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Purpose: In recent years the movement of refugees has led to increasing negative media and political discourse about migration in the United Kingdom, particularly as the number of refugees crossing the English Channel has increased. Despite this hostility, little is known about how the UK public perceive the journeys made by refugees or the refugees themselves. Design/methodology/approach: In this study the authors used a story completion method to analyse perceptions and understandings of refugees. Participants were given the opening of a story about refugees crossing the English Channel and were asked to complete the remainder of the story. In total, 84 participants completed stories that ranged in length from two to 423 words. The stories were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Each of the completed stories was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and three themes were generated--Conflicting emotions: Uncertainty and the relief of reaching safety after a traumatic journey; The spectre of illegality: Borders and the uncertainty of what happens next; and Welcome or unwelcome?: Cultural values of welcome and hospitality. Originality/value: The authors argue that this original use of the story completion method highlights how participants draw on cultural narratives of hospitality and welcome and that their stories are constructed using emotional categories that are in contrast to the more binary constructions of refugees that are present in media and government discourse about refugees and the English Channel crossings.

Cocos nucifera, commonly known as coconut is rich in coir dust (CCD) at its outer surface, which is a very significant agri waste used as biosorbent for wastewater treatment. The current work addresses use of CCD for removal of hazardous Sunset Yellow dye (SY) FCF widely used as coloring agent in food industry, from wastewater. The uptake capacity in batch and column mode is 82 mg/g and 160 mg/g respectively. Characterization study including SEM, FTIR and BET results also supported the adsorption process. The comparative analysis with other natural biosorbents showed best results of biosorption with CCD. The output was better at high pH (10) and lower concentration of dye (5 mg/L). The kinetic study suggested pseudo second order rate revealing both adsorbate-adsorbent interdependency. The presence of covalent bonding or valence forces between the interfaces, suggested chemisorption as the rate limiting mechanism with valence forces, hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking being the chief forces responsible in binding of the dye molecules to the surface. The isotherm supported Langmuir model with monolayer and uniform adsorption at the interfaces. The interference test confirmed slight decrease in percent adsorption with interference from chloride and sulfate as dominating ions. The techno-economic feasibility highly recommended in field application of the substitute (net profit value, 1.256 Rs/m3, input cost, 0.052 Rs/m3). The industrial sample analysis with lab to land approach justified sustainability and commercial viability of the present work. HIGHLIGHTS: Facile removal of a food dye (sunset yellow, FCF) using Coconut coir dust (CCD). Uptake capacity in batch and column mode is 82 mg/g and 160 mg/g respectively. Chemisorption as the rate limiting mechanism with valence forces, hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking being the chief forces. Better uptake efficiency is seen at higher pH (10) and lower concentration (5mg/L). NOVELTY STATEMENT: Indiscriminate use of dyes in multidimensional industries including food industry makes water bodies unsafe. To address the issue, we have investigated efficient removal of toxic food dye (Sunset Yellow FCF) using coconut coir dust (CCD) which is a naturally available agri waste. Current protocol demonstrates the removal of dye in batch mode encompassing several batch parameters like dose, pH, concentration and time. The uptake capacity obtained in batch mode is highly significant with percent removal of 71% (82 mg/L) which is highly appreciable for a biosorbent material. Column uptake capacity with remarkable value of 160 mg/L was calculated using Thomas model rate equation in order to explore the maximum viable efficiency to extend the research for a possible pilot-scale and field application studies. The mechanism of biosorption is governed by the surface active forces including covalent forces, hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking. Since several agricultural/non-agricultural biomasses are available for wastewater treatment, a comparative research analysis of the removal efficiency with three other natural bio sorbents were experimented for removal of food dye and the results showed the highest uptake for CCD than others. The current study advances the understanding of coconut coir's efficacy in dye removal by comprehensively analyzing physicochemical parameters and conducting column studies to simulate real-world applications. Additionally, it investigates ion interference and validates findings with real wastewater scenarios, enhancing the authenticity and significance of the research. Thus the process firmly stands as low-cost, environment friendly substitute, and does not generate harmful by products. The uniqueness of the work lies in the fact that it is one of the best substitute compared to the other conventional methods of treatment available with a net profit value of 1.256 Rs/m3 and operating cost of 0.052 Rs/m3.The work also meets few principles of green chemistry/engineering and serves as a sustainable protocol to a great extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we demonstrate an enhanced performance of acid-assisted thiosulfate-impregnated spent/waste tea leaves (TWTL) for the removal of malachite green (MG) from water by batch mode. The