DORA
DORA (De Montfort Open Research Archive) is De Montfort University's research repository. It forms the primary public and institutional record of DMU research outputs. The breadth of research at DMU means that these outputs include articles, conference papers, books, book chapters, and other material available in a digital form. The record for each item contains descriptive information as well as, where possible, a version of the final research output. DORA also provides access to DMU PhD theses. This includes most PhD produced from 2009 onwards.
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Recent Submissions
Foreword: Unfolding creative co-operation beyond corporate higher education
(Routledge, 2024-08-19) Hall, Richard
Podcast Series: The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Educational Research Implications for Policy and Practice.
(British Educational Research Association, 2024-11-19) Hall, Richard
In 2015, United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is framed around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN describes these goals as “an urgent call for action by all countries,” emphasizing the importance of global partnerships.
This podcast series explores the intersections of Higher Education (HE) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Curated by Richard Hall and Kate Mawson, this series delves into how HE can respond to the urgent call for action set out in The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015, the agenda envisions global peace and prosperity for people and the planet, centered on 17 transformative goals.
While SDG 4, Quality Education, stands as a direct link to HE, the implications stretch far beyond this single goal. Higher education institutions hold a unique and powerful role in advancing understanding, reducing inequalities, and fostering innovation across all SDGs—whether addressing gender equality (SDG 5), climate action (SDG 13), or partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).
This podcast series emerges from a collaborative initiative co-facilitated by the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Higher Education and Social Theory Special Interest Groups. At its core, the project aims to explore how HE policy and practice can engage with and impact the SDGs. It invites academics, practitioners, and policymakers to examine the intersections of HE with personal, social, ecological, and resource needs, including poverty eradication, sustainable cities, clean energy, and justice.
The UN SDGs and educational research: Intoduction: The importance of the relationship between the SDGs and higher education.
(The British Educational Research Association, 2024-11-19) Hall, Richard; Mawson, Kate
In 2015, United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is framed around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN describes these goals as “an urgent call for action by all countries,” emphasizing the importance of global partnerships. Each of the 17 SDGs has implications for higher education. This first podcast introduces our theories on the relationship between the sustainable development goals and research in and on higher education. The podcast is led by Dr Kate Mawson (Nottingham Trent University), and Professor Richard Hall (De Montfort University).
Phenolic Metabolites Protocatechuic Acid and Vanillic Acid Improve Nitric Oxide Bioavailability via the Akt-eNOS Pathway in Response to TNF-α Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Endothelial Cells
(MDPI, 2024-11-11) Festa, Joseph; Hussain, Aamir; Al-Hareth, Zakia; Bailey, Stephen J.; Singh, Harprit; Da Boit, Mariasole
Background/Objectives: Reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability secondary to excess-superoxide-driven oxidative stress is central to endothelial dysfunction. Previous studies suggest that phenolic metabolites may improve NO bioavailability, yet limited research is available in response to an inflammatory mediator. Therefore, we assessed the effects of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) and its phenolic metabolites protocatechuic acid (PCA) and vanillic acid (VA) on NO bioavailability in a TNF-α induced inflammatory environment. Methods: Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were supplemented with either C3G, PCA, or VA at 1 μM for 24 h before being stimulated with TNF-α 20 ng/mL for an additional 24 h. Measurements included cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitrite concentrations, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and Akt at the mRNA and protein level. Results: Phenolic metabolites did not increase the eNOS expression or nitrite levels in the unstimulated environment; rather, the metabolites mediated NO bioavailability in response to TNF-α induced oxidative stress, with increased viability, eNOS mRNA, phosphorylation, and nitrite levels. Conclusions: Phenolic metabolites, in the presence of TNF-α, can improve NO bioavailability at physiologically relevant concentrations via the Akt-eNOS pathway. This demonstrates that the induction of inflammation is a prerequisite for phenolic metabolites to promote protective properties in endothelial cells by activating the Akt-eNOS pathway.
Police officers’ assessments of factors that contribute to police corruption in Ghana
(Emerald, 2024-11-29) Amagnya, Moses Agaawena; Akinlabi, Oluwagbenga Michael; Oluwatosin Bello, Paul
Purpose: Police corruption – the use or misuse of entrusted power for personal, institutional, or third-party advantage, is widespread in emerging economies. Encounters with justice officials in developing nations often involve the payment of bribes, which undermines justice delivery and impedes socio-economic development. Efforts to tackle or address corruption are usually complex due to the secretive nature of corruption, its perceived benefit to both victims and perpetrators and a lack of consensus on the causes. This article investigates the causes of police corruption from the viewpoint of Ghanaian police officers.
Design/methodology/approach: The study draws on data from a survey of police officers across three regions in Ghana. Descriptive, correlational, and linear regression analyses are used to address the issues.
Findings: The results show that factors contributing to police corruption are classified into financial, cultural, institutional, and oversight/guidance. We found that police officers’ consideration of a factor as a cause of police corruption is influenced by their perceptions of other factors as causes of corruption.
Practical implications: The results show that corruption causes should not be tackled in isolation as they depend on each other. This suggests that a holistic approach needs to be taken when developing strategies to address the causes of police corruption.
Originality/value: This paper contributes to the debate on the causes of police corruption from an African perspective, where there is little quantitative research exploring the causes of police corruption. Control variables do not impact officers’ perceptions of the causes of corruption, which contradicts previous studies and contributes to the debate, literature, and theory development.