four hours suggested reduced DNA stability and cryptic DNA damage. 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), a potent DNA repair inhibitor, was used to treat embryos and thus reveal the effect of damaged sperm DNA on development. Comparisons were made between control embryos derived from fresh spermatozoa and frozen spermatozoa. Results showed a decrease in the survival percentage of treated embryos derived from cryopreserved sperm compared to controls. Furthermore, there was an increased occurrence of posterior and gastrula defects in these embryos. Further analysis of these embryos revealed altered expression of gastrula markers, in particular Fgf8. These may be candidates for genes that undergo DNA damage in cryopreserved spermatozoa. Transcriptome analysis comparing 3-ABtreated embryos derived from frozen and fresh spermatozoa revealed that there were subsets of genes whose expression was consistently altered by cryopreservation; some of these genes are important at the mid-blastula transition and gastrula stage of X. tropicalis development. Physical mapping of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) onto the X. tropicalis chromosomes revealed particular regions contained more DEGs compared to others, showing non-random distribution of genes affected by sperm cryopreservation. These data will guide future studies of amphibian sperm preservation enhancing conservation and lab animal resource biobanking.

Since the onset of Welsh devolution, the higher education (HE) sector in Wales has experienced a number of policy-led developments. One of these developments includes the strategic expansion of HE-level, Welsh-medium provision across Wales’ HE institutions. This development is being spearheaded by a new language promotion and planning agency, Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (the Coleg). If the Coleg implements this development successfully, then this development can play an important role in ensuring the lasting vibrancy of the Welsh language and the long-term success of the Welsh Government’s Welsh language and Welsh-medium education strategies. This thesis presents the results of an investigation into the Coleg and its language planning role. Because of the Coleg’s age, it is too early to evaluate whether it can successfully implement its language planning aims in toto. Instead, this investigation has evaluated the ways in which the Coleg’s leadership approach the challenges associated with Welsh language provision planning at the HE-level, and whether these collective patterns of response are conducive to effective language planning. The result of the investigation appears to be the first known organisational and leadership analysis of the Coleg. The Coleg is comprised primarily of university-based academics who have taken on a number of different leadership roles both within the Coleg and within the universities in order to ensure that Welsh-medium higher education can be developed. This thesis provides an analysis of these academic leaders’ organisational structure and their collective response to the challenges associated with the development of Welsh-medium higher education. This analysis can be used as a basis for future research into the Coleg, Welsh-medium higher education, and Welsh Government language planning. In addition, the thesis concludes with a list of recommendations that are intended to enhance these academics’ leadership by highlighting areas of strength and identifying opportunities for growth.

Designers are considered to be in a unique position to make a significant contribution to the health and safety of those involved in construction work. However, despite the introduction of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations-almost two decades ago, there appear to be no clear indication which point to a marked improvement in health and safety through design. Existing research has, in the main, concentrated on how designers should think about what they do rather than looking at how designers actually work. This thesis is written from the viewpoint of the designer and aims to enter into their world to discover what issues they face and how they look to resolve or process ~I .A these issues when faced with the demand to consider health and safety during the design process. This study is based on a collection of primary and secondary data. Primary data in the form of interviews were collected from design engineers-those, considered to be a homogenous group fitting the description of designers, as defined under the CDM regulations. Secondary data in the form of literature was used to develop and nest the grounded theory. The Grounded Theory research method has been used to identify the main concern of the substantive population under study and to develop a theory of explanation that describes the processing of health and safety aspects during the design process. The output from this study is a theory that describes the basic social process of Balancing as the prime mover for the design engineer's behaviour where there are two main elements involved in this process: Limiting and Framing. The notion of the design microcosm helps to explain why different design engineers will produce different design options, even when the same processes are being undertaken by individual design engineers. It also acts as the stabilising force during the balancing process and is core to the creation of the WobBall- the product or consequence of Balancing. Three group types of design engineers are identified: the Giver, the Receiver and the Doer. These group types exhibit particular tendencies towards the Balancing of health and safety during the design process. This study offers a new way of looking at how health and safety is being perceived and dealt with by designers; and suggests new ways of designing for and managing the framing of health and safety. It offers a conceptual theory of Balancing for a healthier and safer frame to designing with which to extend current understanding.

