26199 research outputs found
Sort by
Engaging the next generation of Child–Computer Interaction researchers: Teaching CCI
No full textChild–computer Interaction (CCI) is an established research field with its own conference and journal for disseminating results and community engagement. However, there are voices calling for the field to mature (e.g. Torgersson, Bekker, Barendregt, Eriksson, and Frauenberger (2019)). One way to address that is to discuss the ever evolving CCI curriculum in order to discover what efforts are made for engaging a new generation of researchers in the field. This special issue seeks to gather informative and inspirational perspectives on teaching CCI in order to engage the next generation of researchers in the field. Our hope is that this special issue will not only serve as knowledge sharing within the community, but also inspire more people to start teaching CCI and thereby open up for engaging the next generation of researchers
Urban earthworm communities driven more by climate and elevation than urbanisation intensity
No full textSoil biodiversity, particularly earthworms, plays a crucial role in ecosystem functions and services but remains largely understudied in urban environments. In this context, we conducted a synthesis analysis of 41 studies from urban environments (726 records, 1995–2024) to (1) describe patterns of earthworm communities, (2) identify the main drivers shaping urban earthworm communities, focusing on the effects of climate, degree of urbanization, soil properties, and local land use, with the expectation that climate would be the strongest driver, and (3) assess the occurrence of exotic earthworm species. Urban earthworm communities showed considerable variation in their abundance, biomass and species richness. Within our dataset, exotic species were detected in North America, South America, and Asia, but no records from European and African cities, despite their known presence there. However, there was a strong geographical bias, with 75% of records from Europe. Our results reveal that at the global scale, elevation, and annual variation in temperature and potential evapotranspiration are the most important predictors shaping total earthworm abundance. For total earthworm biomass, variation in potential evapotranspiration is the key predictor. At the plot scale, we found both positive and negative correlations between earthworm community metrics, soil properties, and specific land uses, namely urban forests and grasslands. We recommend additional standardised sampling, broader geographical and temporal coverage, and the investigation of urban-specific direct and indirect stressors, as crucial steps for understanding urban soil biodiversity and promoting beneficial management practices. Overall, this analysis indicates that urbanisation intensity showed no consistent effects on earthworm communities once climate and soil variables were accounted for. Given the importance of climate impacts, mitigation of climate change effects would be valuable for the maintenance of earthworm communities
Perceived Discrimination Among People of Colour and Minorities in European Neurosurgery: A Survey-Based Study
No full textBackground European neurosurgery is becoming increasingly diverse. However, professionals from minority and migrant backgrounds may encounter discrimination. Empirical data on these experiences remain limited. Objective This study assesses the prevalence and nature of perceived discrimination among minority and migrant neurosurgical professionals across Europe. It evaluates whether migration status, self-identified minority status, and gender are associated with differences in perceived discrimination. Methods A 30-item online survey was disseminated through the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. Items addressed demographic details, professional background, perceived discrimination, reporting behavior, and institutional policies. Perceived discrimination was measured using a five-point Likert scale assessing frequency of discrimination based on ethnic origin or immigrant background. Mann-Whitney U tests were employed for group comparisons due to the ordinal nature of the data. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Among 105 respondents, 42 (40%) were classified as migrants, and 18 (17%) self-identified as ethnic or religious minorities. Unexpectedly, migrant status, minority status and female gender did not statistically correlate with self-reported experience of discrimination. Institutional structures to address discrimination were often unknown or absent. Conclusion Migration status and self-identified minority status or gender, was most strongly associated with perceived discrimination. These findings highlight the importance of understanding invisible forms of bias and the complex intersection of identity, nationality, and institutional culture
Validation of the 3D Physics-Based SEP Forecasting Tool SPARX Using Historical SEP Events
No full textThe transport of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) through the interplanetary space remains a challenging aspect in space physics. The effects of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind turbulence on the SEP arrival to Earth has motivated the adoption of physics-based approaches in operational space weather forecasting. 3D physics-based models offer a framework for incorporating the complexity of SEP transport mechanisms. The forecasting tool, SPARX (Marsh et al. (2015)), employs a relativistic full-orbit test particle approach to simulate SEP propagation to predict their arrival and help assess the potential hazard they may cause. Detection of a solar flare with a magnitude > M1.0 triggers the SPARX system to produce synthetic particle flux profiles from a database of SEP simulations to forecast observations that would be made at 1AU by a spacecraft.
