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Older Victims of Abuse: Understanding Help-Seeking in an Understudied Population
No full textThe abuse of older adults by someone in a position of trust, also known as elder abuse (EA), is a prevalent and impactful problem worldwide that often goes unreported. The current study investigated EA victims’ help-seeking, including barriers and facilitators to help-seeking, sources of reporting and responses, and attitudes towards intervention. The study utilized secondary data from a UK EA helpline, with 1,623 cases examined through a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative content analysis, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression. Data were gathered on victim, perpetrator and abuse characteristics, and victims’ help-seeking. Victims faced a wide range of barriers to seeking help, particularly in relation to their social network, and sometimes due to the perpetrator’s influence. Attitudes towards external help were mixed and victims had a variety of goals that they were seeking from intervention. Cases where victims were female, younger, experiencing mental health problems, or suffering psychological abuse, were more likely to be self-reported
ESOL in Troubled Times: Learner and Teacher Voice in English for Speakers of Other Languages at a Further Education College in England
No full textMy research contributes to the urgency of the calls from professional ESOL organisations, such as the National Association for Teaching English and Other Community Languages to Adults (2025: 236), the Bell Foundation (2025), and DEMOS (Paget and Stevenson, 2014), for a unifying strategy for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) in further education (FE) in England by highlighting specific challenges in the West Midlands region. Paget and Stevenson (2014) pointed out that of the three nations, England, Scotland, and Wales, England is the only country without a national ESOL strategy. They stated that a “coherent” national strategy for ESOL “would help to unlock migrant capabilities, save costs to public services in the long term and promote a more integrated and socially cohesive society” (2014: 128).
Eleven years later, in 2025, in spite of the recommendations, a unifying strategy for ESOL in England has not materialised. This project aims to contribute to a better understanding of why this is, and how this intransigence is impacting the experience of ESOL learners and practitioners. My overarching research question is: What do we learn about the contemporary environment of ESOL in FE from conversations with the learners and practitioners about their lived experiences in this context?
Following ideas and methods of Shah (2017), Pink and Morgan (2013) and St Pierre (2021), I adopted a short-term participatory ethnographical approach to my methodology which I describe as post structural. The primary research data is unique to one FE college in England and my positionality as an ESOL practitioner with recent experience in FE has given me unique insights and access to the twenty-nine ESOL learners and six ESOL practitioners in my study. I specifically avoided formal interviews or surveys, aiming instead for more informal conversations or self-interviews after the research of Keightly, et al. (2012), so that the contributions of the participants would be led by them as much as possible and my influence kept to a minimum.
The human ecosystem model of Bronfenbrenner (1979) provided an organising framework for my literature review as well as theoretical insights into the dynamics of the ESOL in FE context. The theories of Foucault (1975; 1977; 1978; 1989; 2001) are used to deepen the understanding of deficit discourses and provided concepts helpful in articulating the dynamics within the context of ESOL in FE. The theories of Berry (2001), Gee (2001; 2014) and Burke and Stets (2009) provided insights into the role language plays in identity and how the identities of ESOL learners and practitioners are challenged in their environment in ESOL in FE in England.
