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This case study is about the development of flame retardant (FR) polypropylene yarns used in upholstery fabrics for domestic and office furniture, automotive and floor coverings that will have predictable and reproducible fire retardant properties when subjected to standard testing procedures. Through the UK DTI funded project FLAMTECH (2002-2005) shared by Camira Fabrics Ltd., and the university, a range of novel polypropylene yarns having higher levels of consistent fire performance than the previously existing products in the market place were developed. A testing protocol which could establish individual fibre/yarn/fabric structural-fire property relationships and correlate these with (and hence predict) final fabric performance was also established. The project overlapped a concurrent EPSRC funded research in which nanocomposite fibres (including polypropylene) with improved flame retardancy and reduced melt dripping were developed. Camira were also members of the consortium managing this project. The major commercial outcome from these projects since 2005 is a flame retardant polypropylene product being marketed by Camira fabrics within their Perfentex brand and others are also being considered. This work also inspired the Production Director of Camira Fabrics to register at Bolton as a PhD-by-publication candidate and hence gain more knowledge about the subject area, as evidenced by the publication of her research papers (see Paper 1, Section 3).
OMELETTE was a project funded under the EC Framework 7 programme under the Future Services theme. The project developed the state of the art for combining web mashups with telecommunications services, building on and contributing towards existing open-source technologies. By combining voice, data, and specialised telecommunications capabilities with web standards, new applications were made possible for both enterprise and consumer users, particularly as these mashups could be created by non-programmers.
The impact of the project from both an industry and scientific point of view was recognised by the reviewers from the EC, who rated the project as "Excellent".
A novel pressure-relieving technology has been developed to enhance the quality of life of a range of people. This has enabled the development firstly of a novel compression therapy system for the prevention and treatment of venous leg ulcers especially for middle-aged and older communities as well as having the potential for huge savings to the NHS. Secondly, is a unique pressure-relieving cushion to reduce pressure sores with specific applications for wheelchair users. Baltex Ltd, UK are successfully producing both commercially. An exclusive agreement has been signed with a global medical device company, BSN Medical for marketing the single-layer bandage.
The Regeneration and Facilities Management (FM) research programme brought together different disciplines, focused on engaging with communities of people and organisations to transfer good practice to public sector services management. It included seven members of staff, five PhD students, five grant-funded research projects, RAE2008 funded PhD projects and other non-grant projects; employing applied or action research approaches in working closely with organisations for the development and implementation of research outputs.
The theme of community engagement and empowerment has resulted in organisational policy changes, improved social sustainability and continuing professional development; changing practice in public service management and strategy development.
This interdisciplinary research work in the areas of Knowledge Management (KM), e-Business, enterprise systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Supply Chain Management resulted in socio economic impact through improved organisational performance in 90 companies in the North West, resulting in process improvements, enhanced productivity, marketability, increased revenues, employment, reduced costs, enhanced knowledge capital, profitability, and sustainability. This positive regional impact included an ERDF funded project (£1.4m), 5 KTPs (£500,000), an ESRC project, and other bespoke collaborative company projects. This research work in collaboration with industry encompassed a knowledge sharing regional network that included BAE Systems, Daimler, Northwest Aerospace Alliance, APPH Group — BBA Aviation, Hyquip Limited, Alliance Learning Limited, Darts Corner Limited etc.
A long established historian of disease and pollution in the nineteenth century city, Bill Luckin is also an international figure in the history of the `accidental' and the origins of the risk society. In recent years he has moved closer to academics and practitioners in the fields of planning, transport and mobility studies. The author of several books and numerous articles, Bill Luckin is completing a readily accessible history of drink driving in Britain, aimed at road safety planners and activists and general readers. The overriding concern is with what Luckin calls the `social relations of mobility'.
Lack of interoperability can leave educational material, e-portfolios and course information locked into proprietary systems. This not only limits freedom of choice, it also blocks collaboration. IEC's work in educational technology interoperability standards has addressed this issue internationally by leading on the development of open formats for educational material (IMS Content Packaging), online assessment material (IMS Question and Test Interoperability), e-portfolios (Leap2a) and course information (eXchanging Course Related Information). The adoption of these specifications means that students can move their e-portfolios, course information can be shared, educational content can be exchanged between VLEs, and large assessment infrastructure projects are enabled.
In response to the University's strategy on improving standards in professional practice, several research projects were undertaken in health and safety management, procurement, transport planning, energy management, and professional practice. These focused on improving standards of professional practice in construction management, energy management, facilities management, and sustainable transportation planning. Two projects resulted in sector guidance, whilst two others had a direct impact on practice in the University. Another has influenced the way cycling use data is collected by the two leading organisations in this sector. This case study demonstrates the impact on professional practice linked to the university's vision.
In 2008 Mary Cooper was commissioned by Clean Break Theatre, London and Action for Prisoners' Families (APF) to write a short drama which would address issues particular to women in prison and their families. The drama toured women's prisons in 2009. In 2010 Cooper was commissioned to adapt the stage play as a short film, which went on to win the IVCA Gold Award for Best Drama 2010. It is now widely recommended by leading charities and agencies and regularly used as a training tool throughout England and Wales to increase understanding of family relationships within prisoners' families.
Our factor analytic and psychometric work distinguishing addiction from (non-pathological) high engagement has helped stimulate public and professional psychiatric debate about, and improved public understanding of, Internet-related and computer game addictions. Evidence of this impact exists on various web sites; computer game players, parents of young game players and games designers using our work to debate the issues of whether it is reasonable to conceive of some people being addicted, what the indicators of addiction might be, the personality factors that might put people at risk, and to develop strategies for preventing and dealing with addictions.