To enhance SPARX’s modeling capabilities, we focus here on validating the model through a systematic analysis of recent SEP events. The performance evaluation methodology implemented in Dalla et al. (2018) used a comprehensive list of X-class solar flares between 1997 and 2017 where for every flare, SPARX was operated in forecast mode. The outputs were analysed for SEP event prediction and performance metrics such as Probability of Detection (POD), False Alarm Ratio (FAR) and Critical Success Index (CSI) were calculated. This evaluation methodology will be adapted for events post 2017 to incorporate a larger dataset and thereby enabling a statistically robust validation of the tool. We chose a proton energy threshold of > 20 MeV for maintaining consistency for model evaluation. We present preliminary analysis of SPARX-generated synthetic SEP flux profiles against multi-spacecraft observations from SOLO, SOHO, and STEREO-A, assessing its current efficiency in reproducing key event characteristics such as onset times and
intensity profiles. We discuss how these findings guide next-stage improvements in SPARX. This work aims to contribute to bridging the gap between 3D physics-based SEP modeling and real-time forecasting, ultimately advancing our capability to assess and mitigate SEP-driven space weather hazards. Future enhancement consists of incorporating cross-field transport of SEPs and evaluating its impact on SPARX’s forecasting accuracy
Moving beyond the physical: how higher education institute ethics processes do and should address the emotional risks of gender-based violence research
No full textEmotional impacts on researchers doing gender-based violence (GBV) research are well-documented. Risks to emotional safety arise from different research methods, and researchers report a range of coping strategies to mitigate effects. Emotional safety is especially resonant for GBV research, in which feminist methods often involve the researcher not in the traditional role of ‘neutral observer’ but in that of an active, engaged respondent. An emergent body of literature calls on higher education institutions (HEIs) to recognise risks to researchers’ emotional as well as physical safety. Yet to date there has been little appraisal of how HEI ethics panels and processes are responding to these calls.
This empirical article presents findings from a new survey of 74 GBV researchers applying to, and reviewing for, UK HEI ethics panels. It dissects how the emotional safety of GBV researchers is currently assessed and identifies promising practice. Addressing traditional research norms and the dominant biomedical approach to ethics which privileges physical over emotional safety, the authors argue for a shift to reflexive, feminist, trauma-informed ethics practices which meaningfully engage with researcher emotional wellbeing. Recommendations which have application in the UK and internationally are made to strengthen ethics processes in a proportionate and non-tokenistic way
Rural Modernity in an Interwar English County Magazine: Cheshire Life, 1934–39
No full textThere are some eighty-five county magazines across England, read by millions. This case study of 1930s Cheshire Life explains their appeal and demonstrates their value for twentieth-century social and cultural history. The birth of this middle-brow non-metropolitan publishing genre is outlined, using back copies, archival sources and interviews. Content analysis finds these magazines are the voice of ‘the county set’, a neglected subculture. Themes include county identities, attitudes to the countryside, the rise of the middle classes and decline of the gentry, sense of place and modernity. Cheshire Life’s 1930s countryside is modern and void of nostalgia
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING OF PHYSICAL LITERACY: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN CYPRUS
No full textThis exploratory study investigates the perceptions and understanding of physical literacy among university students in Cyprus, with a focus on those training to become physical education teachers. Despite the growing global emphasis on physical literacy as essential for promoting lifelong health and well-being, its conceptualisation and application in Cyprus remain underexplored. Using qualitative methods, five focus groups comprising 21 students from Sports and Exercise Science programs were conducted. Thematic analysis revealed that students perceive physical literacy as a multifaceted concept encompassing cognitive aspects, practical implementation, and lifelong engagement with physical activity. Participants highlighted the significant role of educational settings and cultural environments in shaping their understanding of physical literacy. The study also explored students’ familiarity with the philosophical underpinnings of physical literacy, such as monism, existentialism, and phenomenology. Results indicated varied levels of understanding, suggesting the need for enhanced educational strategies to integrate these philosophical concepts into university curricula. Additionally, the study examined the perceived differences between physical education and physical literacy, identifying physical literacy as a broader, more theoretical construct that includes cognitive and behavioural dimensions beyond the practical focus of traditional Physical Education subject. