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The Legacies and Narrative of the Preston Lock-out
Get PDFThis article examines some of the complex legacies of the lock-out. It primarily explores the aftermath of the lock-out, as well as the academic and popular memory of the dispute, framed largely around the narrative of millowner Henry Ashworth. It considers the influence of notions of ‘political economy’, and how the dispute was utilised as a malleable tale to caution against the apparent follies of trade unionism. It utilises the idea of dominant narratives to also explore the subsequent reputations of George Cowell and Mortimer Grimshaw, the most famous strike leaders. In doing so, it highlights the reputational aftermath of the strike and how it shaped their postdispute careers. It also considers some of the less tangible results of the lock-out, such as the lessons learned and longer term and geographically disparate results of the dispute
The Opposition of Traditionalist Catholics to Sex Education in the 1970s
Get PDFThe 1960s and 1970s in Britain was a time of revolution in attitudes towards sex, especially in the public education system. The campaign to see sex education established as a subject in primary and secondary schools was gaining traction despite fierce opponents like Mary Whitehouse. This article focuses on the story of a traditionalist Catholic couple named Mr Derrick Taylor and Mrs Irene Taylor who set up a campaign to defend their children against what they saw as the encroachment of immorality, promiscuity and pornography. Mrs Taylor worked to spread the message that sex education was wrong by building a network of mothers who shared her views while Mr Taylor defended in court his decision to remove his children from school altogether. This article gives an account of the lengths Mr and Mrs Taylor went to in order to try to stop sex education and describes the impacts this campaign had on their children
Evaluating the impact of the Health Access for Refugees (HARP) project on people who are refugees or seeking asylum in Northern England
Get PDFAims:
Evidence demonstrates that people who are seeking asylum and refugees face individual, institutional and system-level barriers when accessing health services. Health Access for Refugees’ Project (HARP) is a UK initiative increasing access to health care within this community through a series of interventions. This study explored the impact of HARP on health service access, experiences and outcomes for clients, and how volunteers and staff addressed institutional and system-level barriers.
Methods:
In summer 2020, we conducted qualitative telephone interviews with four HARP clients, eight clients who became volunteers, seven further volunteers and three staff members.
Results:
The educational aspect of the interventions supported clients navigating the complex UK health care system while promoting independence in accessing health care. Advocacy by volunteers and staff was important in challenging barriers at individual and institutional levels. Staff challenged the asylum system, by improving information around entitlement to health care and addressing barriers to registering with a General Practitioner (GP).
Conclusions:
Interventions such as those provided by HARP can address different levels of barriers to support people accessing health care provision. This can be achieved through training health professionals and working with peers to support access to care and to develop self-advocacy. However, stable long-term funding is essential to ensure the sustainability of these initiative
Emerging perspectives on distraction and task interruptions: metacognition, cognitive control and facilitation - part I
Get PDFModern technology allows for the control of learning and work environments to an unprecedented degree. Therefore, the focus of research shifts from how learning and work performance are passively affected by environmental factors to how people actively shape their own learning and work experiences. This includes task-irrelevant stimuli and task interruptions. For instance, modern headphones allow one to switch between two modes: Active noise cancelling eliminates all background sounds while acoustic transparency allows certain signals to pass through the headphones, creating a customisable audio space. Modern devices also allow us to plan certain task interruptions (for example, by email alerts) in advance. This gives users unprecedented autonomy over their learning and work environments. However, increased control does not necessarily imply that these environments are free of distraction and interruptions. In fact, quite the opposite is true: Modern-day digital learning and work environments are full of distractions and interruptions. With users’ increased control over their learning and work environments, new research questions arise that emphasise the active role of the individual in shaping their own learning and work experiences:
Are people capable of distinguishing between harmful and helpful task-irrelevant stimuli and activities?
Can the harmful aspects of distractions and interruptions be brought under cognitive control?
Are distraction and task interruptions always harmful or are they sometimes helpful?
