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From awareness to action:embedding a trauma informed toolkit for the teaching of sensitive topics in victimology and forensic science
Get PDFThis paper presents a conceptual and practice-informed contribution to trauma-informed teaching within forensic science, supported by a focused review of relevant literature. Sensitive topics such as violence, trauma and victimisation are essential elements of forensic science curricula, yet the discipline lacks structured pedagogical guidance to help educators deliver this material safely. Drawing together key evidence from trauma-informed education, psychology and criminal justice, alongside insights from the authors’ own teaching practice, this paper identifies the emotional risks faced by students and the potential for educator desensitisation. These strands of evidence inform the development of a practical trauma-informed teaching toolkit designed to enhance psychological safety, support student autonomy and strengthen resilience in learning environments. By offering actionable strategies and outlining institutional considerations, the paper proposes a framework for embedding trauma-informed approaches across forensic science education to better prepare students for the emotional realities of professional practice
Health service contacts for mental health and substance use on release from prison:a retrospective population-based data linkage study
Get PDFBackground Mental health and substance use problems among people released from prison contribute substantially to premature mortality and emergency services demand. Understanding of mental health and substance use-related health service contacts prior to these severe and costly outcomes is limited. We assessed mental health and substance use-related contact with multiple services, comparing rates of contact among people released from prison to a matched general population sample who had not recently been in prison. Objectives To compare rates of health service contacts for mental health and substance use between people released from prison and a matched general population sample. Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked administrative data with nationwide coverage. The cohort contained all people released from any Scottish prison in 2015 (exposed group), and a random general population sample matched (ratio 1:5) on sex, age, postcode and deprivation indices, who had no imprisonment in the 5 years prior (unexposed group). We linked individual-level administrative healthcare (prescriptions, outpatient, inpatient, emergency/ unscheduled care: 2010–2020), prison (admissions, releases: 2010–2020) and deaths records (2015–2020). We estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) with 95% CIs using fixed-effects Poisson regression with cluster-robust standard errors, controlling for time-in-community, pre-index mental health and substance use-related health service contacts, and comorbidities. We stratified models by mental health (MH), substance use (SU) and dual diagnosis (attributable to both MH and SU). Setting Scotland. Results We linked records for 8313 people released from prison, and 41 213 matched individuals. Mental health and substance use-related contact rates were significantly higher for people released from prison across all services, and particularly for emergency and unscheduled care. aIRRs for ambulance contacts were MH=7.75 (95% CI 5.76 to 10.42), SU=7.58 (95% CI 5.71 to 10.08), dual diagnosis=8.28 (95% CI 6.50 to 10.55); and accident and emergency department contacts were MH=4.88 (95% CI 3.78 to 6.29) and SU=7.98 (95% CI 5.71 to 11.17). aIRRs for community prescriptions were MH=1.80 (95% CI 1.67 to 1.94), SU=5.95 (95% CI 4.83 to 7.32), dual diagnosis=5.33 (95% CI 3.70 to 7.68); drug and alcohol services were 7.13 (95% CI 6.00 to 8.48); and outpatient attendances were 2.61 (95% CI 2.17 to 3.16). aIRRs for 24-hour unscheduled telephone support were MH=7.63 (95% CI 4.93 to 11.83) and SU=8.29 (95% CI 3.99 to 17.22); and out-of-hours general practice were MH=5.14 (95% CI 3.66 to 7.22), SU=5.89 (95% CI 3.11 to 11.14) and dual diagnosis=8.85 (95% CI 2.94 to 26.63). aIRRs for general/acute hospital admissions and day cases were MH=2.97 (95% CI 1.43 to 6.16), SU=7.85 (95% CI 4.42 to 13.91), dual diagnosis=13.11 (95% CI 7.95 to 21.61); and for psychiatric admissions were MH=3.62 (95% CI 2.39 to 5.49), SU=10.74 (95% CI 6.12 to 18.84) and dual diagnosis=7.74 (95% CI 4.30 to 13.94). Conclusions Improved post-release mental health and substance use care is vital for individual and public health. Despite elevated rates of contact with community mental health and substance use services, people released from prison have disproportionately high rates of contact with emergency and unscheduled care services. This suggests that early support is either inadequate or not accessed by those in greatest need.Policymakers and service providers should consider investment in tailored transitional and post-release intervention at individual and population level, to improve health and thus prevent later high-cost service use and avoidable mortality. Our results also suggest high-quality care must be available and accessible beyond the immediate post-release period to permit sustained engagement or engagement at a later date
Responsibility with the other:plant ethics and education at the end of the world