material was characterized by pHZPC, FTIR, powder XRD, SEM, and proximate analysis. FTIR suggests the presence of polyphenolic moieties whereas a lignocellulosic peak was observed in powder XRD. SEM image shows a grafted surface texture with intermittent blocks, which upon dye uptake becomes somewhat condensed. Under optimized conditions, the highest removal efficiency of 126.8 mg/g was achieved at pH 7. A fast adsorption process was noticed with >97% removal within the first 10 min. Adsorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.999) and the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.999). The material can be regenerated by dilute hydrochloric acid and can be reused for up to four cycles. Treatment of industrial effluent was successful in up to 47.56%. Our results highlight the potential of thiosulfate-treated spent tea leaves as a choice for the efficient removal of malachite green from water. Tea, being one of the most popular beverages produces huge waste which requires proper management. With this aim; the thiosulfate-impregnated spent tea leaves have been exercised for effective separation of malachite green from contaminated water. Thiosulfate impregnation under mildly acidic conditions activates the tea leaves and makes the material robust with enhanced water stability than its untreated variety. With a remarkable maximum adsorption capacity of 126.8 mg/g under ambient conditions, the present methodology enjoys the edge over related phytosorbents. The protocol is techno-economic, environment friendly, and could be extended to possible field applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates conceptually and practically what it means for schools to engage in the practice of continuous improvement. The analysis draws upon prior research and discussion to predict core elements of the practice of continuous improvement in schools. The predictions are then applied to a case study of continuous improvement efforts in a Pakistani secondary school that was involved in a 10-year school-university school improvement partnership. The article concludes with a set of eight empirically based propositions about the practice of continuous improvement schools.

Search for eco-friendly adsorbents for sustainable dye treatment is on the rise. The present study demonstrated the enhanced removal of malachite green (MG) with alkali-modified shells of water chestnut (AWCN) under optimized physio-chemical parameters. Alkali treatment significantly reduces the lignocellulosic components which in turn increased the water stability. The material was been characterized by pHzpc, FTIR, FESEM-EDAX, and BET surface area analysis. pH-dependent adsorption was noticed and the maximum adsorption capacity was determined as 136.46 mg/g. Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2=0.99) and Langmuir isotherm model (R2=0.99). Thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption process is spontaneous (ΔG°= −2.99 kJ/mol), favorable and endothermic (ΔH°=34.72 kJ/mol). Simple regeneration allows multi-cycle use with minimal loss of activity. The mechanism has been proposed to be a combination of electrostatic interaction, H-bonding, and π–π stacking between AWCN and MG. In conclusion, alkali modification of Trapa natans L. shells provides excellent removal of MG from water. Waste shells of water chestnut (Trapa natans L.), a waterborne fruit have been modified using sodium hydroxide solution and tested for removal of malachite green by batch method. Excellent adsorption capacity (136.46 mg/g) was obtained under ambient conditions. As of now, very little work has been reported on water chestnut shells for the removal of dyes from wastewater. The present work shows an excellent adsorption capacity among all the previous work on water chestnut for dye remediation. Alkali activation significantly reduces hydrophilic/lignocellulosic components within the shells, which in turn makes the material more water stable and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the origin of NAND cell degradation during the time interval (twait) between program/erase (P/E) cycles. It is observed that, at room temperature, the transconductance reduction is sensitive to from erase-to-program, and longer from erase-to-program results in larger In contrast, has almost no clear dependence on from program-to-erase. Using our previous statistical method, the activation energy () of oxide damage creation is extracted. As the starting voltage () of incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) varied from 14.6 to 17.6 V, has a shift of about 11 meV and 13 meV for both from erase-to-program of 0.1 s and 4 s, respectively. We also found that linearly decreases as the maximum oxide field increases during ISPP. It would be plausible to consider a model in which the program steps generated holes inside the tunneling oxide, which recombined with inversion electrons near Si/SiO2 interface during from erase-to-program. This process generates more trap states and thus results in larger [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundantly available Eucalyptus leaf (Eucalyptus globulus) was investigated as promising bio-sorbent for removal of Congo red by batch and column method. Material was characterized by proximate analysis, SEM-EDS, FT-IR, BET, XRD, and chemical analysis. Physico-chemical parameters like contact time, dose, and pH were optimized. Maximum adsorption capacity is 29.68 mg/g. Adsorption follows intraparticle diffusion kinetics (K = 0.211 mg/g/min0.5, R2 = 0.996) and Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.996). Thermodynamic study revealed a spontaneous and feasible process (ΔG = – 13.06 kJ/mol). Regeneration (82%) with dilute alkali enables multicycle use. Column breakthrough follows Thomas and BDST model. Cost-benefit analysis suggests economically sustainable material for dye decolorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]