Within this Special Issue, we primarily focus on the following emerging trends in distraction and attention
Geographic disparity of pathophysiological coronary artery disease characteristics: Insights from ASET trials
Get PDFThe geographical disparity in the pathophysiological pattern of coronary artery disease (CAD) among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown. To elucidate the geographical variance in the pathophysiological characteristics of CAD. Physiological indices derived from angiography-based fractional flow reserve pullbacks from patients with chronic coronary syndrome enrolled in the ASET Japan (n = 206) and ASET Brazil (n = 201) studies, which shared the same eligibility criteria, were analysed. The pathophysiological patterns of CAD were characterised using Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio (μQFR)-derived indices acquired from pre-PCI angiograms. The diffuseness of CAD was defined by the μQFR pullback pressure gradient index. Significant functional stenoses pre-PCI (μQFR ≤0.80) were more frequent in ASET Japan compared to ASET Brazil (89.9% vs. 67.5%, p < 0.001), as were rates of a post-PCI μQFR <0.91 (22.1% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.013). In the multivariable analysis, pre-procedural μQFR and diffuse disease were independent factors for predicting a post-PCI μQFR <0.91, which contributed to the different rates of post-PCI μQFR ≥0.91 between the studies. Among vessels with a post-PCI μQFR <0.91, a consistent diffuse pattern of CAD pre- and post-PCI occurred in 78.3% and 76.7% of patients in ASET Japan and Brazil, respectively; only 6.3% (Japan) and 10.0% (Brazil) of vessels had a major residual gradient. Independent risk factors for diffuse disease were diabetes mellitus in ASET Japan, and age and male gender in Brazil. There was geographic disparity in pre-procedural angiography-based pathophysiological characteristics. The combined pre-procedural physiological assessment of vessel μQFR and diffuseness of CAD may potentially identify patients who will benefit most from PCI. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Angel in blue or registered mental health nurse? The impact of the angel and hero narrative on student mental health nurses
Get PDFThis is a critical reflection and discourse around the significance of Covid-19 and the media portrayal of nursing on student nurses and prospective students. During the pandemic nurses were referred to as ‘angels’ and ‘heroes.’ This impacted public perceptions of nursing and nursing students’ perceptions of what it is to be a nurse. Nursing students were inspired and motivated by heroic and angelic concepts which do not adequately represent modern nursing. This paper depicts an honest, brave, and insightful learning journey of one student mental health nurse. It serves as a reminder to both nurses, students, and the public, that nurses are not merely angels or heroes. We are accountable educated professionals
A Big Ring on the sky
Get PDFWe present the discovery of `A Big Ring on the Sky' (BR), the second ultra-large-scale structure (uLSS) found in MgII-absorber catalogues, following the previously reported Giant Arc (GA). In cosmological terms the BR is close to the GA - at the same redshift z∼0.8 and with a separation on the sky of only ∼12∘. Two extraordinary uLSSs in such close configuration raises the possibility that together they form an even more extraordinary cosmological system. The BR is a striking circular, annulus-like, structure of diameter ∼400 Mpc (proper size, present epoch). The method of discovery is as described in the GA paper, but here using the new MgII-absorber catalogues restricted to DR16Q quasars. Using the Convex Hull of Member Spheres (CHMS) algorithm, we estimate that the annulus and inner absorbers of the BR have departures from random expectations, at the density of the control field, of up to 5.2σ. We present the discovery of the BR, assess its significance using the CHMS, Minimal Spanning Tree (MST), FilFinder and Cuzick & Edwards (CE) methods, show it in the context of the GA+BR system, and suggest some implications for the origins of uLSS and for our understanding of cosmology. For example, it may be that unusual geometric patterns, such as these uLSSs, have an origin in cosmic strings
Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Idiopathic Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Get PDFParvalbumin (PV)-expressing inhibitory interneurons are considered critical in regulating excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance and have gained particular interest in the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dysfunction of the dorsal striatum has been profoundly associated with ASD aetiology, regions which are involved in goal-directed and habitual behaviour in the dorsomedial (DMS) and dorsolateral striatum (DLS), respectively. Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular structures which predominantly surround PV+ interneurons and contribute to their fast-spiking properties. Utilising the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mouse model of ASD, we investigated whether this idiopathic strain exhibits a reduced expression of PV. Through immunohistochemistry, we observed that BTBR mice had a reduced density of PV+ interneurons in the DMS, whilst density of PNNs was unaltered. The percentage of VVA+ cells with PV expression as well as PV levels were found to be significantly decreased, suggesting that BTBR mice present with a downregulation of PV expression in the DMS. We observed that control mice have a greater percentage of PV+ interneurons with PNNs in the DLS than in the DMS, however, BTBR mice were found to not possess such a gradient. We also observed that colocalisation of PV+ interneurons with PNNs in the dorsal striatum was higher in female BTBR mice than in male counterparts. This sex difference was not evident in control mice. PV downregulation may be a common endpoint of ASD aetiology in an idiopathic, and other, mouse models of ASD. Alterations in the colocalisation of PV+ interneurons with PNNs alongside PV reduction have been shown to alter neuronal function and we anticipate that such may also alter E/I balance in BTBR mice. Differences which prevail between sexes in BTBR mice highlight the importance of considering sex in the aetiology of ASD and BTBR may be a particular robust strain to further investigate this
Modelling the impact of the electrification of heating and transport on the mix of wind, solar, and storage.