Get PDFThis paper proposes an ethics that destabilizes the axis of anthropocentrism around which climate change education revolves. Education is future-oriented, narrated as aiming at ‘solving’ the climate crisis, or ‘saving’ the planet. I unsettle established notions of humans’ ethical responsibility for the world, considering instead our capacity to be responsible with non-human others, and in this case, plants. Plants are seen as being beyond ethical considerations; reduced to the level of resources, food sources, or ornaments, we do not feel the need to question or consider our ethical responsibilities to them. The paper proposes how we might begin this ethics, centred on the notion of being responsible as remaining open and attentive to the other, and answering – through meaningful action – in reply. The conversational responsiveness of this ethics does not assume mastery over plants, instead suggesting a new understanding of responsibility that presupposes the agency and awareness of plants.This paper proposes an ethics that destabilizes the axis of anthropocentrism around which climate change education revolves. Education is future-oriented, narrated as aiming at ‘solving’ the climate crisis, or ‘saving’ the planet. I unsettle established notions of humans’ ethical responsibility for the world, considering instead our capacity to be responsible with non-human others, and in this case, plants. Plants are seen as being beyond ethical considerations; reduced to the level of resources, food sources, or ornaments, we do not feel the need to question or consider our ethical responsibilities to them. The paper proposes how we might begin this ethics, centred on the notion of being responsible as remaining open and attentive to the other, and answering – through meaningful action – in reply. The conversational responsiveness of this ethics does not assume mastery over plants, instead suggesting a new understanding of responsibility that presupposes the agency and awareness of plants
Factorial ANOMC tests:a comparative analysis of type I error and power under multifactor experimental designs
Get PDFThis study introduces a factorial extension of the Analysis of Means with Covariate (ANOMC), building on the classical ANOM framework by incorporating auxiliary covariate information. The proposed factorial ANOMC approach is designed for experiments involving two fixed factors and a continuous covariate, where traditional ANOM or factorial ANOM may lose efficiency. Six variants of the factorial ANOMC test are developed using regression and ratio-type estimators, and their performance is evaluated against the standard factorial ANOM test, which does not utilise covariate information. A comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to assess these tests under diverse conditions, including normal and non-normal error distributions, varying correlation structures, different sample sizes, multiple levels of each factor, and both homogeneous and heterogeneous variances. Performance is examined through empirical Type I error rates and statistical power. The findings show that while factorial ANOM maintains stable Type I error rates under ideal settings, several factorial ANOMC variants (i.e., and ) achieve improved detection capability, especially when regression estimators are used. Some ratio-based versions also perform well under specific correlation and distribution structures. Power increases noticeably for factorial ANOMC when sample sizes or factor-level combinations grow. Overall, the factorial ANOMC framework provides a more adaptable and informative alternative for multifactor experiments involving covariates
Agile project management for economic sustainability:a time-lagged mediation model of strategic agility and agile leadership among software professionals
Get PDFThis research examines how agile project management affects economic outcomes, with agile leadership and strategic agility serving as mediators. Data were collected using a time-lagged approach (T1 = 304; T2 = 236) from managers at five major IT and telecommunications companies via a questionnaire, yielding 236 usable responses for analysis. The study uses structural equation modeling (Smart-PLS) to investigate these relationships. The findings suggest that agile leadership and strategic agility serve as mediators between agile project management and economic sustainability. This work contributes to the field by empirically examining the balance between control and flexibility in agile project management. It also expands the definition of strategic agility to include the ability to switch business partners and broadens agile leadership to encompass coordination between partners. The findings suggest that while agile leadership enhances customer value creation, strategic agility is crucial for achieving economic sustainability
Turning decolonial rhetoric into anti-colonial praxis in religion education Africa South of the Sahara
Get PDFThere exists no reliable empirical research on anti-decolonial critiques of religion education (RE) in Africa South of the Sahara (ASoS), therefore, this article uses the African Anti-colonial Analytical Framework (AAcAF) as a novel theoretical lens in critiquing neo-colonial embeddedness in the RE of ASoS. It exposes how colonial epistemologies continue to malign non-normative and diverse ways of knowing and further explains why this problem has persisted in RE despite its provision existing in a post-colonial educational environment. The article calls for epistemic equality in dealing with the complexities of religious diversity in RE aligned with democratic principles governing the political state in post-independent Africa. To counteract the colonial status quo, the article presents anti-colonial strategies that can turn decolonial rhetoric into anti-colonial praxis in the RE of ASoS
Examining Black female narratives in Nollywood films:a feminist standpoint and subjective personal introspection approach to marketing representation
Get PDFThis paper advances Transformative Consumer Research (TCR) by analysing postcolonial media environments through an integration of Feminist Standpoint Theory (FST) and a standpoint-anchored form of Subjective Personal Introspection (SPI). Focussing on Nollywood, the Nigerian movie industry, the study conceptualises media as a symbolic marketplace that produces, circulates, and contests representations of Black Nigerian womanhood. Situating SPI within an FST epistemology provides a reflexive method linking embodied affect with the structural, intersectional hierarchies shaping meaning in Global South media contexts. Drawing on diasporic reflexivity, the study shows how Nollywood narratives function as marketing representational systems that shape consumer identity, emotional well-being, and cultural value. By positioning representation as a site of consumer justice, the paper extends TCR to postcolonial media environments and proposes an ethically oriented, decolonial framework for evaluating implications for marginalised consumers