This thesis explores a variety of topics in two-dimensional arithmetic geometry, including the further development of I. Fesenko's adelic analysis and its relations with ramification theory, model-theoretic integration on valued fields, and Grothendieck duality on arithmetic surfaces. I. Fesenko's theories of integration and harmonic analysis for higher dimensional local fields are extended to an arbitrary valuation field F whose residue field is a local field; applications to local zeta integrals are considered. The integral is extended to F^n, where a linear change of variables formula is proved, yielding a translation-invariant integral on GL_n(F). Non-linear changes of variables and Fubini's theorem are then examined. An interesting example is presented in which imperfectness of a positive characteristic local field causes Fubini's theorem to unexpectedly fail. It is explained how the motivic integration theory of E. Hrushovski and D. Kazhdan can be modified to provide a model-theoretic approach to integration on two-dimensional local fields. The possible unification of this work with A. Abbes and T. Saito's ramification theory is explored. Relationships between Fubini's theorem, ramification theory, and Riemann-Hurwitz formulae are established in the setting of curves and surfaces over an algebraically closed field. A theory of residues for arithmetic surfaces is developed, and the reciprocity law around a point is established. The residue maps are used to explicitly construct the dualising sheaf of the surface.

The first part of the dissertation reviews the existing evidence regarding epilepsy and the management ofwomen with epilepsy. The heterogenous nature of epilepsy, the classification of seizures and epilepsies, the nature, role and the strategies employed in choosing anti-epileptic medications are reviewed. The relationship between anti-epileptic medication and the management ofepilepsy in female patients and the nature ofthe complex decision making mechanism involved in the selection of the correct antiepileptic drug therapy are discussed. The dissertation then describes the rationale, methodology and, results ofa national, prospective epilepsy and pregnancy register to examine the teratogenic potential ofantiepileptic medication. The results from this register are presented in an assessment ofthe teratogenic potential of the individual anti-epileptic drugs with reference to this at risk population. Where sufficient numbers are available, comparisons are made between drug groups and with pre-existing data. With many ofthe newer drugs, where to date insufficient numbers ofpatients to draw fmn conclusions may be reached, individual teratogenic risks are presented and compared to any pre-existing data. The role offolic acid in the prevention ofmajor congenital malformation is examined. The final section of the dissertation addresses the implications for clinical practice through the mechanism of pre-conceptual counselling. Given an increased awareness of the teratogenic potential ofindividual anti-epileptic drugs, the major clinical implication would be a practical application of this knowledge, principally through the imparting of information to those at risk through pre-conceptual counselling.

Shellfish processing results in the disposal of large quantities of waste to landfill sites. This project sought to deal with the issue of the processing of marine crustacean waste, specifically that of the prawn, Nephrops norvegicus. The exoskeleton of Nephrops norvegicus contains chitin, β-(1→4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. In this study shell waste was demineralised, via lactic acid fermentation, using a commercial silage inoculant. The product contained 11.2% (w/w) ash, 31.1% (w/w) protein and 53.5% (w/w) chitin. Addition of the proteolytic enzyme, bromelain and a nitrogen source to the fermentation system led to deproteinisation and further demineralisation of the shell. The final product contained 4.2% (w/w) ash, 5.3% (w/w) protein and 79.6% (w/w) chitin. Chitin is relatively inert but can be converted to its more reactive derivative, chitosan, by deacetylation. Chitosan, prepared from bioprocessed shell waste, was investigated as a potential coating for urinary catheters. Attempts are currently being made to prevent blockage of these biomedical devices due to mineral ions, via the use of different manufacturing materials. Shell waste that had been demineralised using lactic acid fermentation was deacetylated using 50% (w/v) NaOH at 90oC. Membranes were prepared from the resultant chitosan. After immersion in a bath containing artificial urine, adherence of calcium and magnesium ions to the membranes was measured and compared with adherence of the same ions to polyurethane membranes. Adherence of calcium to the chitosan membranes was not higher than adherence to the polyurethane control membranes. Adherence of magnesium ions was significantly less than to the polyurethane control. The chitosan was hence shown to have potential for use as a coating for urinary catheters.