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Preventing suicides on the railways: learning from lived and living experiences
No full textBackground
Despite increasing recognition of the crucial role of lived/ing experience in shaping suicide prevention policy and practice, the perspectives of people who have considered or attempted suicide by train are seldom captured in analyses of what could reduce suicides on the railways. The aim of this study was to explore lived/ing experience perceptions of what types of approaches are effective or ineffective in this context, and why.
Methods
We carried out 1) in-depth qualitative interviews with 34 individuals who had attempted or contemplated suicide on the railways; 2) an online survey investigating lived/ing experiences of suicidality at rail locations (N = 269); 3) an online ethnography of content relating to train/rail suicide from different online spaces including ‘pro-choice’ forums and reddit (254 posts and 1228 associated comments).
Results
Several measures to prevent suicide on the railways were identified—and critiqued—in lived/ing experience accounts. These included strategies to challenge dominant cultural narratives around railway suicide (e.g. by shifting the focus from the lethality of this method to its impact on train drivers and others); environmental measures to restrict access to means and/or create a safer and more positive atmosphere; and increasing opportunities for help-seeking and ‘helpful’ third-party interventions. However, considering what works for whom, and when, emerged as crucial. The challenges of preventing rail suicides against a backdrop of severely stretched mental health services were also repeatedly highlighted.
Conclusions
The perspectives of people with lived/ing experiences, whilst far from homogenous, provide crucial insights into the potential value and unintended consequences of different measures to prevent suicides on the railways. Our findings reiterate the need for comprehensive suicide prevention strategies, targeting different stages of the suicidal process
Rebuilding the middle ground for reconnected societies via diversity and inclusion engaged marketing (DIEM)
No full textSense of humour and its effects on Great Britain's destination image
No full textAlthough tourism research has extensively explored destination attributes, the role of humour, particularly in shaping destination images, remains largely overlooked. This study addresses this gap by investigating the British sense of humour (BSOH) and its influence on perceptions of Britishness, national character, and identity. Taking a cross-cultural communication perspective, and drawing on insights from sociology, psychology, and anthropology, the research examines how humour contributes to Great Britain’s destination image and appeal. Using a qualitative methodology, 82 international tourists were interviewed across London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. Through Constructive–Contemporary Grounded Theory analysis, the study reveals that BSOH significantly shapes tourists’ experiences, perceptions, and mediated stereotypes, influencing how British culture and identity are imagined. The findings challenge the dominance of physical attributes in destination image research, highlighting humour as a vital cultural and experiential factor in tourism perception
Advancing Research-Integrated Education: The Gene Editors Network of Excellence for Multidisciplinary Student Innovations and Global Impact
No full textThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) highlights higher education as an invaluable resource that “equips students with the skills to meet ever-changing labour markets” and serves as a “passport to economic security and a stable future” for vulnerable students. The Gene Editors of the Future (GEOTF) program at the University of Westminster (www.geneeditorsofthefuture.uk) exemplifies an innovative approach to integrating higher education with lifelong learning and professional development. GEOTF complements academic learning while equipping participants with laboratory and interpersonal skills for career advancement in the life sciences sector. Divided into 3 phases (basic, advanced, and research internships) over 8 months the program offers students an immersive learning experience in CRISPR gene-editing technology on an entirely free and extracurricular platform. Through authentic learning experiences in the Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR technology, GEOTF stands as a first-of-its-kind initiative in the United Kingdom in CRISPR-based learning. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, it overcame challenges to showcase institutional preparedness and student resilience. Since 2020, GEOTF has grown annually by 22.96%, engaging over 700 students and researchers across undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels. Participants survey from four iterations indicate that 61.7% of participants seek research internships, 25% aspire to advanced training, and 13.3% aim for basic certification in gene editing, with a focus on disease modelling, drug discovery, and diagnostics. As the UK life sciences industry employs over 250,000 professionals and is projected to create more than 130,000 new jobs over the next decade, there is a growing demand for biotechnologists skilled in CRISPR and related technologies. GEOTF addresses this gap by enhancing employability, bridging CV gaps, and fostering professional networks. Importantly, the program has cultivated a networked and unified scientific community, where students engage actively and authentically with nuances of cutting-edge research. By offering opportunities to participate in academic conferences, publishing, and public speaking, GEOTF fosters a culture of inquiry, innovation, and intellectual growth. Furthermore, students act as ambassadors for the University’s values, promoting social responsibility and a global perspective, preparing them to lead positive change in their careers and communities. Recent data shows that women represent only 35% of STEM graduates and remain underrepresented in leadership roles. However, across the four iterations of the program, the number of female participants has steadily increased at all levels, culminating in 83% in 2024. These students actively train and gain diverse opportunities, equipping them with the skills to pursue leadership roles within the scientific community and beyond. Gene editing is often perceived as a highly complex science; GEOTF challenges this notion by breaking stereotypes and expanding training opportunities across national and international institutions, while also increasing access to remote parts of the world through hands-on workshops. Looking ahead, GEOTF is set to lead the vertically integrated global CRISPR initiative, collaborating with leading institutions worldwide. Taken together, the individual paper will focus on sharing best practices to redefine how cutting-edge science is explored, taught, and communicated within the higher education landscape
Affect Adaptation for Virtual Reality: A Review of Efforts in Affective Computing
No full textAs experiences continue to advance, recognizing, understanding, and responding to affective states is anticipated to become more important. Emotion-aware systems have significant implications for human-computer interaction. By responding to emotional feedback, experiences can become more personalized and improve usability.
