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National screening for delirium in paediatric intensive care units:A quality improvement initiative
Get PDFBackground Internationally, one in three children develop delirium during their intensive care stay. International guidelines strongly recommend twice-daily screening for paediatric delirium using validated instruments. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, delirium was assessed only when suspected and few intensive care units used validated instruments.AimThis initiative aimed to implement a national screening strategy in 28 paediatric intensive care units across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Study designThe strategy involved: (a) rapidly reviewing, evaluating and ranking paediatric screening instruments for sensitivity, specificity, appropriateness and acceptability for national implementation; (b) achieving national agreement to implement a common tool; (c) creating and disseminating training materials while supporting training personnel in implementation; and (d) integrating delirium monitoring within the Paediatric Intensive Care Audit Network national database.ResultsAmong seven validated instruments, the top ranked options (from 1, most applicable to 7, least applicable) were the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (average rank 1.25) and the Sophia Observation withdrawal Symptoms-Paediatric Delirium scale (1.5). Twenty-three units voted for their preferred choice of instrument: fifteen preferred the Cornell instrument, eight favoured the Sophia instrument, and five did not respond. Training and implementation began in November 2021 and by 26 March 2023 18 of the 28 units (64%) had successfully implemented screening. The national database began actively collecting delirium data from units in January 2024.ConclusionsThis initiative outlined critical steps for implementing and maintaining practice of delirium screening in paediatric intensive care units. We provided clinicians with validated screening tools for detecting paediatric delirium and the necessary support and infrastructure to maintain screening. Embedding and sustaining screening is an ongoing challenge.Relevance to clinical practice Undertaking routine screening for all intensive care patients from admission to discharge using validated instruments will provide earlier detection and treatment for critically ill children. This strategy offers a model for standardised and effective implementation in clinical practice in intensive care units.<br/
Creating neuro-mixed learning environments in higher education
No full textThis chapter will discuss issues arising within the context of a higher education population which is increasingly neurodivergent, and seeks to address a gap in the research regarding their experiences, their specific support needs, and the challenges they have in navigating their way through university life.In this chapter, we draw on our experiences of engendering and facilitating neuro-mixed spaces in higher education through a master’s degree in critical autism studies at a university in the North West of England. Drawing on a neurodiversity perspective, which rejects deficit models and instead sees neurodivergences as naturally occurring cognitive differences, it will argue that we must move beyond the minimum statutory requirements for inclusion towards a practice committed to recognising and celebrating difference. We also reflect on the lessons we learnt through working with neuro-mixed classes with a high proportion of neurodivergent students, including the benefits of offering multi-modal methods of accessing learning, providing accessible and inclusive material for ALL students, and considering the significance of the built environment on student learning.We seek to offer guidance and suggest strategies for developing a deeper understanding of some of the challenges faced to improve the university experience for all students. In line with community-preferred considerations, including one of the authors’, this chapter will use identity-first language.<br/
A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques for Accurate Market Price Forecasting
Get PDFThis study compares three machine learning and deep learning models—Support Vector Regression (SVR), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)—for predicting market prices using the NGX All-Share Index dataset. The models were evaluated using multiple error metrics, including Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE), and R-squared. RNN and LSTM were tested with both 30 and 60-day windows, with performance compared to SVR. LSTM delivered better R-squared values, with a 60-day LSTM achieving the best accuracy (R-squared = 0.993) when using a combination of endogenous market data and technical indicators. SVR showed reliable results in certain scenarios but struggled in fold 2 with a sudden spike that shows a high probability of not capturing the entire underlying NGX pattern in the dataset correctly, as witnessed by the high validation loss during the period. Additionally, RNN faced the vanishing gradient problem that limits its long-term performance. Despite challenges, LSTM’s ability to handle temporal dependencies, especially with the inclusion of On-Balance Volume, led to significant improvements in prediction accuracy. The use of the Optuna optimisation framework further enhanced model training and hyperparameter tuning, contributing to the performance of the LSTM model
NIOM-DGA:Nature-inspired optimised ML-based model for DGA detection
