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The Cost of Caring: Empathic Relationships and Emotional Labour in Early Years Management
Get PDFThis article explores the outcomes of research (Hodgkins, 2023) based in England, that ex-amined the impact of empathic relationships on early childhood practitioners. Partici-pants held various job titles, such as early years educator, learning support assistant, and nursery manager, and came from diverse early childhood settings in England. Of the nine participants, four had positions with management responsibility, either as the set-ting manager or deputy manager. Participants kept reflective diaries of their empathic interactions with children and families, which were followed up with semi-structured interviews. The research revealed significant emotional labour for practitioners and un-derscored the need for more emotionally supportive supervision in the profession. It al-so highlighted the unique stress on those with management responsibility, who support children, families, and staff. In this article, the researcher and an early years manager who participated in the study, examine the role of empathy and emphasise the need to acknowledge and support managers
Designing Education Experiences with Horses to Develop Social Skills and Emotional Wellbeing: Supporting the Most Vulnerable
No full textThe benefits of horse riding as a form of physical exercise, particularly for those with disabilities, is well known. However, what is less well known is the socio-emotional benefits of time spent in company with horses. This research focuses upon a therapeutic equine care club, for young people and adults with impairments, developed upon the concept of its participants volunteering to look after the horses. In the UK horse-riding is an expensive hobby, inaccessible to many. This club, situated at a state-of-the-art inclusive equestrian centre, and funded by the Commonwealth Games, provided an opportunity to engage in the care of horses for those with learning, developmental, physical or socio-emotional impairments, free of charge. This research explores the views of those who ran the club, as well as the attendees and their carers. Our findings suggest that time spent in the company of horses, even if limited to groundwork, can have considerable impact upon the development of those who typically struggle with social interaction and emotional regulation. Friendships were formed and challenges overcome, in the company of these majestic animals. We conclude that much more could be done to improve the lives of the excluded, disabled and disengaged, by using horses as a catalyst for motivation and interaction
Wetlands and Mammals
No full textThis chapter briefly examines the ecological interrelationships between wetlands and mammals, exploring the importance of wetland ecosystems to mammals as well as investigating the importance of mammals to wetlands. Mammals, even as one of the smallest taxonomic groups, utilise or occur in an extensive range of habitats, including wetlands. This includes semi-aquatic mammals in which wetlands are a critical component of their home-range, but also “terrestrial” species where wetlands can form an important component of their habitat, albeit not necessarily essential, nor throughout the year. The role a wetland plays for terrestrial mammals will vary depending on the nature of the wetland, an extensive network within a landscape, or single isolated waterholes distant from other similar features. Waterholes, specifically, can impact mammal ecology and behavioural ecology both in arid/semi-arid regions where water availability is sparse and in regions where there is a temporal scarcity of water. Mammals themselves can also impact wetland ecosystems; some semi-aquatic mammals are ecosystem engineers, while others influence the diversity and nature of vegetation, and contribute to allochthonous inputs of biomass and nutrient cycling in wetland systems, influencing the presence and survival of other animal species. Despite such strong interrelationships, consideration of mammals and their roles in wetland dynamics are seldom part of the discourse of sustainable wetland management. It is thus strongly suggested that more attention is focused on mammal-wetland associations and ecosystem function
How internationally educated nurses bridge cultures and enrich patient care
No full text'The diverse training and professional backgrounds of IENs bring a breadth of clinical approaches and problem-solving strategies
RNA silencing response in chloroplast-replicating viroid siRNA biogenesis in plants
Get PDFRNA silencing represents a cellular regulatory and defence mechanism in eukaryotes across kingdoms. In plants, a combined functionality of DCL2 and DCL3 is crucial for their synergistic defence against whilst DCL4 is required for nucleus-replicating viroid. However, how RNA silencing targets and fights against chloroplast-replicating viroid remains unknown. Here, utilizing eggplant latent viroid (ELVd), a chloroplast replicating viroid and a suite of transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana RNAi lines RDR6i and DCLsi , we reveal that DCLs and RDR6 partake a dynamic RNA silencing-mediated response to ELVd infection. DCL1i , DCL2i , DCL3i , and DCL4i enhance, whilst RDR6i seems to have little impact on, ELVd accumulation. Through small RNA profiling, we unravel that DCL2 plays an essential role in generating 22 nt ELVd siRNA. DCL3 is functionally redundant to DCL2 and targets ELVd for biogenesis of 24 nt chloroplastic viroid siRNA (cvd-siRNA) in the absence of DCL2 . DCL4 accounts for the less abundant 21 nt cvd-siRNA production. DCL1 does not contribute to the cvd-siRNA biogenesis. However, ELVd infection reduces DCL1-processed miRNAs in both wild-type and RNAi plants, suggesting that DCL1 might indirectly participate in protection of plants from ELVd attack. RDR6 imposes no influence on the 21–24 nt size profile of cvd-siRNA, but affects cvd-siRNA abundance at the late stage of ELVd infection. Our results also demonstrate that a different processing might be responsible to produce chloroplastic small RNAs (csRNAs) in chloroplasts. The dynamic changes of csRNAs during ELVd infection suggest that csRNAs might be of biological relevance to chloroplastic viroid-host plant interactions