Get PDFThe mix of technologies in a future energy system is an important area of research. As the proportions of wind power and solar power generation capacities in the power system increase, energy storage becomes necessary to complement their variability due to weather. The subject of this thesis is how the wind/solar/storage mix will be impacted due to changes in electricity demand caused by the electrification of heat and transport using the UK as a case study.
To account for long-term weather effects, whilst keeping socioeconomic and technological factors constant, a novel method has been developed for incorporating heating electricity into the historic electricity demand. This enables the impact of heat pumps alone to be studied. The research reveals that for predicted 2050 heat pump penetration levels the monthly demand for electricity doubles in winter. This leads to an increase of approximately 30 TWh for each winter month and a 37% increase in year-to-year variability of electricity demand due to weather. Temperature dependent electric vehicle time series incorporated into the electricity demand show a seasonal variation far lower than for heat pumps, with annual demand varying over a range 14 TWh between years with EVs compared to only 10 TWh without.
These electricity demand time series were used in a novel high-level energy model to calculate the minimum energy storage required for a generation mix including wind, solar, base load and dispatchable power sources. To provide sufficient granularity and variation in conditions, hourly demand and generation time series based on 40 years of historic weather were used. The optimum wind/solar energy mix from perspectives of storage, excess energy and cost were investigated. It was found that heating electrification increases the proportion of wind energy required by between 3% and 5%. In contrast, a change to providing most transport by electric vehicles does not significantly change the optimum proportion of wind energy required. Providing all heating with boilers fuelled by hydrogen generated via electrolysis would require 7 times as much renewable energy compared to all heating provided by electric heat pumps. Energy lost due to curtailment exceeds energy lost to storage efficiency by an order of magnitude.
A sensitivity analysis on alternative model inputs showed that different wind generation time series have the most impact on predicted energy storage capacity. Simulated offshore and onshore wind and actual national grid generation all have different patterns. This can have a significant impact on storage requirements, a result that has not been noted before. Although previous research has shown the impact that wind turbine locations have on the amount of energy they generate, when they generate this energy has had little attention.
A novel comparison of four heat demand methods found that the method used by the when2heat dataset most accurately predicted the measured data which is an important
result considering it has already been used by several other studies. The methods were validated against national gas time series, and measured data not previously used for
this purpose. It was also found that peak electricity demand is very sensitive to the method of generating heat demand and hourly heat pump operating profiles, suggesting
inaccuracies of 25% in previous estimates of future peak demand
Emergency management decision-making in a changing world: 3 key challenges
Get PDFManaging emergencies is taxing for individuals due to the stress of making decisions in dangerous, high-stakes and time-constrained environments. These complex, dynamic environments also make it difficult to coordinate as other responders perform different roles that may have conflicting goals. This study explored some of the challenges faced by emergency management decision-makers through a literature review of 70 papers identified from SCOPUS and EBSCO database searches. Three major challenges for emergency management were identified of stress and fatigue interoperability and ethical decision-making. Each of these challenges is examined to explore their nature and how they are likely to evolve in the future. This paper provides helpful advice on how to mitigate these challenges. We argue that to better meet these challenges, emergency services organisations need to develop and maintain appropriate doctrine and training, develop a supportive organisational culture and effectively learn the lessons of previous critical incidents