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Walking with teachers:A study to explore the importance of teacher wellbeing and their careers
Get PDFTeacher turnover and retention is a global challenge. It appears that in times of teacher shortages, policymakers often focus on recruitment. Yet, it could be argued that focussing on retaining experienced teachers not only addresses teacher shortages but provides additional benefits to the teachers, their students, and the teaching profession. The aim of this interpretive case study was to investigate the views of experienced primary school teachers. Twelve teachers, who had taught in English primary schools for more than five years, participated in walking interviews. The research looked at the areas where teachers want to feel supported by the culture of the school, created by the leadership team.</p
Artificial intelligence in drug development: reshaping the therapeutic landscape
Get PDFArtificial intelligence (AI) is transforming medication research and development, giving clinicians new treatment options. Over the past 30 years, machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks have revolutionized drug design, target identification, and clinical trial predictions. AI has boosted pharmaceutical R&D (research and development) by identifying new therapeutic targets, improving chemical designs, and predicting complicated protein structures. Furthermore, generative AI is accelerating the development and re-engineering of medicinal molecules to cater to both common and rare diseases. Although, to date, no AI-generated medicinal drug has been FDA-approved, HLX-0201 for fragile X syndrome and new molecules for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have entered clinical trials. However, AI models are generally considered "black boxes," making their conclusions challenging to understand and limiting the potential due to a lack of model transparency and algorithmic bias. Despite these obstacles, AI-driven drug discovery has substantially reduced development times and costs, expediting the process and financial risks of bringing new medicines to market. In the future, AI is expected to continue to impact pharmaceutical innovation positively, making life-saving drug discoveries faster, more efficient, and more widespread. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s), 2025.
EcoSomatics Conversations Series
No full textThe EcoSomatics Conversations Series invites sharing of engagement, practices and thinking around environmental awareness through embodiment activities, dance and art. It posits a definition of EcoSomatics as of the body-mind-ecology and takes the form of open public dialogues between two (or more) people: independent artists, practitioners, and academics.The project was conceived by Dr Polly Hudson, (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham City University), and the conversations are co-convened with Dr Karen Wood, (Birmingham Dance Network and C-DaRE). The conversations took place virtually with a large international audience and there is no fee to attend. The podcasts are audio recordings of the live events.It is supported by funding from Arts, Design, and Humanities Faculty Research Investment Scheme, Birmingham City University
Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Nigerian Universities
No full textThis chapter explores the essential characteristics and features of a university fostering entrepreneurship and innovation within the context of weak infrastructural support and the lack of policy mechanisms. It presents an analysis of institutional ambitions, change measurement, ongoing initiatives, and their sustainability. Our study employed semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions of relevant stakeholders (staff and students) from four major Nigerian universities. Findings were categorised into two main dimensions. First, certain essential elements such as the strength of networks, entrepreneurial culture, and modelling good practices were identified as independent of management, constituting the bedrock of successful university entrepreneurial ecosystems. These elements, fundamental for fostering innovation, are intrinsic components of vibrant entrepreneurial environments within academic institutions. Secondly, the study illuminates features influenced by management, stakeholder engagement, and personalized relationships. These elements, encompassing aspects like infrastructure, funding, quality control management, and state-level policies, act as catalysts for development but are not obligatory. They function as path-dependent variables, leading to varying outputs. Despite their variability, these management-driven factors are indispensable for the evolution and scaling of university entrepreneurial ecosystems, forming the backbone of innovation within higher education institutions in Nigeri
The inclusion and consideration of cultural differences and health inequalities in physical activity behaviour in the UK - the impact of guidelines and initiatives
Get PDFDespite widespread attempts from governments and leading health organisations worldwide to promote equity in healthy living medicine, the evidence suggests that attempts to curb worsening public health have been almost entirely ineffective. Despite significant advancements in knowledge, medicine, and technology, as well as the promotion of guidelines and the implementation of numerous global initiatives aimed at addressing health disparities and mitigating the progression of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, substantial work remains to be undertaken particularly in addressing inequalities in physical activity. Achieving equitable access to health resources and parity in health outcomes remains a critical and unresolved challenge. Whilst it is recognized that the public health paradigm is broad and complex, with many intersecting and interacting parts, the actions and considerations required to address the urgent and escalating scale of the problem appear at a crossroads of now or never. Throughout this narrative review, we describe the effectiveness of landmark physical activity-related guidelines, policies and national interventions that have been implemented since the turn of the century to address physical activity behaviour in the context of health inequalities. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
