26207 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring river and natural flood management using Minecraft
No full textScience Hunters is a programme of projects that uses Minecraft to engage children with environmental science, geography, engineering and other related areas. Two recent projects, Building to Break Barriers and Engineering for Sustainable Societies used Minecraft to engage children with exploring engineering and the Sustainable Development Goals. Outputs initially included a free online resource to support engaging students with river management, which was then built upon to produce a further resource focusing on Natural Flood Management approaches as sustainable solutions. Here we outline our approach and outputs for supporting children to consider and explore aspects of flooding and river management, and both traditional and natural, sustainable engineering solutions
Interrogating technological leapfrogging in Asian development and growth models: Toward a critical postcolonial political economy approach
Get PDFThis article examines the discourse of technological leapfrogging within dominant Asian development models—namely, the earlier manufacturing-led development (MLD) and the more recent services-led development (SLD)—which posit that developing nations such as India, China, and the Philippines are “catching up” with the West through digitalization, trade, and privatization of modern services. While these models highlight the shift from industrial production to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-driven growth, they remain rooted in Western-centric modernization paradigms, assuming linear pathways to future progress, the efficiency of technocratic governance, and historical as well as institutional path-dependencies. These models, however, neglect the various “indeterminacies” of postcolonial development, overlooking how spatial asymmetries, historical contingencies, and socio-political contestations at multiple levels continually shape technological transformations across different societies. Challenging these normative assumptions, this article advances a Critical Postcolonial Political Economy (CPPE) approach, synthesizing insights from critical political economy, postcolonial and pluralist economic geographies. The CPPE approach centers on three analytical lenses: first, “social blocs” or the shifting coalitions of state, capital, civil, and political society actors that variously impact technological development and change; second, “plural temporalities” that reveal the non-linear, overlapping tempi of technology politics and development within national contexts; and third, “conjunctural thinking,” which parses technological transformations through moments of contestation, crises, and agency. Rather than prescribing yet another developmental blueprint, the CPPE approach seeks to demonstrate a decolonizing methodological praxis, disrupting grand global and regional narratives such as the “Asian miracle” and “Asian Century” that themselves universalize specific technological pathways to developmental ascendancy. Through situated histories and contested socio-technical transitions, the CPPE approach outlines a more politically generative lens for interrogating growth models across “incomparable geographies.” Ultimately, the article calls for rethinking technological leapfrogging beyond teleological assumptions, centering postcolonial indeterminacy in analyses of Asia’s (uneven) digital development
Stakeholder’s perceptions of the benefits and barriers to implementing Environmental Management Systems within the AECOM sector in Malaysia
Get PDFEnvironmental management systems (EMS), such as ISO 14001, are commonplace across the architecture, engineering, construction, operations and management (AECOM) sectors of advanced economies. However, their uptake remains limited across emerging markets and developing economies. This study explores stakeholders’ perceptions of the benefits and barriers to implementing EMS within the AECOM sectors of Malaysia. Guided by a positivism stance, the study takes a quantitative approach using an online questionnaire survey to gather the opinions of AECOM professionals. Findings reveal participants believe the most significant benefits of implementing EMS in Malaysia are to improving corporate image and contribute to the environmental standards of the sector, whereas the most significant barriers to implementing EMS are lack of client support and the difficulty in coordinating environmental performance among multi-tier subcontractors. Based on the evidence collected, the study recommends encouragement by the government of Malaysia to drive forward environmental management and further research into the reasons for the lack of reported support for ISO 14001 within the supply chain
Dietary advanced glycation end products may increase the incidence of allergic rhinitis depending on genetic susceptibility: A prospective cohort study
No full textBackground: Limited evidence exists for the relationship between dietary advanced glycation end product (AGE) intake and allergic rhinitis (AR). Herein, the association between dietary AGEs and the risk of developing AR and whether genetic susceptibility influences the effects of dietary AGEs on AR were explored. Methods: In total, 125 276 participants without AR at baseline and having completed at least two 24-hour dietary recalls from the UK Biobank (2006–2010) were included. Dietary AGEs, specifically Nε-(1-carboxyethyl)-L-lysine (CEL), Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), and Nδ-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolone-2-yl) ornithine (MG-H1), were quantified by coupling 24-hour food assessments with a validated dietary AGE database. The incidence of allergic rhinitis was determined through hospital admissions. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to calculate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association between dietary AGE intake and the risk of AR. Results: During a median follow-up period of 12.4 years, 1171 individuals developed AR. In the fully adjusted model, higher dietary AGEs (HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.50; P-trend = 0.006) and MG-H1 intake (HR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.41; P-trend = 0.046), especially the dietary AGEs derived from baked foods (HR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.46; P-trend = 0.020) and from nuts and legumes (HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.47; P-trend = 0.013) were associated with an increased risk of AR. Among participants with a low genetic risk of AR, the HRs (95% CI) of AR were 1.32 (1.01, 1.73) and 1.37 (1.05, 1.79) for dietary AGE and MG-H1 intake, respectively. Conclusions: Dietary AGE intake was associated with an increased risk of AR, which was modified through genetic predisposition
