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Exploring the relationship between sensory reactivity differences, the indoor environment and classroom behaviour of autistic children
Get PDFAutistic children are known to be at risk for underperforming academically and there is a
need for research investigating how we can better support their learning. Sensory
reactivity differences are now part of the core diagnostic criteria for autism and can
impact behaviour and response to environments. Sensory reactivity differences fall into
three domains: hyperreactivity differences (a heightened response to stimuli),
hyporeactivity (an under response to stimuli), and sensory seeking (a fascination or
craving for a stimuli). There has so far been limited empirical research examining how
sensory reactivity differences might be impacting classroom learning. Additionally,
while we know that the environments we spend our time in can greatly impact us, there
has been little research examining how the sensory environment might be impacting
autistic students in the classroom. Thus, this thesis aimed to investigate the
relationship between sensory reactivity differences, the classroom environment, and
classroom behaviour of autistic children, particularly those with high support needs.
The first study examined the relationship between directly observed sensory reactivity
differences and classroom behaviour of 58 autistic students. The second study
qualitatively investigated the views of school staff on classroom design for autistic
students. The third study investigated how the sensory environment of classrooms is
linked to classroom behaviour of 19 autistic students.
The findings from this thesis showed a relationship between sensory reactivity
differences and classroom behaviour. In particular, providing evidence that
hyporeactivity differences may be the most influential and further research into the role
of hyporeactivity differences is needed. The findings also suggest that classroom design
is linked to sensory differences and behaviour. School staff discussed specific needs
around classroom design, including aspects such as Building Layout, Indoor
Environmental Quality and Interior Fnishings. Empirical research then suggested a
potential relationship between increased temperature and a reduction in classroom
behaviours that may facilitate learning, and increased sound level and greater
engagement in behaviours that may impede learning.
This thesis contributes to the lack of empirical literature regarding relationship between
sensory reactivity differences, the classroom sensory environment and learning. While
the findings may be preliminary, they may have implications for tailoring support in the
classroom, informing design considerations and guiding the direction of future
research
The radiation and geographic expansion of primates through diverse climates
Get PDFOne of the most influential hypotheses about primate evolution postulates that their origin, radiation, and major dispersals were associated with exceptionally warm conditions in tropical forests at northern latitudes (henceforth the warm tropical forest hypothesis ). However, this notion has proven difficult to test given the overall uncertainty about both geographic locations and paleoclimates of ancestral species. By the resolution of both challenges, we reveal that early primates dispersed and radiated in higher latitudes, through diverse climates, including cold, arid, and temperate conditions. Contrary to expectations of the warm tropical forest hypothesis, warmer global temperatures had no effect on dispersal distances or the speciation rate. Rather, the amount of change in local temperature and precipitation substantially predicted geographic and species diversity. Our results suggest that nontropical, changeable environments exerted strong selective pressures on primates with higher dispersal ability – promoting the primate radiation and their subsequent colonization of tropical climates millions of years after their origin
Three-generation educational mobility in six African countries: the role of grandparents
Get PDFUsing nationally representative survey data, we provide estimate of three generation educational mobility in six African countries: Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Tanzania. We explore whether the extent of educational mobility over three generations varies by gender and whether the grandparent’s influence differs depending on their residency status. Our findings indicate that grandparents play a significant role, and that intergenerational effects can persist beyond two generations in Africa. These effects are however one-fifth as strong as those observed between two generations. The grandparents influence is generally higher for granddaughters than grandsons and is stronger if grandparents live with their grandchildren than if they do not
Healthy and sustainable diets in times of crisis: a longitudinal, mixed-methods study of risk factors and coping mechanisms in UK parents during the COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFTo develop interventions and policies to promote healthy and sustainable diets during times
of crisis, it is important to understand how populations respond to such situations based
on real-life examples. Using the recent COVID-19 pandemic as a case study to identify risk
and protective factors for such situations, we implemented the first longitudinal mixedmethods
approach of this topic to date. Data were collected from a sample of UK parents
(stratified for gender and socioeconomic status) through two surveys and a set of focus
groups during the pandemic. The focus groups identified multifaceted drivers of change
linked to capability (e.g., shielding), opportunity (e.g., time, food access and availability),
and motivation (e.g., reflective motivation, stress and mental health challenges) barriers.
High levels of COVID-19 stress were linked with less healthy and sustainable diets in the
survey results, while higher social cohesion, reflective motivation to consume healthy foods,
and positive coping scores were protective, and linked to healthier and more sustainable
diets. A range of coping strategies were identified, including home cooking and meal
planning, which could provide a basis for future intervention development to reduce stress,
maintain wellbeing, and improve dietary outcomes in future crisis situations
Archives and climate science: transforming paper documents into global climate datasets
Get PDFClimate science depends on reliable historical weather data. Much of this data can be found in paper documents spanning decades or centuries and is held in archives around the world. Norway has a rich archival heritage, of which only a small part has so far been used by climate scientists. The data is needed to establish long-term climate trends, for the reconstruction of past weather events, to better understand the best sites to establish wind and solar farms and to improve weather forecasting models as well as many other applications. Documents from the archives are scanned and transcribed by various methods with the data then subjected to rigorous quality control, before being used for global climate datasets and weather reconstructions. Finding and assessing suitable material, then imaging and transcribing the documents, is labour-intensive work, and the scale of the task is daunting if the scientific community is to fully realise the potential of archives in Norway and elsewhere in the world. This provides a unique opportunity for archives and archivists to work with scientists from around the world to improve our understanding of the earth’s climate and thereby mitigate some of the effects of climate change and improve weather forecasting
A two-country comparison of the ethnic wage gaps of South Asians in the United States and the United Kingdom
Get PDFThis article compares the wage differentials of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi workers in the United States and the United Kingdoms. In both countries, Indians have the best outcomes and Bangladeshis have the worst, with Pakistanis in between. Second generation ethnic minorities experience wage gaps in the United Kingdom, but wage parity or advantage in the United States. Among immigrants, adjusted gaps are larger in the United Stated than in the United Kingdom, indicating that characteristics such as education, explain the gaps in the United Kingdom more than in the United States. Immigrants experience wage assimilation but only in the United States
Eruca vesicaria leaf extracts and intercropping mitigate the Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome and modulate the rhizosphere pathobiome
Get PDFBackground
Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS) is the most significant soil-borne disorder affecting Actinidia spp., impacting both yield and economics, often forcing farmers to switch crops once the diseases occur. The Oomycota phylum is a key component of the root rhizosphere pathobiome. Aside from proper irrigation—preventing KVDS-favourable conditions—there are no effective management strategies. Yet, the lack of soil treatments and concerns over fumigants drive the search for sustainable alternatives.