Previous studies of Courtney (2017), Elizabeth (2021), and Lacey (2018) offer valuable data on the challenges ESOL practitioners face. My study of ESOL in FE adds to these by encompassing the experiences of both practitioners and learners and should be of interest to everyone involved in the FE sector and ESOL provision
Entangled Musicianship: Rethinking Music Education and Digital Musical Interactions through Posthumanist Theory
No full textThis paper develops entangled musicianship as a theoretical and conceptual orientation that rethinks inclusion at the intersection of music education, digital musical instrument (DMI) design and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Drawing on findings from an AHRC funded network, it interrogates how disconnections between pedagogy, technology, access are sustained by humanist and cognitivist paradigms. Through a posthuman and diffractive methodology, the paper foregrounds relationality, and intra-action as central to both musical learning and digital design. Entangled musicianship emerges as a provocation toward more ethical and responsive approaches to inclusion, offering a significant contribution to interdisciplinary discourse across music education, DMI and HCI
Energy Efficiency in Portuguese Traditional Cheese Industries: A Comprehensive Case Study
No full textIn Portugal, cheese holds a prominent position as a major dairy product, with traditional varieties enjoying widespread acclaim. A number of these cheeses have earned Protected Designations of Origin status, showcasing their unique qualities and regional significance. Notable examples include “Serra da Estrela”, “Serpa”, and “Terrincho”. The production of cheese relies heavily on heating and cooling processes, which account for a substantial portion of the total energy consumed. This research endeavour undertakes a detailed description and analysis of traditional cheesemaking practices within Portugal’s interior central region, with a particular emphasis on the economic and energetic efficiency of refrigeration systems. For this purpose, thirty-one traditional cheese production facilities were examined and classified into two distinct groups: Traditional Industrial Producers and Traditional Handmade Producers. The analysis was conducted through two separate case studies. The findings reveal that a significant 58% of the energy consumed by these facilities is attributed to electrically powered cooling systems, encompassing components such as fans, compressed air systems, and illumination. Within the production processes, fuel combustion, primarily naphtha or propane, serves the purpose of water heating and steam generation. Based on energy consumption reports, the Specific Energy Consumption of electricity was determined to be 0.283 kWh/lRM for TIP and 0.169 kWh/lRM for THP. Furthermore, several linear regression models were developed to explore the relationships between parameters such as cold room volume, compressor power, and raw material quantity. The study also identified key factors contributing to reduced energy efficiency within the facilities. These factors include inadequate insulation of buildings and cold rooms, outdated and poorly maintained refrigeration equipment situated in suboptimal locations, and cold rooms and compressors that are oversized and not optimised for efficient operation
A comprehensive review on rotary desiccant wheel systems: the future of smart building climate control
No full textThis comprehensive review examines the development and potential of rotary desiccant wheel systems (RDWSs) for energy-efficient and sustainable climate control in smart buildings. Driven by the increasing demand for alternatives to conventional HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) systems, RDWSs advanced desiccant materials, such as silica gel composites, and innovative geometrical designs to achieve superior dehumidification and energy performance. The review explores the evolution of RDWS technology, including advancements in system configurations, hybrid integrations, and material innovations. Experimental and computational studies are analysed to assess key performance factors, encompassing energy consumption, moisture removal rates, and regeneration efficiency. The potential for integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar and waste heat, further enhances the sustainability of RDWSs. While significant benefits are evident, challenges remain in optimising operational parameters, scalability, and economic feasibility. Addressing these limitations through continued research and innovation will enable RDWSs to revolutionise indoor air management and contribute to global sustainability goals. This review provides valuable insights into the current state and future prospects of RDWSs for achieving energy-efficient and eco-friendly climate control in smart buildings. According to the recent literature, the dehumidification COP of RDWSs is in the range of 0.3–0.4 at a regeneration temperature of 50 °C and a fan speed of 2 m s –1 . In addition, at a regeneration temperature of 60 °C, the moisture removal/release rates are given to be 4.55/1.16 and 3.97/0.42 kg –1 (d.a.) for fan speeds of 2 and 4 m s –1 , respectively
Eccentric Hamstring Strength Monitoring to Predict Injury Risk in Men’s Non-League Professional Football: An Exploratory Cox Regression Study