The Chinese-Think Brain Health community intervention for dementia prevention in the UK: From theoretical cultural adaptation to evaluation
Get PDFPeople from different ethnic minorities in the UK are experiencing a steeper increase in dementia diagnosis compared to their white counterparts but are more likely to have a higher risk of dementia, to be diagnosed at a younger age and to die earlier from the condition. These disparities suggest the need for urgent interventions to prevent and reduce dementia risk. Despite the significant presence of Chinese people in the UK, there has been little dementia research involving them, so this study is the first in the UK to focus on Chinese communities living in five major cities. Using a cultural adaptation theoretical framework, we adapted Alzheimer’s Research UK’s virtual dementia prevention campaign Think Brain Health to meet the needs of Chinese people. We used a mixed methods approach to evaluate knowledge of dementia and brain health activities, and intention regarding help-seeking. We performed descriptive, chi-square and thematic analysis; 54 Chinese people completed the intervention, with 85 per cent aged over 60 years. Over half (56%) could not speak, read or write in English. Our results showed significant improvements in knowledge of dementia and brain health, and an improved intention to seek help and information. All participants reported a positive experience of the culturally tailored intervention and valued working with dementia researchers who were able to deliver the intervention in Chinese languages. Future work involving Chinese communities in the UK will need to identify an appropriate but non-stigmatizing Chinese term for dementia
Behind the badge: Addressing organizational and operational stress in policing mental health
Get PDFPolice officers in the UK and Ireland experience comparable mental health challenges, largely due to workplace culture and repeated exposure to trauma. Poor management, bullying, and lack of organzational support contribute as much to mental health challenges-if not more-than traumatic incidents themselves. Police forces must prioritize structural and cultural changes, not just individual interventions, to better support the mental health of their members
Guiding principles and codes of practice: Do teachers of deaf children and young people need them?
Get PDFThis article analyses the history of the profession of teachers of deaf children (ToD) in the United Kingdom, particularly in relation to the interaction they have with the health service. The views of ToDs were explored in relation to professionalism, their identity as a professional and how they deal with ethical dilemmas. Participants were self-selected to join the study and were generally more highly qualified than most UK ToDs. Seventeen ToDs were interviewed, four of whom were deaf. Transcripts were analysed using a reflexive approach and themes constructed based on Braun and Clark (2019) using theories of social justice from Fraser (2008), Crenshaw (Cho, Crenshaw and McCall, 2013) and Lynch et al. (2021). The findings showed that teachers had many professional and ethical issues in their work, particularly in working with health professionals and families. Most were in favour of further professional discussion about a code of practice but only half were in favour of inspection of the work of early years. There was support for more openness and accountability at a local authority level with peers and heads of services. Results are discussed in relation to a social justice framework. Teachers in the UK have varying knowledge of social justice issues in their initial teacher education. The mandatory ToD qualification and continuing professional development could focus more on this area as ToDs work in parental homes, well beyond the usual boundaries of schoolteachers
Exploring the impact of climate change on respiratory health in Nigeria: A scoping review of current research, government policies and programs
Get PDFClimate change significantly impacts health globally, especially in densely populated, rapidly industrialising and ecologically diverse countries like Nigeria. We analysed climate change policies, studies, programs, and events at the national and subnational levels in Nigeria and explored their effects on public and respiratory health. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMAScR) checklist, we searched PubMed, African Journals Online (AJoL), Google Scholar and government data repositories on January 10, 2024. We synthesised results using an adapted sector-level framework based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Our searches returned 262 items, of which 32, including research studies, reports and grey documents, were retained for synthesis. Although some policies and programmes, like the Climate Change Act and Nigerian Climate and Health Observatory, exist, implementation is limited across many settings. Key reported respiratory pollutants in Nigeria include particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), gaseous emissions (CO, SO₂, NOx), agricultural by-products (NH₃, H₂S), greenhouse gases (CH₄, CO₂), and microbial contaminants, which collectively increase the risk of respiratory inflammation, infections, and exacerbations of chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases. Our findings underscore a clear link between climate change and worsening respiratory health in many Nigerian settings. The current policies and programmes’ have limited impact, calling for comprehensive reforms, including improved enforcement and targeted action against major pollution sources, recognition of environmental rights, and stronger public health initiatives and community action