Get PDFDomain Generation Algorithms (DGAs) allow malware to evade detection by generating millions of random domains daily for Command-and-Control (C&C) communication, challenging traditional detection methods. This work presents NIOM-DGA, a novel machine learning model that applies nature-inspired algorithms (NIAs) to select an optimal subset of 78 features from a dataset of over 16 million domain names, including several features not traditionally used in DGA detection. This approach enhances accuracy, robustness, and generalisability, achieving up to 98.3% accuracy—outperforming most existing approaches. Further testing on 10 external datasets with over 37 million domains confirms an average classification accuracy of 95.7%. Designed for seamless integration into SIEM, EDR, XDR, and cloud security platforms, NIOM-DGA significantly improves DGA detection compared to existing methods, advancing practical threat detection capabilities.</p
An evidence-based approach to creating a culture of inclusive opportunity through arts and creativity
No full textThe twelfth and final report in a year-long series – produced jointly by Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives – that seeks to deliver a country that works for all children and young people, warns the talents of millions of children are being ignored and wasted, and calls for creativity to be embedded into an inclusive school curriculum supporting all children – including those with SEND – to develop a new generation of creatives to boost economic growth.The report, An evidence-based approach to creating a culture of inclusive opportunity through arts and creativity, calls for the Government’s Opportunity Mission to boost culture, creativity, and arts in schools to inspire children, improve mental health, strengthen school belonging, tackle the school attendance and attainment crises, and support children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds to build careers in the creative industries
From humble beginnings:Reflections on 10 years of the Participatory Autism Research Collective
No full textImpact of Attentional Focus and Action Verbs on Bench Press Velocity
Get PDFThis study investigates the interaction between attentional focus and action verbs within instructions on bench press velocity. Verbal instructions that direct an individual's attention are crucial for optimising movement and performance. Previous research has shown that an external focus of attention (EFA) enhances motor performance more effectively than an internal focus of attention (IFA) however no research has addressed the importance of action verbs embedded within attentional focus instructions. This study aimed to assess how different action verbs (push vs. punch) and attentional focus (external vs. internal) influence bench press velocity. Twenty-six physically active participants familiar with the bench press technique completed four conditions: EF-push, EF-punch, IF-push, and IF-punch. Each condition involved performing bench press repetitions with specific verbal instructions. Results indicated that EFA led to significantly greater bar velocities compared to IFA, supporting the constrained action hypothesis. Additionally, the action verb "punch" resulted in higher bar velocities than "push," suggesting that action words influence motor performance. No significant interaction effects were found between attentional focus and action verbs, indicating that their effects on performance are independent. These findings highlight the importance of using externally focused instructions and carefully chosen action words to enhance performance in strength and conditioning tasks. The study contributes to our understanding of how instructional cues can optimise resistance exercise performance and suggests practical applications for coaches and practitioners in designing effective training interventions
Language Learners with Special Needs
No full textThe significance of language learning in our globalized world has been widely recognized given the internationalization of markets, increased opportunities to travel, and the vast body of research that shows the benefits of language learning on brain functions and certain skills (e.g., problem-solving). Although several language learning theories and practices have been developed to support learning a second or foreign language, individual characteristics and contextual conditions significantly affect the language learning processes. The chapter that follows reviews the body of literature on language learners with Special Educational Needs (SENs) with a special focus on assessment and support processes. The aim is to provide a brief review of research in language learning for SEN learners and recommendations for further developments
Crime Driven Technology and the Motor Bandit
Get PDFIn inter-war England the motor bandit became a criminal folk devil representing the dark side of expanding motorcar ownership. Bandits advanced use of motor technology left police running, sometimes literally, to catch up. Fears outweighed the threat, but the perceived danger played a key role in initiating establishment of motorised police squads as bandits provided a flexible and non-political figure. The Metropolitan Police experimented with techniques to deal with banditry, specifically how to stop a speeding car, which was fraught with difficulties. Discussions about tackling threats posed by a motorised mass society have since become a constant in police and security concerns. This article makes use of contemporary newspapers, commentary and Metropolitan Police files to identify the development of official and public discussion about how to stop speeding motor vehicles and tensions between interventionist policing methods and public and police safety. It then relates that directly to strategies underpinning the development of urban fortress urbanism in the early twenty-first century