Anthropometric profile of female basketball players: The influence of competitive level and playing position
Get PDFThis study aimed to analyse the anthropometric characteristics of female basketball players, focusing on competitive level and specific playing position. The sample included 62 female basketball players from teams across all senior women’s basketball leagues in Spain, (1st to 4th division). Different anthropometric measurements were evaluated to evaluate body composition and somatotype. Significant differences emerged between competitive levels, with higher-level players showing more favourable results in some measures. Furthermore, a distinctive profile was identified based on playing position: centers were generally taller, heavier and had higher percentages of body fat and muscle mass compared to forwards and guards. This study provides valuable information on the physical attributes of female basketball players across competitive levels, improving knowledge of the demands of current women’s basketball
A Guilty Woman
No full textThe truth is sometimes darker than fiction…
When Caroline walks into the bustling bar of a hotel on a Friday afternoon, no one could have predicted what is about to unfold. With chilling precision, she pulls out a gun and shoots her lover five times in cold blood. The crime, committed in plain sight, leaves no room for doubt—Caroline is guilty. But when questioned, she offers no explanation and refuses to comment.
As the case explodes across media outlets, a popular true-crime podcast begins to dig deeper into Caroline's life.
Soon, her writing becomes the key to understanding her past—and potentially, the dark secrets she has yet to reveal. As her defence attorney scrambles to defend her, one question lingers: What happens when a killer rewrites their own story?
And as her trial approaches, whispers grow about a manuscript she’s writing from prison—one that might reveal far more than anyone expected
Managing allergy-related COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: A multi-methods analysis of practitioner notes and referral outcomes
Get PDFThis study examines healthcare practitioners’ decision-making processes when managing vaccine-hesitant patients concerned about allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. A multi-methods secondary data analysis was conducted combining quantitative referral trends and qualitative thematic analysis of health practitioner recorded notes. Anonymized data from 326 individuals referred to an interim COVID-19 vaccine allergy advice service based in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, UK, were analyzed. Quantitative data included referral patterns and vaccination outcomes, while qualitative data consisted of thematic analysis of free-text health practitioner notes documenting patient concerns and practitioner decision-making. Of the referred cases, 23.3% were advised to proceed with vaccination in primary care without precaution, 29% with additional precautions such as antihistamines and extended observation. Hospital-based vaccination was only recommended for 0.9%, typically for individuals with complex allergy histories. In 22.7%, cases were escalated to a multidisciplinary team that mainly advised vaccination in primary care with precautions or in hospital settings. Notably, no cases resulted in recommendations against vaccination. The qualitative analysis of health practitioner free text notes developed three themes: diverse presentation of allergies, complex allergy histories, and patient anxiety and lack of trust. Themes suggest healthcare practitioners face significant challenges in clinical decision-making with these patients and highlight the complexity of managing vaccine hesitancy. This study underscores the need for enhanced training and standardized documentation processes to support healthcare practitioners in managing allergy-related vaccine hesitancy. Public health messaging should proactively address misconceptions about vaccines as they relate to allergies, to build trust and reduce hesitancy
GMMP Special Edition: Progress on a Plateau - National Report: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
No full textGender equality in and through the world news media across 30 years of media monitoring.
30-Year Findings on Change in Gender Equality in and through the World News Media
Conceptualising an inclusive approach to student voice in higher education: A heuristic inquiry
No full textHigher Education seeks the student voice through various approaches. However, including students with diverse learner needs (DLN) in these approaches poses challenges when hierarchy is present. Through self-reflection and collaboration with co-researchers, I engaged in heuristic inquiry to develop a framework for engaging in an inclusive approach to gathering student voice. Nine co-researchers completed 14 individual conversational interviews with me to discuss their student voice experiences in higher education. Five key themes emerged: (1) needing a trauma-informed safe space to regulate emotions, (2) removing judgement through implementing trauma-informed practice, (3) embracing understanding and representation to enable authentic interaction, (4) removing fear by humanising those in positions of power, and (5) needing choice and autonomy. These themes demonstrated DLN students’ desire to cease masking and become more autonomous and authentic in their experiences, thereby moving toward partnership approaches. Drawing on these themes, I present an Inclusive Student Voice (ISV) approach and recommendations for practice