No full textHamstring-strain injuries (HSIs) are the most prevalent time-loss injuries in professional football. While player monitoring of muscular strength is ubiquitous in professional football, the utility of in-season testing for predicting HSI in non-league football (NLF) settings is unclear. This study aimed to investigate if short-term, in-season changes in eccentric hamstring strength are associated with HSI risk and compare the predictive performance to a baseline model. This was a single-season prospective cohort study (36 weeks) in 20 male professional NLF players (nine HSI events). Eccentric hamstring strength was measured twice weekly during Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) using a NordBord device. Cox proportional hazard models (Andersen–Gill) evaluated the association of HSI with bilateral peak force and inter-limb asymmetry as time-varying and baseline predictors. Nine HSIs occurred (29% of all time-loss injuries; n = 31). The predictive analysis revealed that the baseline model with hazard ratio (HR) of 0.20 (95% CI: 0.09–0.46; C-index = 0.824) outperformed the time-varying model (HR 0.29; 95% CI: 0.15–0.56; C-index = 0.776), with higher bilateral peak force protective across both models. Conversely, inter-limb asymmetry showed no association with HSI risk (HR 1.10; 95% CI: 0.95–1.27; C-index = 0.527). A key related finding was that while single test inter-limb asymmetry measurements were unreliable, stability across the season was good (ICC(1,k) = 0.895). In this cohort, a greater bilateral peak force was protective against HSI, with baseline testing more effective than twice-weekly in-season testing. Inter-limb asymmetry did not predict HSI, and the utility of its isolated use remains unclear despite the stability of players’ season-long profiles. These exploratory findings require confirmation in larger cohorts
Working together: The Development of a Career Structure and Conceptual Framework for critical care nursing for Zambia
No full textBackground & Rationale: This thesis is a PhD study which developed a career structure and conceptual framework for critical care nursing (CCN) in Zambia. Zambia is a low-income country in Sub-Saharan Africa and at the start of the study in 2017, had fledgling critical care services, no career structure, and no recognition of specialist practice. A critical review of the literature identified the unique nature and lack of critical care and a paucity of context specific career structures and conceptual framework for education and practice. In consequence, as the study progressed it grew exponentially to develop the requisite new knowledge to develop a career structure and conceptual framework.
Aims: The aims of this study were:
To develop and implement a culturally competent, culturally safe, and sustainable career structure and conceptual framework for critical care nurse education and practice in Zambia.
To develop policy recommendations for a career structure for critical care nurses.
Methods: A participatory co-operative inquiry, mixed methods approach underpinned by ubuntu, an African philosophy was used. This included national e-survey questionnaires, focus groups, research workshops, documentary data analysis and a national cross-sectional survey.
Findings: Datasets revealed the remit of CCN extended beyond the physical critical care unit, with nurses leading services but without recognition. They had a formal and informal extended scope of practice which did not match their education level. Key stakeholders agreed the need address the imbalance in education opportunities for CCNs to service provision. As part of the study a mentorship model, definition and scope of practice and career structure were developed. These outputs and datasets were then used to inform the development of a conceptual framework for CCN in Zambia.
Conclusion: The career structure and conceptual framework were accepted by the Ministry of Health and the nursing regulator, and these are now being implemented. Bonus outputs have been the successful use of ubuntu as a research and education tool. There has also been a series of peer reviewed publications and national and international recognition for the outputs from this study
Agent-Based Modelling and Machine Learning in Children’s Social Care
No full textChildren’s Social Care is a critical service provided by Local Authorities within the UK, where children and their families are provided support through various means including early interventions, child protection and residential care. These services have been under considerable pressure in recent years due to funding changes since 2010 and rising demand. The importance of understanding the best policy and practice for social workers is key to ensure that these services operate, and that they can improve into the future. Data available in this context to use for conducting analysis of existing policy and outcomes is met with difficulties such as Data Sensitivity and Data Quality. Furthermore, due to the context of such data, it is critical that any analysis, modelling, forecasts and predictions conducted on this data be interpretable and scrutinised to ensure that results can be trusted before decisions are taken. Addressing these challenges is the core of this thesis, with three contributions which together allow for analysis of Children’s Social Care data that utilises novel techniques to provide new insights into the policy and practice of Children’s Services within Local Authorities.
Firstly, Agent-Based Simulations using Genetic Algorithm Calibration: This contribution presents the use of Agent Based Models to enable the use of existing policy to inform a model’s design, where a population of Social Workers acting within a Local Authority can be simulated, taking advantage of the limited quality data that exists to configure the model. Further, this approach is presented with a Calibration method that can optimise the model’s parameters to the existing data to validate its design and to provide new insights from the limited data. This approach also benefits from the mitigation of possible risks of using sensitive data directly for modelling, as the model design can be indirectly informed by such data, without training, and any data produced by the model will be synthetic, removing any potential risks.