Virtual reality (VR) allows users to interact with a fictional world capable of evoking various emotions. Combining VR and affect adaptation is likely to assist user outcomes, for example, for learning or psychological benefits.
There is a current lack of real-time solutions developed for affect adaptation, which refers to the system controlling the experience based on emotional feedback inference. This paper suggests a framework that uses deep Q-learning with offline training to identify and respond to emotion-related data, and it outlines future research directions. The aim is to summarize and discuss the challenges in affective computing to establish how affect adaptation can be applied to improve applications in VR
The impact of the cost-of-living crisis, self-efficacy and religiosity on health-related quality of life in individuals with sickle cell disease
No full textAim: This study investigated the role of the individual impact of the cost-of-living crisis, self-efficacy, religiosity, demographic factors, and their collective influence on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD).
Methods: A correlational online survey with 443 participants living with SCD (51.5% males and 48.8% females) was conducted. HRQoL was assessed with the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12). Independent variables were the individual impact of the cost-of-living crisis (ICoLC), sickle cell self-efficacy, religiosity, and demographic factors (age, gender, education, and country of residence). Quantile regression analysis was employed.
Results: Self-efficacy was positively associated with HRQoL, evidencing the importance of self-efficacy in managing SCD. ICoLC was negatively associated with HRQoL, underscoring the challenges faced by individuals with SCD during the cost-of-living crisis. UK participants reported significantly higher HRQoL than US participants, suggesting national disparities. Contrary to previous findings, religiosity was negatively associated with HRQoL.
Conclusion: This study highlights the roles of self-efficacy, the cost-of-living crisis, religiosity, and demographic factors in shaping the HRQoL of individuals with SCD. Our findings call for interventions that enhance self-efficacy, mitigate the financial challenges arising from the cost-of-living crisis, and provide tailored support for individuals having differing levels of religiosity. They also emphasize the need for region-specific healthcare delivery and support systems. Future research should explore these relationships qualitatively, aiming to develop interventions that enhance HRQoL for individuals with SCD, regardless of their geographical location, to improve outcomes and overall well-being during the cost-of-living crisis and beyond
An appraisal of barriers to digitalisation of construction industry in developing countries: perspective from India
No full textDigitalisation in the construction sector promises numerous benefits, yet its widespread adoption in India faces impediments. This study aims to identify and analyse critical barriers hindering the adoption of digitalisation within the Indian construction sector. The study adopts a multi-phase research approach, involving a literature review to identify potential barriers. Subsequently, a questionnaire was administered to 162 professionals in the Indian construction industry. The survey reveals a willingness within the Indian construction sector to embrace digitalisation, citing benefits such as enhanced productivity and revolutionary impacts on construction processes. Larger organizations exhibit greater proactivity, while smaller businesses face challenges in resources and knowledge, leading to slower adoption rates. The study identifies five key themes of barriers, including financial/resource constraints, cultural/organisational constraints, regional disparities, data security/privacy concerns, and awareness/capacity-building constraints. The implication of the study is to unveil crucial barriers and provide insights for tailored interventions, aiding stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers in navigating the evolving digital landscape of the Indian construction industry. This study contributes to the exploration of perceptions of construction professionals specifically in India on why digitalisation is not fully embraced in the Indian construction sector
Instigators of change: museums as inclusive, accessible, equitable, participatory hubs
No full textThis final chapter considers the ways in which the work described in this book both illustrates and expands on the Museum Accessibility Spectrum (MAS). It reiterates the commitment to anti-ableism, and considers the key principles advocated for by MAS, which are intersectionality, anti-exclusive design, co-creation, power shifts, and systemic change. It explores these principles in relation to the chapters in the book. It considers the ways in which the chapters provide a basis from which museum professionals might grow and expand their own practices and ways of thinking around access and inclusion, in enabling a future with truly inclusive, anti-ableist museums
Sustainable and Regenerative Materials for Architecture: A Source Book
No full textThere is a creative explosion of work taking place in architecture and design schools exploring materials such as mycelium, clay/earth, engineered timber, bio-based plastics and algae. This handbook of low- and no-carbon materials for architects and designers focuses on sustainable materials, their sourcing, technical properties and the processes required for their use in architecture.
The book showcases new and rediscovered processes for material fabrication, responsible sourcing and creative material design. Material properties (structural, thermal, fire, health and life safety) are described and case studies from around the world illustrate the inventive ways in which these materials have been deployed in the built environment. The book is designed as an introduction to the exciting and rapidly changing world of construction materials.
With a better understanding of the social, environmental and economic sustainability of any given material - alongside its technical properties - students of architecture can lead the change in responsible and creative material use
Sampling and recruiting LGBTQ+ populations in health research: reflections on community consultations about antibiotic resistant STIs
No full textIn this paper, we explore negotiations around sexuality and gender diverse identities together with sexual practices, and the materialities of bodies, as they relate to the sampling and recruitment of LGBTQ+ participants in health social science research. The basis of our research note is a reflection on our experiences of undertaking a study on the social dimensions of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the context of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We aimed to identify tensions and important considerations in the sampling and recruitment of LGBTQ+ populations in health and social science research. Recognising the fluidity and diversity of gender and sexuality, the multiple meanings attached to them, and the proliferation of gender and sexuality identifiers, we argue for the critical importance of reflexivity in curating a sampling frame, which is respectful of LGBTQ+ diversity. This contributes to the growing body of work that reflects on how to develop meaningful and informed approaches to do research with LGBTQ+ populations. We do this by complicating the often-linear presentation of sampling and recruitment processes within scholarly research