Regulation of flagellar architecture and metabolic pathways associated with the <i>Leishmania mexicana</i> SUMO protease
Get PDFLeishmaniasis, is a neglected tropical disease of global importance with rising incidence due to climate change, limited therapeutic options, and increasing drug resistance. Novel strategies targeting parasite biology are urgently needed. In this study, we propose that the functionality and regulation of the parasite's sole SUMO-specific protease, poorly understood to date, represent a tractable biological target. Using an integrated approach combining bioinformatics, biochemical assays, SUMOylation reconstitution, proteomics, and infection models, we characterised the localisation, enzymatic properties, and phenotypic consequences of dysregulating this protease. GFP-tagged domain fragments localised predominantly to mitochondria with additional puncta at the nuclear periphery and exhibited canonical SUMO processing and deconjugation activity. An in vitro SUMOylation reconstitution assay demonstrated that both cysteine synthase (CS) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) are SUMOylated, with CS displaying a pronounced RanBP2-dependent enhancement of conjugation, confirming substrate-specific E3 ligase activity. Overexpression of the protease catalytic domain triggered profound cellular remodelling, including severe flagellar shortening (CD-GFP, 1.10 ± 1.05 μm and WT, 17.95 ± 4.35 μm, p < 0.05), disrupted vesicular trafficking (p < 0.05), and an ∼11-fold depletion of sterols (CD-GFP, 4.48 × 108 ± 2.90 × 108 AU and WT, 49.00 × 108 ± 59.3 × 108 AU, p < 0.05). Quantitative proteomics identified significant alterations in 135 proteins (76 upregulated, 59 downregulated; p < 0.05), encompassing pathways linked to energy metabolism, oxidative stress responses, ribosome biogenesis, and sterol biosynthesis. Parasite infectivity in mammalian macrophages at macrophage-to-parasite ratios of 1:10 and 1:20 were comparable (p > 0.05), with only a modest increase at 1:40 in CD-GFP-infected macrophages (p < 0.05). Collectively, our findings establish the SUMO protease as a key regulator of parasite morphology and metabolism. By revealing its broader roles in cellular adaptation and stress resilience, this work positions SUMO-dependent pathways as a promising regulatory axis for understanding, and ultimately disrupting, the transmission cycle of Leishmania and related kinetoplastid pathogens
Critical analysis of Scottish local authorities bulky waste services:implications for leaks in the circular economy model
Get PDFFly-tipping is the illegal disposal of waste onto land and can range from a bin bag of household waste to copious quantities of domestic, commercial or construction waste. A decade after the Paris Agreement 2015 on climate change, there is increased urgency to implement inclusive policies that can contribute to sustainable waste management services and reduce the environmental impacts of fly-tipping. This study explores the characteristics of bulky waste kerbside collection services through analysis of website disclosures from local authorities across Scotland. A database was constructed to identify potential barriers to service uptake and provide insights for policy makers and waste managers. It is crucial to ensure that materials from this discrete waste stream do not leak out of the circular economy approach being pursued by the Scottish Government. The findings highlight underlying factors that may influence resident engagement with bulky uplift services and emphasise the importance of effective communication and inclusive policies for local authorities and waste managers. Our findings reveal critical gaps in accessibility, affordability, and operational design that may inhibit service uptake and contribute to fly-tipping. Recommendations include the adoption of inclusive booking and payment methods, progressive pricing policies, and coordinated digital solutions such as a unified smartphone app. These measures could support legitimate disposal behaviours, reduce environmental harm caused by fly-tipping, and strengthen Scotland’s circular economy outcomes. Mitigating fly-tipping and improving bulky item disposal routes can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfill and support Scotland’s climate targets by retaining products and materials in circulation
A nutritional intervention within highly trained youth soccer players using a COM-B model of behaviour change:a case series approach
Get PDFLarge inter-individual variability in daily energy and carbohydrate intake has been reported in highly trained academy soccer players, potentially impacting training and match-day performance, recovery and physical development. Nutritional interventions in these cohorts typically rely on group education without behaviour change theory, limiting their long-term effectiveness. Consequently, this study aimed to improve the nutritional intake of highly-trained youth soccer players via an individualised, theory-driven dietary behaviour change programme. This mixed method case series utilised the COM-B model and Behaviour change wheel (BCW) to design and implement an eight-week dietary behaviour change programme in three full-time (16.7 ± 0.3 years) academy players (P1; P2; P3). Education and enablement were used to improve players' understanding of their energy and macronutrient requirements, alongside training to develop practical nutrition skills. Environmental restructuring was used to modify player’s physical environment, ensuring they had appropriate food when away from the club. Daily energy intake increased by 55%, 19% and 24% for P1, P2 and P3, respectively, corresponding with DXA-derived fat-free mass gains of 1.4, 0.5 and 0.3kg. Absolute carbohydrate intake increased by 217, 78 and 110g.day-1 respectively, alongside improved fuelling practices around match day. Qualitative insights uncovered improvements in nutritional knowledge and cooking skills (Psychological and Physical Capability), while a desire to improve physical characteristics (Reflective Motivation) was a key adherence factor. The COM-B model and BCW provided a structured framework for designing an effective dietary behaviour change programme that successfully improved dietary behaviours in three highly trained youth soccer players