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Musical Theatre lags behind theatre, film and television when it comes to female characterisation, particularly in key supporting roles. Literature outlines how the predominance of male creatives in the field drives the presentation of story and characterisation in new and reimagined musicals, and female characters are assessed by whether they are 'strong' because of the storylines they must face. However, the frequently limited depth of characterisation is less well documented. I explore the making of pivotal female roles in Musical Theatre with the creation of a new musical adaptation of Emmuska Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905), grounding the formation of the pivotal female role in her characterisation from the original book (Orczy, 1905). I employ autoethnography, journaling the choices I made/make during the adaptation process, and reflecting on how my own experiences influenced my decisions. I consider the way paradigms create perceptions for both audience members and creatives, generating heuristics that shape how we create and receive musical theatre. Focusing on the common character-type, the Love Interest, I posit how reintroducing the ancient Greek term, Deuteragonist, for pivotal characters could encourage creatives to consider Love Interest to be one function of a well-developed character instead of their primary purpose.

This piece of research seeks to understand the concept of professionalism in relation to trainee teachers currently undertaking Initial Teacher Training (ITT) within Further Education (FE). In particular, it focuses on their reasons for undertaking a teaching qualification at a time when the sector is undergoing yet another period of political intervention with the deregulation of the FE workforce. The onus has been firmly put at the feet of employers to determine appropriate teaching qualifications for their employees. At the start of my study College A was requiring its staff to have a teaching qualification, but, by the time this study was coming to an end, this was no longer the case. I adopted a case study approach to interview both trainee teachers and senior managers within my own organisation to ascertain whether having a full teaching qualification is seen as both necessary and more importantly fundamental to making an FE teacher ‘professional’. The findings reveal that the concept of professionalism is complex, and that there is a wide range of both definition and meaning. Using life histories, I was able to identify the impact of experience and other factors which contribute to the life trajectory of trainee FE teachers, and which determine their own view of what it means to be professional.

Secondary students who struggle with reading often have deficits in the area of reading comprehension. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of explicit main idea and summarization instruction on reading comprehension of expository text for alternative high school students. The lead researcher explicitly taught participants how to summarize expository passages. Participants were taught to generate a big idea topic of a passage, identify key words and phrases, locate or generate main ideas, and generate an oral summary. The three participants increased their performance on the researcher-developed oral summary measure and the summarization guide after receiving the reading comprehension intervention. Furthermore, participants felt they were able to learn how to summarize expository passages, perceived the intervention as effective, and that it helped their reading comprehension. Overall, results indicated that the intervention, which was explicit main idea and summarization instruction aimed to improve reading comprehension, is an effective practice for students who attend alternative high schools. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]

The primary aim of the thesis is to assess whether ethical governance of Science and Technology is feasible as a global approach, using the example of nanotechnology. The thesis firstly compares ethical issues identified by stakeholders in China and the EU relating to the rapid introduction of a potentially transformative technology, namely nanotechnology. Part One of this thesis explores how the ‘narratives’ of nanotechnology differ in each region, particularly given their different bioethics contexts, and examines how specific concerns translate into policymaking. In questioning whether Eastern and Western approaches to nanotechnology governance can be aligned, one can observe that Europe is increasingly cooperating and competing with China. Such new interdependences between global actors require new global approaches to S&T policy, including ethical governance. Part Two of this thesis explores the concept of ‘global ethics’ and discusses the feasibility of a global approach. Given criticism of both universalism and relativism, it is often argued that a universal approach that takes sufficient account of local context cannot be developed. On the assumption that global ethics are achieved by global actors, this thesis looks at global agency. The thesis connects discourse ethics and participatory Technology Assessment (pTA), arguing that a version of Habermasian discourse ethics can provide a theoretical framework for dialogue between West and East. Discourse ethics has developed around Habermas’s argument that social order depends on our capacity to recognize, through rational discourse, the intersubjective validity of different views. Habermas asks the basic question of global ethics, of how different views (particularly of social order) can be universally recognized and agreed, perhaps within an 'ideal community' of communication, one that may be global. The thesis adds to Habermas’s discourse model, utilising virtue ethics as well as the work of, for example, Taylor, Beck, Korsgaard and others on identity formation. It is argued that the significant factor in global ethics is the formation of the agent’s moral identity, the formation of which requires one to go beyond one’s context, to achieve an intercultural personhood. Habermas (as do Taylor, Beck and others) suggests identity as a dual concept, reflecting an interdependence of society and one’s inner self. This would mean that one can understand the cultural biases inherent in any act of communication, while acting autonomously of such bias. If such a model of dual identity/agency can be applied to the intercultural dialogue on the governance of nanotechnology between East and West, it could potentially provide a new tool or model within pTA.