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted training and professional development to improve the understanding of physical literacy among prospective Physical Education teachers. The study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the gaps and opportunities in promoting physical literacy within the context of higher education in Cyprus
Mythical Past, Infinite Future: A Journey into Britain's Energy Coast
Get PDFThis article explores the ways in which time and change have defined a little known and overlooked region, West Cumberland, that is at one and the same time can be characterised by its attachment to a mythologised past and its openness to a future that, from a human perspective, might as well reach to infinity. It is a condition that has arisen primarily as a consequence of its native industries and the way that its geology and geographical location have shaped it into its present form as ‘Britain's Energy Coast.’ The region is further seen as dynamic and fluid when set against the image of place that most people who live outside of the region will be familiar with, which is belongs to the Lake District National Park, a landscape that by contrast to the coastal region of Cumberland, may seem to be timeless and unchanging
Voltage Control in Medium Voltage feeders featuring Large Scale PV Implementation
No full textThe increasing integration of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems into medium voltage (MV) networks presents significant challenges for maintaining voltage stability and power quality. This paper explores the operational dynamics of MV lines under high PV penetration and examines the issues associated with three voltage control methods. A specific MV line in the Koutrafas area of Cyprus, characterized by high PV penetration and minimal load, was selected as a case study. Real-time data were collected and analyzed to identify periods of significant voltage deviations. Using DIgSILENT Power Factory, simulations were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of three voltage control methods. The findings indicate that the constant voltage control method minimizes voltage variations and offers the most reliable solution for future PV installations. However, the research highlights the need for larger inverters and advanced reactive power management capabilities to accommodate this control strategy. Recommendations are made for adopting improved voltage control mechanisms and conducting further studies to address challenges at both the distribution and transmission levels
Evolving running load demands and fixture congestion in the English Premier League: a decade of insights from 2015/2016 to 2024/2025
No full textObjectives: To describe the running load demands and fixture congestion of English Premier League (EPL) teams from seasons 2015/2016 to 2024/2025. Methods: A total of 3750 games across ten seasons were analysed for team total distance (TD), high-intensity distance (HID; >5.5 m/s), high-speed running distance (HSR; 5.5–7 m/s) and sprint distance (SprD; >7 m/s). Matches were tracked using semi-automated systems; TRACAB (2015/2016–2018/2019) and Second Spectrum (2S; 2019/2020–2024/2025). Match minutes (Wyscout) were used to calculate total and congested minutes per season. Results: Significant small to large increases (all p<0.001) were observed in team TD (effect size (ES): 0.56), HID (ES: 1.79), HSR (ES: 1.67) and SprD (ES: 1.61), along with moderate increases in per-minute metrics for HID/min (ES: 1.55), HSR/min (ES: 1.41) and SprD/min (ES: 1.46) between 2015/2016 and 2024/2025. TD/min (ES: −0.27) showed a small decrease. Trivial to moderate differences were found in season-to-season comparisons for TD (p<0.05; ES: −0.65 to 0.81), HID (p<0.05; ES: 0.16 to 0.47), HSR (p<0.05; ES: −0.17 to 0.55) and SprD (p<0.05; ES: 0.19 to 0.26). Rolling 3-season total (+1600 min) and congested (+1415) match minutes increased for all players between 2015/2016 and 2024/2025. A higher increase was seen for the top six team players’ total (+5659) and congested (+2003) minutes. Conclusion: Running load demands (TD, HID, HSR, SprD, HID/min, HSR/min and SprD/min), total match minutes and congested minutes have increased over the last decade. The top six teams are exposed to more total and congested minutes than other teams. Continuous monitoring of player responses to these increased demands is essential to better understand the potential impact on player health, especially those with more exposure