Methods
In this study, leaf extracts from rocket (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa) were tested for their potential to control KVDS. The isothiocyanates, key components of rockets, are known to counteract soil-borne pathogens. The extracts were applied in different concentrations to kiwifruit plants (Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa ‘Hayward’) grown in pots with KVDS-promoting soil. Additionally, kiwifruit plants were intercropped with rocket (‘Astra’, ~ 20 plants per pot) to evaluate whether intercropping could also help control KVDS.
Results
The highest dose of rocket leaf extract and intercropping reduced KVDS symptoms by 70–80% compared to untreated plants (p < 0.05). To further investigate the mode of action of rocket extracts and intercropping, their effects on the rhizosphere Oomycota pathobiome were analysed using a metabarcoding approach. To achieve this aim, an in-house reads reference dataset was created and implemented due to the lack of public reference databases. Data were processed via QIIME2, identifying six out of twelve oomycetes at species level. Treatments altered the pathocommunity, reducing several pathogens—most notably Phytopythium vexans (p < 0.05). Concurrently, Globisporangium intermedium increased in treatments with the highest extract dose and intercropping, correlating with symptom reduction (r2: -0.86).
Discussion
Our results suggest G. intermedium being less pathogenic than P. vexans yet competes for the same root niche. In fact, P. vexans highly correlated with symptoms display (r2: 0.97). Lastly, P. asiatica was also identified, another oomycete strongly associated with the dysbiosis. These findings suggest that rocket-based treatments could be a promising strategy for KVDS management, potentially applicable in field conditions
UK consumers' willingness to pay for eco-friendly, renewable energy-powered agri-food systems
No full textIntegrating anaerobic digestors (AD) and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for sourcing King Prawns (KP) in UK agriculture is a promising farm diversification approach based on circular economy principles. RAS powered by AD renewable energy can boost farm Net Margins by up to 56% and 38% for arable and dairy farms, respectively, while promoting waste recycling and nutrient efficiency. KP is a healthy and mostly imported seafood, but there are concerns regarding environmental degradation and unsustainable practices abroad (e.g., mangrove deforestation). In addition, there is a lack of understanding of consumer preferences regarding UK-grown KP. We investigate the willingness to pay (WTP) for UK-sourced KP under standard and environmentally friendly systems integrating AD. We collected 282 responses on, among others, consumer demographics, purchasing preferences, and origin. We apply Weber's law to build price increments for our WTP analysis. The results illustrate a higher WTP for UK-grown prawns under both systems and the likelihood of switching to a ‘UK option’.Under standard practices, 27.3% of respondents were willing to pay an additional£0.51–£1.05, considering a £5 baseline price (approx. the retail price for a 150 g unit).Regarding ‘environmentally friendly practices’, 26.87% were willing to pay £0.51–£1.05, and 19.38% would pay £1.05–£1.60. When considering a switch from usual prawn purchases to the UK option, 45.18% were somewhat likely under both production scenarios. Still, the highly likely group doubled to 29.82% for a system powered by ADenergy, highlighting strong consumer preference for sustainability. The principles of a circular economy and domestic production positively influence consumer choice. The WTP findings suggest a premium market price for agri-food businesses while supporting the integration of RAS and AD. This potential transformation opens avenues for innovative practices that satisfy the demand for healthy diets and support the transition towards more sustainable food systems
Regime dependence in the oil-stock market relationship: the role of oil price uncertainty
Get PDFWe compare the interaction between the crude oil and US stock markets in regimes where oil price uncertainty is high versus low, using a smooth transition vector autoregressive model. Our results show that supply- and demand-side shocks from the oil market, as well as stock market shocks, tend to have greater effect sizes in the lower oil price uncertainty regime. These asymmetric findings are consistent with the premise that shocks occurring in a relatively calmer environment are inclined to surprise market participants more, thereby eliciting amplified responses, than during an environment where oil price uncertainty is anticipated to be higher
Food and penal legitimacy in women’s prisons
No full textPrison is a space of deprivation of liberty with multiple ‘pains of imprisonment’ inflicted on those serving time. One component of the prison experience seldom discussed is the impact of food, particularly the ways in which food communicates broader issues about penal legitimacy. Penal legitimacy – how the penal regime operates in ways which command authority and willingness to comply – has been understood through a multitude of prison regime elements, but rarely in the context of food. We reflect on the outcomes of these experiences and perceptions of food from the perspectives of women in prison, highlighting how these perceptions can impact on the legitimacy of the prison establishment and overall quality of life in prison. Data is drawn from fieldwork in four women’s prisons in England, comprising 108 study participants