A job task analysis of the physical demands of manually preparing a 4-person battle trench as a military defensive position
Get PDFAim: Conduct a Job Task Analysis (JTA) to quantify the physical demands of preparing a defensive position by British Army Ground Close Combat (GCC) roles. Method: Subjective data to describe the demands of preparing a defensive position were gathered from focus groups (n = 90) and questionnaires (n = 1495). Eight GCC personnel were observed preparing a defensive position which involved digging, lifting, and carrying materials. The oxygen cost of digging was measured using staged reconstructions at slow (12 shovels min−1, n = 16) and fast (22 shovels min−1, n = 13) rates. Results: The JTA identified digging trenches, filling sandbags, and shovelling debris as principal tasks of preparing a defensive position. Oxygen cost during the fast-digging rate (27.45 ± 4.93 ml kg−1 min−1) was 26 % greater than the slower rate (21.75 ± 2.83 ml kg−1 min−1; p < 0.001, d = −1.461). Conclusion: Digging a defensive position was identified by military experts as a critical job-task, with variability in metabolic cost dependent on work rate. Data may inform selection, training, and technology interventions to improve task performance.</p
High-Intensity Interval Training for Individuals With Isolated Impaired Fasting Glucose:Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Trial
Get PDFBackground: Standard lifestyle interventions have shown limited efficacy in preventing type 2 diabetes among individuals with isolated impaired fasting glucose (i-IFG). Hence, tailored intervention approaches are necessary for this high-risk group. Objective: This study aims to (1) assess the feasibility of conducting a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) study and the intervention acceptability among individuals with i-IFG, and (2) investigate the preliminary efficacy of HIIT in reducing fasting plasma glucose levels and addressing the underlying pathophysiology of i-IFG. Methods: This study is a 1:1 proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial involving 34 physically inactive individuals (aged 35-65 years) who are overweight or obese and have i-IFG. Individuals will undergo a 3-step screening procedure to determine their eligibility: step 1 involves obtaining clinical information from electronic health records, step 2 consists of completing questionnaires, and step 3 includes blood tests. All participants will be fitted with continuous glucose monitoring devices for approximately 80 days, including 10 days prior to the intervention, the 8-week intervention period, and 10 days following the intervention. Intervention participants will engage in supervised HIIT sessions using stationary “spin” cycle ergometers in groups of 5 or fewer. The intervention will take place 3 times a week for 8 weeks at the Aerobic Exercise Laboratory in the Rehabilitation Hospital at Emory University. Control participants will be instructed to refrain from engaging in intense physical activities during the study period. All participants will receive instructions to maintain a eucaloric diet throughout the study. Baseline and 8-week assessments will include measurements of weight, blood pressure, body composition, waist and hip circumferences, as well as levels of fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour plasma glucose, and fasting insulin. Primary outcomes include feasibility parameters, intervention acceptability, and participants’ experiences, perceptions, and satisfaction with the HIIT intervention, as well as facilitators and barriers to participation. Secondary outcomes comprise between-group differences in changes in clinical measures and continuous glucose monitoring metrics from baseline to 8 weeks. Quantitative data analysis will include descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses. Qualitative data will be analyzed using framework-driven and thematic analyses. Results: Recruitment for the study is scheduled to begin in February 2025, with follow-up expected to be completed by the end of September 2025. We plan to publish the study findings by the end of 2025. Conclusions: The study findings are expected to guide the design and execution of an adequately powered randomized controlled trial for evaluating HIIT efficacy in preventing type 2 diabetes among individuals with i-IFG.</p
Fisher Information Approach in Modified Predator–Prey Model
Get PDFThe tumor immune system is modified through immunotherapy to more effec- tively eliminate cancer cells. This has led to the adoption of several mathematical models of cancer diffusion to explore the tumor–immune interaction, and as a result, the distinctive interaction between cancer and immune populations has received increased attention. The objective of this work is to analyze Fisher information to examine variability and sustainabil- ity in a modified predator–prey model. Specifically, we investigate how parameter values influence the system’s dynamics. Unlike traditional deterministic models, our approach incorporates the effects of immunotherapy dosage, introducing a novel perspective. We further explore the system’s response to various modulations, providing deeper insights into its behavior under different conditions.<br/
Overloaded, underloaded or in control:How many automated vehicles can one person supervise?