Coastal defences reduce sediment input and modify the sediment budget, usually resulting in a sediment deficit down-drift and an accumulation up-drift. This process results in set-back adjacent to defences. Three types of set-back were identified and these occur due to the: • terminal groyne effect, where defences stop or dramatically reduce erosion, induce a sediment deficit down-drift and cause an increase in retreat rate; • perceived terminal groyne effect, where defences stop or dramatically reduce erosion, and down-drift retreat rates remain the same or decrease; • initial groyne effect, where defences stop or dramatically reduce erosion, induce sediment accumulation up-drift and cause a decrease in retreat rate. Set-backs are found on defended coasts world-wide, and are complex evolving features dependent on numerous natural and anthropogenic factors. 200 set-back sites were identified in England and Wales, half on cliffed coasts. The terminal groyne effect theory was investigated on 17 sites on the soft cliffs of Holderness, Christchurch Bay and north-east Norfolk, UK, all of which erode naturally at 0.5m/yr-2.0m/yr. Historical shoreline analysis and a history of human intervention was undertaken for each study region and site. For 13 out of the 17 case studies, a terminal groyne effect appeared to have occurred. As time passed and the magnitude of set-back increased, the terminal groyne effect became increasingly apparent. Where increased retreat resulted, the coast was affected for tens to thousands of metres down-drift. For the remaining case studies, a perceived terminal groyne effect occurred. An initial terminal groyne effect occurred at all sites. Longshore, the continued set-back caused outflanking of defences prompting emergency works, such as repeated defence extensions up and down-drift. Over several decades of set-back, the defences formed an artificial headland and created a crenulate shaped embayment down-drift. The planform of an embayment expanded rapidly, then reduced to a steadier retreat rate. As shoreline management evolves from a highly defended to a less heavily managed coast, defence abandonment will result in rapid retreat. Set-backs may be created due to the juxtaposition of maintained and abandoned defences, as illustrated at Happisburgh, Norfolk. In the coming decades, set-backs, artificial headlands and the terminal groyne effect will remain important issues for shoreline management.

This thesis investigates a critical part of the Tethyan orogenic system in northern Greece and, based on new stratigraphic, structural, sedimentological and geochemical data, a new tectonic model for the area is proposed. The main unit investigated is the Païkon Massif which is situated centrally within the Vardar/Axios zone of the Internal Hellenides, which is part of the Alpine-Himalayan belt. The area is bounded to the west and east by ophiolitic units of the Almopias (western Vardar/Axios) and Peonias (eastern Vardar/Axios) subzones, respectively. During the break-up of the northern margin of Gondwana in the Permo-Triassic, the Païkon Massif formed the western margin of the Serbo-Macedonian continental unit, where a deep-water mixed carbonate-clastic slope succession (the Gandatch Formation) accumulated. At this time the Serbo-Macedonian zone was bordered to the west by the Triassic-Jurassic Almopias Ocean. Inferred onset of eastward subduction of the Almopias Ocean beneath the western margin of Serbo-Macedonia (Middle Jurassic) led to the eruption of Island Arc Tholeiites, which are basic to intermediate in composition at their base and become progressively more acidic upwards. A relatively wide Almopias Ocean is envisaged. Back-arc spreading is believed to have generated the Guevgueli back-arc basin (Peonias subzone) in the late-Middle to Late Jurassic, separating the Païkon Massif from its parent continent, leaving a remnant arc in its wake (the Chortiatis Group of the Circum-Rhodope zone). Continued subduction culminated in collision of the Pelagonian continental unit with the southern margin of Eurasia. Regional contractional (Eohellenic) deformation ensued and emplaced the Guevgueli Ophiolite westward onto the Païkon Massif. Deep burial of the Païkon Massif at this time is recorded by blueschist to upper greenschist facies mineral assemblages and pervasive ductile folding and fabric development.