Second, Temporal Meta-optimiser based Sensitivity Analysis (TMSA) for Agent-Based Models: This contribution outlines a novel approach to Sensitivity Analysis for Agent-Based Models, like the one presented in the first contribution. The use of Sensitivity Analysis in the validation of model design is important in ensuring a model’s creditability and enables the interpretation of model behaviour. With existing methods being ill-suited to Agent Based Models, the TMSA method is presented that utilises novel machine learning approaches to conduct this form of analysis. With TMSA, Agent-Based models can be interpreted and scrutinised more effectively by those designing them.
Finally, Reinforcement Learning based process optimisation for Agent-Based Models: This contribution takes the previous methods developed and utilises them to create a novel approach to optimising Agent-Based Model process design. The approach uses Reinforcement Learning to identify changes in the code of an Agent-Based Model that will lead to an improvement in the model’s ability to represent existing data, through the use of both Sensitivity Analysis and Calibration. The approach further provides better understanding and interpretation of model designs, with an ability to identify shortcomings with assumptions, thus potentially challenging the existing policies and practices of Children’s Social Care.
These contributions together mark a significant step in the application of Agent-Based Models and Machine Learning in the Children’s Social Care context, where they can improve the analytical capabilities of Local Authorities by overcoming the challenges regarding data that they face
An Interview with Dr. Lynne Porat: New Coordinator of the IGeLU RapidILL Working Group
No full textThis interview marks a leadership transition within the IGeLU RapidILL Working Group, as outgoing Coordinator Kip A. Darling steps down after nearly two years and welcomes Dr. Lynne Porat into the role. Dr. Porat, a seasoned resource sharing expert and Head of Interlibrary Loans at the University of Haifa, shares her journey from early career challenges to leading national ILL reform in Israel. She discusses her advocacy for fee-free access, her technical leadership in implementing RapidILL and ISO-ILL, and her collaborative work with Clarivate to develop analytics dashboards that address real-world library needs. The conversation explores her vision for the working group, including innovations in smart fulfilment, OCR integration, and global collaboration. This piece offers strategic insight into the evolving landscape of resource sharing and celebrates the continuity of leadership within the IGeLU community
Food Insecurity Associated With Higher Odds of Hypertriglyceridemic Waist Phenotype in Women: A Cross‐Sectional Study
No full textFood insecurity has been linked to obesity, central adiposity, and dyslipidemia, with women particularly vulnerable. These consequences align with the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype, a determinant of visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. Although prior studies suggest associations between FI, waist circumference, and triglyceride levels, direct evidence on FI and HTGW remains scarce, especially in Middle Eastern populations. The present investigation assessed the potential link between food insecurity and the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype among overweight and obese Iranian women. In this cross‐sectional study, 250 overweight and obese women dietary intake was assessed using a validated 147‐item (FFQ), and household food security was evaluated with the 18‐item USDA (HFSS). Anthropometric measures and body composition were obtained via bioelectrical impedance analysis. Physical activity was assessed using the validated IPAQ. Participants were grouped based on waist circumference and triglycerides: WC < 88 cm and TG < 150 mg/dL were classified as normal waist and triglycerides, while WC ≥ 88 cm and TG ≥ 150 mg/dL were considered to have the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype. Analyses were performed in SPSS version 25. A significant positive association was found between food insecurity and the HTGW phenotype. In unadjusted analysis, food‐insecure women had higher odds of HTGW compared to food‐secure women (OR = 2.24, 95% CI =1.19–4.20, p = 0.01). After adjustment for age, BMI, total energy intake, and physical activity, the association remained significant (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.06–4.28, p = 0.03). The findings demonstrate that food insecurity is significantly associated with the HTGW phenotype among overweight and obese women. As the first study to specifically examine this relationship in this population, these findings underscore food insecurity as a critical social determinant of metabolic risk, highlighting the need for future longitudinal studies and targeted interventions