Get PDFDespite extensive research over the past two decades, the question of how many automated vehicles (AVs) or robots an individual can effectively supervise remains unresolved, with estimates ranging from as few as two, to as many as 12. Most prior studies have conflated monitoring and direct interaction tasks, leading to inconsistent findings largely driven by variations in interaction complexity and duration. This research study addresses this issue by isolating the monitoring task from the interaction task to establish a more precise baseline of supervisory capacity for AV systems. A rigorous experiment was conducted wherein 24 participants monitored between three and nine simulated AVs operating within a realistic sub-urban environment modelled on Coventry, a mid-sized city in the UK. Unlike experiments in previous studies, participants were tasked exclusively with monitoring AVs to identify those requiring potential manual intervention, subsequently delegating interaction to a separate remote operator. Performance metrics, perceived workload, situation awareness, and decision-making efficacy were systematically measured and analysed. The results reveal situation awareness (SA) was maximised at when supervising five Avs, and optimal monitoring occurred when supervising 5–7 AVs, with the capacity to temporarily manage surges of up to 9 AVs without significant performance degradation. However, supervisors assigned to monitor as few as 3 AVs exhibited tendencies toward micro-management, often misidentifying situations requiring manual intervention and unnecessarily escalating control handovers. These findings have significant implications for developing scalable AV supervision systems, where appropriately calibrated monitoring loads can enhance performance and decision-making while minimising erroneous interventions.</p
Sustainable solar energy deployment: a multi-criteria decision-making approach for site suitability and greenhouse gas emission reduction
No full textConventional power generation methods have led to adverse environmental impacts. Thus, the need for a strategic transition to alternative energy sources arises. This study presents a comprehensive approach to sustainable solar energy deployment using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. The research aims to identify suitable sites for utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, estimate potential energy output, and assess solar PV deployment’s environmental and economic impacts. The methodology integrates analytic hierarchy process (AHP), fuzzy logic, and geographic information systems (GIS) to evaluate land suitability across four scenarios. The analysis considers technical, economic, environmental, and social factors, including solar radiation, proximity to infrastructure, land use, topography, and stakeholder opinions. Results reveal that Scenario 1 analytic hierarchy process multi-criteria-decision-making (AHP-MCDM) identified 2824.1 km2 of suitable land, while the combined approach in Scenario 3 yielded 666.9 km2. The study estimates potential annual energy generation ranging from 19.69 to 109.15 GWh/km2/year, depending on the scenario and solar PV technology used. Environmental impact assessments indicate potential annual CO2 emission reductions of up to 51,365.84 tons, with associated cost savings of US $3.28 million. The research provides valuable insights for policymakers and investors, highlighting 16 optimal sites for utility-scale solar farm development across Jamaica, with the most promising in the Westmoreland, Manchester, and St. Mary parishes. These findings contribute to Jamaica’s renewable energy goals and offer a replicable, sustainable solar energy planning framework in similar geographical contexts