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“We hear not just the words”: an evaluation of storytelling using podcasts in social work education.
No full textThis paper explores the effectiveness of using podcasts in social work education to foster student learning and engagement. There is a long tradition of innovation and creativity in the teaching of social work students locally and globally - and an emerging body of international pedagogical research exploring the use of podcasts and storytelling in social work education to which this study contributes. Building on adult learning principles, a series of case studies were co-created by practitioners and academics, working with a professional scriptwriter, and made into six audio podcasts featuring actors taking different perspectives. We evaluated their implementation in a social work education programme in a university in England. Students responded to an online survey which included items related to the accessibility of the podcasts and their experience of engaging with the podcasts on the module. Findings of the study demonstrate the popularity of the approach with students and positive responses in areas of criticality, application and ‘real world’ learning – all enhancing the pre-placement learning of social work students. The discussion examines possible reason for this success and looks especially at aspects of adult learning and storytelling – with their potential for public pedagogy, emotional learning, and professional development
Words as therapy
No full textCreative writing has many uses as a therapeutic instrument, either integrated into one-to-one psychological therapy, or delivered as a reading or writing group for well-being. This chapter provides an overview of some of the key areas of practice in this field of arts in health, with case studies and example poems. The practices of expressive writing, shared reading groups, therapeutic journalling, and creative writing for therapeutic purposes will all be clearly outlined, with resources provided to support the further exploration of such approaches
BRIDGE: Building Refugee Inclusion and Development through Group Engagement Policy Brief: October 2025
No full text1740P Early detection of pancreatic cancer with a multi-omic liquid biopsy
No full textBackground
Early diagnosis is the central challenge in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the successful development of an early detection test would revolutionize the field. PDAC is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States with 66,400 new diagnoses in 2024. The five-year survival is only 12.8% because 80% of patients are diagnosed in advanced stages limiting the potential for curative surgical resection. There is an urgent need to facilitate the triage of high-risk...
Methods
Here we assess the ability of a spectroscopic blood test as an alternative strategy for PDAC detection. The technology utilizes infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and interrogates ablood sample with IR light to produce a distinctive signature that is sensitive to the hallmarks of cancer. When combined with machine learning, the test detects PDAC by monitoring of all biomolecular components of the sample. In this proof-of-concept study, 166 PDAC patients were classified against 459 symptomatic patients...
Results
The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve reported an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.84. The diagnostic algorithm reported 92% sensitivity with 52% specificity. Importantly, the model did not seem to be affected by cancer stage. The detection rates with the sensitivity-tuned model were 88% stage I, 94% stage II, 99% stage III and 95% stage IV...
Conclusions
The detection of PDAC in early stages would improve prognosis and survival rates of affected patients. Advancements in genetic sequencing have opened opportunities for tumor-derived biomarkers, using genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics to isolate circulating tumor DNA, exosomes, and/or microRNA. However, these biomarkers are limited in PDAC at early stages due low release and near-undetectable signals. An infrared-based multi-omic blood test represents an alternative strategy,..
Implementing TB-Stigma reduction interventions in High Burden Countries: a perspective on a conceptual framework
No full textTuberculosis (TB) is a preventable, curable disease but still impacts people in high-burden countries, who face challenges, including stigma, in accessing and engaging with healthcare services. Nuttall et al. (2022) examined the quality of existing TB-stigma intervention studies and created a novel conceptual framework of pathways to TB-stigma reduction. We critically appraised the methods used within Nuttall et al. (2022) and expanded upon their findings in the context of the World Health Organisation (WHO) End TB Strategy. The included studies showed significant heterogeneity in design, aims, populations, type of TB-stigma targeted and took place across diverse countries. Only three of eleven (n) studies were rated as high quality. Nuttall et al. (2022) synthesized study interventions and outcomes into a conceptual framework with pathways to reduce TB-stigma based on targeted populations. The conceptual framework highlights the need for educational, emotional, and psychosocial support for TB patients, Health Care Workers, and Communities, and provides a useful guide of pathways needed in TB-stigma reduction interventions. However, to be effective, stigma reduction interventions must be part of a well-organized, and committed multi-sectoral collaboratives, which extend beyond national and global TB programs, including mental health services, social support systems, and public health programs
Can Cypriot Physical Education Teachers Fully Embrace Physical Literacy? An Initial Exploratory Sequential Study
No full textThe purpose of this project was to explore whether Cypriot Physical Education (PE) teachers can fully embrace Physical Literacy (PL) and to determine the contributory factors. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design collected data from 135 Cypriot PE teachers utilizing the Teacher Change Questionnaire -Physical Education (TCQ-PE) and the Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (PPLI) questionnaires. Follow-up semistructured interviews were then conducted and thematically analyzed (n=6). Findings revealed that only 23% of teachers demonstrated a willingness to change current practice. Most had generally high levels of the PPLI Knowledge construct perceived PL knowledge and understanding(M=4.59) but interviews found that actual selfreported knowledge was limited especially in relation to their awareness of PL's basis, its identification and aligned teaching behaviours. Key barriers and enablers to PL adoption were described and practical recommendations made. In conclusion the study identifies that both Top-down and bottom-up strategies are required with aligned professional development. Only it this happens will for PL be able to be embedded in Cyprus' Physical Education classes and achieve its health benefits for children.