UK trade relies heavily on the port sector, with 95% of trade by weight entering the country by ship. Port operations and infrastructure are affected by extreme weather and non-weather events. The severity of risks facing the UK port sector may become more complex with climate change. This thesis aims to assess the vulnerability to, effects of, and responses to extreme weather events affecting UK ports, and to determine how well the port sector is adapting to the future pressures and challenges of climate and climate change. Historically, publically available records of extreme events that affected UK maritime zones (coastal areas, Exclusive Economic Zone and ports) are limited. A data archaeology study was undertaken by recording reported events from 1950-2014 as a scoping study to assess the importance of extreme events for ports compared to other maritime zones. A new severity scale allowed meaningful comparisons of events through recent decades. Severity of impacts from extreme events changed through time. Decreasing storm surge impacts were associated with improved technologies and behaviours, such as sea defences. Increased frequency of wind storm disruptions were associated with changing technologies, such as high-level cranes. Cautionary behaviours (e.g. pre-emptive port closures) reduced the occurrence of damaging events. To resolve present-day port disruption, vessel activity data, was analysed for three ports over a two-year study period. Severe individual and cumulative minor events (not considered in the literature) had the most impacts on ports. Daytime events had more severe impacts as they occurred during periods of greater vessel and port activity, highlighting the complex interaction of port activity and extreme events. Ports need to focus resources on preparing for such events. The climate change preparedness of the entire UK commercial port sector has not previously been considered. Future risk reduction was assessed through analyses of non-statutory Adaptation Reports. Preparedness for extreme weather and climate change was assessed through a questionnaire to all commercial ports. Questionnaire responses determined that ports are not well prepared for climate change, contrary to suggestions by multiple Government reports. There is a perception issue on port sector preparedness between the Government and port decisionmakers, enhanced by the misreporting, through subtle framing, of current adaptation success (such as where normal upgrades are presented as adaptations). Port sector awareness of climate change risks and the number of ports putting in place adaptation measures is presently low, and differs between and within nations. Scottish ports are well prepared for current extreme weather risks, but their complacent perspective could be disadvantageous with climate change. Many UK ports are unsure how climate change may affect their future operations, and would find additional guidance of great benefit. Port sector adaptation to climate change is limited by poor risk awareness, and a mismatch between port planning and climate change timescales. A three-part port planning timescale has been developed: infrastructure renewal, disaster preparedness, and port and environs planning. To begin filling gaps in port sector climate change preparedness a number of tools and techniques (e.g. adaptation legislation or risk summaries) have been identified. In coming decades the need for effective adaptation will become more pressing as climate change begins to affect their operations. This thesis has analysed port operations and adaptations in the UK and has developed a new framework for future activity.

Acute and chronic pain conditions have a significant impact on the individual who is experiencing pain and resolution of pain continues to present a challenge to nurses and other health care professionals. It is widely accepted that pain education for nurses is necessary if nurses are to deliver effective, evidenced based pain care. Although it has been shown that participation in pain education improves nurses’ pain knowledge, very little is known about the way in which nurses use their improved pain knowledge in their practice or about the conditions that promote application of that pain knowledge. The aims of this study are (a) to explore the transfer of pain knowledge from a continuing education nursing course into practice, and (b) to investigate the impact that the nurses’ participation in action research has on their ability to improve aspects of their pain practice. Participants are 14 registered nurses who successfully completed two accredited pain course units as part of their BSc / BN degree in Nursing. The nurses formed two groups of inquiry, who used both their participation in the pain course and in action research to investigate and change aspects of pain assessment and management practices within their clinical areas. The inquiry groups were located in two different Health Board locations in Scotland. Following involvement in a pain course, the strategies used by the participating nurses to enhance their pain assessment and management practices are examined. Qualitative data was obtained through individual and group interviews, and analysis of significant incidents. An action research approach contributes to an understanding of conditions that promote application of pain knowledge into practice following participation in the course, and focuses on the possibilities for action and improvement of pain care. The findings from this study demonstrate how nurses develop a more patient-centred approach to pain care and become more accountable for their pain practice. The research also identifies a range of strategies used by nurses to improve collaborative working practices with their colleagues that help to reduce some of the obstacles to delivery of effective pain care. From the outcomes of the inquiry, it is evident that these nurses’ participation in action research has increased the possibilities of their involvement in pain practice interventions. Conditions are created through pain course participation and involvement in action research, which supports nurses’ transfer of pain knowledge into practice Additionally, findings demonstrate the potential action research has for identifying problems with pain care and its potential for helping to develop relevant and workable solutions for improving aspects of care. The findings from this study are significant because they inform teaching and learning approaches which can be used with pain education that helps to prepare nurses to deliver more effective pain care within their health care settings.