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Muting the Religious Voice in English Religious Education
No full textThe statutory Religious Education (RE) curriculum in state-maintained schools in England has always been developed in partnership between faith representatives, schools and the Local (Education) Authority. The system of Agreed Syllabus Conferences (ASCs) and Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (SACREs) has arguably been a strength of the school RE system. However, this system, and indeed the ability of any religious community to have a voice in RE curricula, is under threat from two different forces. This chapter will set out the background for those unfamiliar with the English education system and will consider in turn the threats: the structural threat of the Academisation process (which places curriculum design solely in the hands of schools or groups of schools) and the alleged curricular threat, on the one hand from the inclusion of non-religious worldviews in RE and also from the growing influence of the ‘Worldviews paradigm’ which scholars (in Barnes 2022, for example) have suggested is leading to a secularisation of RE in England. It will argue that religious input into an RE curriculum is vital, is threatened by the Academisation process but potentially protected by the Religion and Worldviews approach
Investigating pension choice factors among the faculty of public sector universities in Pakistan
No full textPurpose – This research designed, optimized and tested a context-specific scale to evaluate public sector employees’ pension choices.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors developed the scale using a comprehensive process of interviews and focus groups with experts across academia and finance. The authors used the refined scale to collect data from 564 faculty members in public sector universities following a multistage systematic cluster
sampling technique. The findings revealed diversity in choice across different socio-economic and demographic variables.
Findings – The results revealed that items related to the defined benefit pension system explain most of the data variance and are preferred widely. This is followed by a preference for monetizing pension benefits and a defined contribution system. These findings indicated the need for flexible pension plans.
Practical implications – Therefore, the progressive movement towards monetization and the shift from defined benefit to a defined contribution pension system due to economic pressures must be accurately calculated and introduced where it is suitable.
Originality/value – Although the theory of introducing a defined contribution pension system and monetization system is appealing, its practical implementation may not be encouraging for all employees
Assessing chromatic discrimination in women on hormonal contraceptives
No full textWe explored whether chromatic discrimination is affected in women using hormonal contraceptives (HCs). Leaning upon earlier studies of oral contraceptives (OCs), we reasoned that estrogen and/or progestin, HC components, would reveal mild tritan-like defects in HC users. A sample of 68 women (18–45 years) was stratified by the HC type and use history: (a) non-users with past HC use (PC=21), (b) never used (NC=16), (c) oral contraceptives (OCs=23), and (d) long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs=8). Employed was the Cambridge Colour Test (CCT), along with screening using the D-15 and D-15d tests. Significant inter-group differences were identified by the CCT Trivector measures and D-15d indices. Specifically, the majority of LARC users revealed higher tritan and/or protan and deutan thresholds. The D-15d indices were comparable for users of modern OCs and NC but were higher in the LARC and PC groups. Conceivably, the long-acting progestin in LARC users down-regulates the expression of retinal estrogen receptors implicated in color discrimination
Ten years on: to what extent has the 2015 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice influenced professionals' practice within post-16 education?
Full text linkThe 2015 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice (CoP) was a significant reformation of provision for children and young people with additional and complex learning needs in England. This paper explores the influence the 2015 SEND CoP has had on professionals working within post-16 education in England. The study was empirically grounded and qualitative in methodological orientation. Eighteen participants from an English special education college took part in the study [n = 18]. The study has found that barriers to implementation of the SEND guidance continue to exist. Recurring themes relate to a lack of training, time, funding and responsibility held by professionals. There also continues to be a lack of evidence of the graduated approach being applied to practice. However, findings do suggest that some professionals have begun to recognise the positive influence of the SEND CoP and have altered their practice accordingly, placing the learner needs at the centre. The authors conclude that there is currently a gap between policy and practice. Thus, education professionals cannot successfully apply the guidance within the SEND policy to their practice until the adequate special educational support is put in place. The authors argue that more must be done to unite both policy and practice together in the interest of young people with special educational needs and disabilities
COVID-19’s Financial Impact on UK Football Clubs
Full text linkThis entry explores the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the football industry, highlighting the challenges, adaptations, and long-term implications for clubs across all levels. It examines the industry’s financial fragility, particularly for clubs reliant on matchday revenue, while showcasing adaptive strategies such as digital engagement, government support, and revenue diversification that sustained operations during the crisis. The pandemic exposed structural vulnerabilities within football, from elite clubs to grassroots teams, through revenue shortfalls caused by closed stadiums, cancelled matches, and reduced sponsorships. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the pandemic’s effects on revenue streams, fixed costs, player contracts, and stakeholder roles, offering insights into strategies that promote financial resilience. Case studies illustrate how elite, semi-professional, and grassroots clubs responded to financial and operational challenges, emphasising the importance of diversified income sources, proactive financial planning, and community support. By identifying lessons from the pandemic, the entry underscores the critical need for sustainable practises and resilient models to prepare the football industry for future disruptions
