http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/23 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:38:43 GMT 2026-04-21T11:38:43Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33175 Title: Exploring the similarities and dissimilarities of whistleblower protection in the UK, the US and EU in the pandemic era: Covid-19 Authors: Ikpe-Adegwu, Joseph Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33175 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33165 Title: Characterisation and bioiogicai testing of synthetic eiectrospun membranes for organ-on-a-chip appiications Authors: Qiao, Shuai Abstract: BacteriaI vaginosis is the most common compIex muItibacteriaI vaginaI infectious disease among women of chiIdbearing age. It is reIated to vaginaI microecoIogicaI imbaIance and has a high prevaIence and recurrence rate. ReIevant data shows that the risk of infection is as high as 15% to 50%, the disease may increase a woman Is risk of contracting sexuaIIy transmitted infections and Iead to premature birth or miscarriage, seriousIy affecting a womanIs quaIity of Iife. There have been few previous studies on bacteriaI vaginosis systems that mimic the true, in vivo environment incorporating the epitheIiaI Iayers with bacteriaI biofiIms and the response to treatments. This study deveIoped a two-channeI, vagina on a chip that creates an in vitro micro-vaginaI tissue that simuIates the femaIe Iower reproductive tract. The cuIture chambe r contains an eIectrospun ch ito sa n /poIyvinyI aIcohoI scaffoId and vaginaI epitheIiaI ceIIs. A diverse attempt was made on eIectrospinning scaffoIds to expIore the optimaI combination, incIuding comparison of different materiaIs such as chitosan/poIyvinyI aIcohoI, PCL/GeIatin, and expIoration of orientation spinning and co-axiaI spinning. The optimaI poIymer concentration and composition suitabIe for the growth of VK2/E6E7 ceII Iines were expIored through MTT assay; fIuorescence microscopy verified the possibiIity that vaginaI epitheIiaI ceIIs can adhere to the scaffoId; chitosan/poIyvinyI aIcohoI scaffoId and vagina on a chip were assembIed to construct a 3D in vitro vaginaI ceII cuIture pIatform. The vagina on a chip wiII aIIow future cIinicaI appIications to expIore the causes of bacteriaI vaginosis and to test reIated targeted drugs. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33165 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33164 Title: High-stakes? 10-11-year-old children’s stories of primary school assessment Authors: Soma, Bhavisha Rupa Abstract: ‘HELP. I’m a failure. I can’t do this.’ (words within a picture by Anay, aged 10) ‘Tests are a great way of helping children know what they need help on. They help teachers to be able to help students…’ (words within a picture by Jayesh, aged 10) My interest lies in children’s perceived experiences of educational assessment in primary schools in England. I track back in time to track the journey of where we are today – arguably a high-stakes system of assessment that has led to the datafication of teaching (Stevenson, 2017) and of children. Children are seemingly being trained to pass tests – primarily in English and Maths – at the expense of other curriculum subjects, learning outcomes and their mental health and well-being. My research explores the stories (Clandinin and Connelly, 2000) of primary-aged children in relation to assessment using an experiential narrative inquiry approach (Andrews, Squire and Tambouku, 2008) and multiple methods: questionnaire; pictures and/or free-writing; and semi-structured group interviews. Through this research, I reveal a unique insight and interpretation of primary-aged children’s stories through their own spoken and written words and pictures. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33164 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33131 Title: An assessment of the unintended consequences of structural coastal flood protection Authors: Breen, Morgan James Abstract: This thesis investigates the unintended socio-hydrological consequences of structural coastal flood protections (SCFPs) and assesses the implications for coastal flood risk management strategy in the UK. Climate change, and the continued urban development of flood exposed areas can exacerbate coastal flood risk, and thus flood risk management authorities often tend towards structural coastal flood protection measures to minimise losses. However, these structurally proactive measures can lead to infrastructural lock-ins, whereby the decrease in flood probability from the defence can lead to increased urban development and population, ultimately leading to higher losses due to an inundation event. This process has been referred to as the Safe Development Paradox (SDP), a cross-cutting science-practice-policy challenge that requires a systematic understanding in the context of increased uncertainty associated with climate change and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, literature of the phenomena is limited, compounded by a lack of consistent terminology, limited geographic distribution, and a skewed emphasis on fluvial flooding. Moreover, despite being an island nation, the UK, to date, has had very little research conducted into these unintended consequences of structural flood protection. This thesis developed and applied a methodology that captures these coupled human-flood processes, by integrating well-established methods from other spheres of flood risk assessment in a novel way to explore the currently poorly understood phenomena in coastal settings. The study contributes to addressing this knowledge gap based on insights from three contrasting UK case studies: Portsmouth, Weston-super-Mare, and Southport. Differential analysis of historic LiDAR Digital Surface Models (DSMs) was used to identify temporal changes in the urban landscape to create a DSM of Difference (DoD), representing elevation change between two locations over time. Geostatistical testing, specifically t-tests, were then used to infer statistical significance of changes in urban development. The results reveal a consistent pattern: following completion or improvement of large-scale SCFPs, there is subsequent, and statistically significant, increases in coastal population and urban development within/near flood-exposed areas in all case studies, contrary to the limited flood-exposed development in neighbouring settlements, with no comparable defences constructed, or upgraded, during the same period. On average, new urban development occurs approximately 2 years after the completion of coastal flood defence projects. These data were then inputted into a newly developed agent-based model (ABM) that simulates futures changes under different climate scenarios. The results demonstrate that each SCFP project led to an initial decrease in Affected Population (AfP) following implementation, confirming the intended immediate benefits of flood risk reduction. However, long-term projections revealed significant unintended consequences under the scenarios where SCFPs were exceeded by Extreme Coastal Water Levels (ECWLs). For Southport and Weston-super-Mare, the ABM output shows a dramatic increase in AfP once ECWL surpassed the SCFP crest height, affecting a larger population than those initially protected, primarily due to the increased population growth behind the defences and the larger flood extent. Portsmouth, however, exhibited a more limited increase in AfP, attributed to its high urban density and limited room for further development behind the defences. This highlights how pre-existing land-use and population density can act as brakes on the unintended consequences of SCFPs. The thesis concludes with a recommendation for future flood risk managers and policymakers to be aware of these unintended socio-hydrological consequences. SCFPs are crucial assets, and their construction and maintenance will continue to play an integral role in coastal adaptation to climate change, particularly in highly developed urban settlements. This thesis does not attempt to provide a comprehensive predictive modelling tool for planning, nor a detailed analysis of real estate markets, but instead focuses on socio-hydrological interactions of population change and SCFP. However, new SCFP design and implementation need to account for their long-term unintended consequences on communities and climate adaptation planning. In the short-term, flood risk communication provides a means of tackling these risks, improving flood memory, awareness, and preparedness. Furthermore, in the longer term a more holistic cost-benefit analysis and spatial planning strategy, internalising these factors should be utilised in order to create more sustainable and resilient coastal communities in the UK. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Master of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33131 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z