Is Entrepreneurial Leadership a Double-edged Sword for Adaptive Performance? The Mediation of Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation and Emotional Exhaustion
No full textThe aim of this research is to examine the complex relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and employee adaptive performance in the hospitality sector, with a particular focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms through which this relationship operates. Drawing on social exchange theory, this study investigates the parallel mediating roles of individual entrepreneurial orientation and emotional exhaustion in the entrepreneurial leadership–adaptive performance relationship. Using a time-lagged research design with hospitality employees in Pakistan, the study reveals that entrepreneurial leadership does not directly influence adaptive performance but operates through mediating pathways. The findings demonstrate that entrepreneurial leadership significantly enhances individual entrepreneurial orientation while reducing emotional exhaustion, both of which subsequently improve adaptive performance. These results highlight the importance of understanding the indirect mechanisms through which leadership influences employee outcomes in dynamic service environments. The study contributes to entrepreneurial leadership theory by demonstrating the dual pathways through which such leadership affects performance, offering valuable insights for hospitality management practices. The findings suggest that organizations should focus on developing entrepreneurial leadership capabilities that foster employee entrepreneurial mindsets while simultaneously addressing emotional well-being to enhance adaptive performance in the hospitality industry
‘Permission to be Different’ - An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Mental Health in the Primary Classroom: A Practitioner Perspective
No full textThis qualitative small-scale study aimed to better understand practitioner perspectives and experiences relating to barriers, guidance and support systems associated with children and young people's mental health within the primary classroom. The research aims were explored through three role-defined focus groups: senior leaders, teachers and support staff comprising a total of seven participants with representation from mainstream and specialist primary schools. The resulting transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings suggest the need for an effective support framework encompassing hierarchical accountability and multifaceted professional support alongside a developmentally adapted extension of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. Fundamentally, the ‘permission to be different’ should be embedded within a school's ethos, practice and guidance, allowing greater autonomy when adapting approaches to meet the needs of children and young people. Understanding how mental health sits within the primary classroom from practitioner perspectives is vital given the direct impact on children and young people's learning, development and relationships, and its potential longevity. Equally, having a range of practitioner perspectives is crucial for effective early identification and the deployment of timely and appropriate support through enabling learning environments where children and young people can thrive both academically and emotionally to holistically achieve their potential
Re-Evaluating the Earliest Anglo-Chinese Encounters: An Analysis of Under-Studied Documents from 1553 to 1795
Get PDFThe Macartney Embassy has long been known as the first official Anglo-Chinese encounter, whose failure has been extensively studied. This article makes use of five little known historical documents to re-evaluate these earliest encounters, including the first English attempt at trading with China in 1553; the first letter addressed to the King of China in 1583; the 1787 letter intended to be carried by the first ambassador to China; the 1793 Qing Court Memorial with Qianlong Emperor’s comments; and the 1795 reply from King George III to the Qianlong Emperor’s letter brought back by Macartney. These under-researched documents not only contextualise the Anglo-Chinese encounters in moving back the timeline to the mid-sixteenth century, but also reveal the underpinning incompatible world views as the much more fundamental reasons behind the failure of the Macartney Embassy, which are still highly relevant and illuminating for understanding today’s relationship between China and the West
Automated Airborne Ordinance Detection Using Data Fusion of Magnetometer and Ground Penetrating Radar
No full textLandmines pose a critical threat to human and animal lives in post-conflict regions and continue to hinder economic recovery by affecting agriculture and infrastructure development. The process of discovering and clearing ordnance involving landmines using human or animal forces presents extreme risks and demands a considerable labour force and time. Landmines are made from a variety of materials, including wood, glass, metal, and plastic, and they vary in size. To improve detection accuracy, multiple sensors with different capabilities can be used simultaneously, allowing for data fusion and more informed decision-making. The use of uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with diverse remote sensing technologies offers a safe and efficient means of accelerating humanitarian demining operations. In this study, two integrated remote sensing modalities - Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) and magnetometers - are mounted on an advanced autonomous UAV to enhance detection probability and reduce false alarm rates. A custom Android-based tablet application is used to analyse the fused data in real time. The performance of the individual sensing modalities was evaluated through field tests conducted in Latvia, Croatia, and Cambodia. The complete integrated system, incorporating sensor data fusion, was tested in a landmine field in the UK. Results from these outdoor trials confirm the effectiveness of the proposed fusion techniques in detecting legacy landmines, Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) with high accuracy