A Manufacturing Industry Perspective on Pandemic-Induced Supply Chain Disruptions
Full text linkThis study explores the impact of COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions on manufacturing firms, focusing on external risks: demand, environmental, and supply. Our literature review reveals the general lack of comprehensive disruption plans and exposes the vulnerabilities in manufacturing firms with limited research addressing this issue. By adopting an interpretive research philosophy and a qualitative, inductive approach, our research delves into the operational challenges and adaptations implemented in the manufacturing sector during the pandemic through case studies. The findings reveal that COVID-19 significantly increased risks, causing demand surges, logistical disruptions, extended lead times, and labour shortages due to lockdowns, necessitating strategic shifts towards localised and digital supply chains in the manufacturing sector. Our study not only enriches the supply chain literature by detailing the pandemic’s effects and emphasising the need for robust disruption plans for enhanced resilience but also offers new insights into managing supply chain disruptions in crises, highlighting the necessity of strategic adaptations for future crisis preparedness across various industries
Evaluation of Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Type 1 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
No full textObjectives
Autonomous nervous system (ANS) function is a valid parameter for evaluating cardiorespiratory efficiency index (VO2peak). ANS function is usually assessed through mean heart rate (HR) or heart rate variability (HRV). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a range of cardiac autonomic function indices and VO2peak to assess the predictors of cardiopulmonary efficiency during rest, peak exercise performance, and recovery in adolescent males with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Methods
This cross-sectional study recruited 60 adolescent male participants with T1D (age: 15.3 ± 1.4, mean duration of diagnosis: 6.4 ± 1). A profile of cardiac autonomic indices related to HR and HRV were measured during of rest, exercise, and recovery conditions. VO2peak was evaluated using Graded Exercise Testing (GXT).
Results
Simple linear regression models indicated a significant correlation between VO2peak and High-Frequency Power (HF) and Ratio of low to high frequency power (LF/HF) indices at rest, peak exercise, and recovery; average HR and RMSSD at rest and recovery; and Standard Deviation of all Normal R-R Intervals (SDNN) at rest (R coefficients ranged from 0.90 to 0.32, p <0.05). The multiple linear regression model indicated the HF during recovery as an independent predictor for VO2peak (R2 = 0.86, R = 0.93, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
HF appears to be a more suitable predictor of the cardiorespiratory system efficiency in the resting and recovery stages of exercise than the HR factor. The quantification of selected HRV time and frequency factors may provide clinicians with more insightful information about cardiovascular health status of adolescent with T1D during standard exercise and subsequent recovery period
Assessing vessel pollution risk in Asian areas: A comparative analysis based on data-driven Bayesian Network approach
No full textVessel emission is gradually becoming one of the major sources of environmental pollution in Asian areas such as the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Southeast Asia (SEA). Accurate identification of vessels with high pollution risks can effectively control their emissions. This research develops data-driven Bayesian network models to assess vessel pollution risk in GBA and SEA regions through a novel machine-learning methodology. A comprehensive analysis based on the newly proposed ‘pollution risk index’ reveals the key variables affecting vessel pollution risk, as well as similarities and differences between two regions. Furthermore, managerial implications are provided to help different coastal authorities better control the vessel pollution, i.e., the pre-assessment of vessel risk before onboard inspections, the formulation of specific regulations targeting on vessels with high pollution risks. This research provides a good reference for assessing vessel pollution risks, controlling vessel emissions and ensuring environmentally-friendly navigational waters in GBA and SEA areas
Effectiveness of a comprehensive health promotion intervention for managing risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian housewives: A four-arm randomized controlled trial
No full textFull-time housework includes long hours of musculoskeletal effort that can lead to intense pain, poor workability, stress and reduced quality of life. A comprehensive intervention that included biomechanical and psychosocial educational training was designed and evaluated using a four-arm randomized control trial. A total of 160 housewives recruited from a musculoskeletal disorders clinic were randomly assigned to one of four intervention groups: control, biomechanical, psychosocial and comprehensive (biomechanical and psychosocial). Measures were collected before the seven weekly training sessions, immediately after, and three months and six months later. There were significant sustained improvements compared to baseline in the biomechanical and the psychosocial groups for six risk factors, and all seven risk factors in the comprehensive group providing evidence of independent contributions from biomechanical and psychosocial training approaches. This supported the overarching hypothesis that a comprehensive educational intervention can effectively reduce risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders in full-time housewives
Heneni (Here I am, I am here)
No full textThe important critical work of considering limitations and potential ethical lacuna within the development of methods of acknowledgement is considered by those contributors who have a critical background in refugee and indigenous studies. Following Santos (2018), they identify the ways in which the different forms of knowledge intersect but also produce aporias. Bagelman's chapter considers the formative nature of place in her settler ontology