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Supporting inclusion in post-compulsory education: Developing trainee lecturer skills
No full textThis article examines the current proposed initial teacher education (ITE) qualification framework from the perspective of pre-service vocational post-compulsory lecturers regarding the need to develop SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) inclusive classrooms. Considering the current post-compulsory staffing crisis, general further education colleges are often choosing to employ industry subject specialists with little/no teaching experience to deliver entry-level courses, often to learners with marked SEND needs. Due to the growing proportion of SEND learners choosing mainstream post-compulsory educational providers, an analysis of the ways that these trainee teachers are prepared through their additional professional study is called for. Employing a desk-based research approach, supported with a literature review, which ties together the seemingly disparate threads of the post-compulsory teacher training curriculum and SEND enrolment data, this study shows that the current post-compulsory teacher training qualifications need adaptations to support trainee teachers. With many lecturers only starting their teacher training after a period of employment, there is a disparity when perceiving inclusion theoretically versus practically. While equality, diversity and inclusion are a key factor in the ITE core content framework, the lack of strategies to support SEND learners within skill-based subject specialisms is potentially a barrier to SEND inclusion
World Press Trends Outlook 2024-5
No full textWorld Press Trends Outlook 2024-2025 Executive Summary
This is the 35th annual World Press Trends Outlook report, an annual study from WAN-IFRA (World Association of News Publishers) that offers an in-depth look at the current and future state of the global news media industry. As in previous years, this study is grounded in findings from a comprehensive survey of senior media executives and newsroom leaders. More than 240 participants, across 85 countries, contributed insights into pivotal areas of the news media business. This includes trends in revenue generation, business outgoings, digital transformation, relationships with technology platforms, and press freedom. These expert insights, coupled with case studies from around the world, offer us a fresh perspective on the health of the news industry and today’s media landscape.
Key Findings
Revenue Trends
-Print remains a significant revenue source for many news publishers, accounting for 45% of total income among our survey participants. However, reliance on print is falling. It is down from 57.5% of publisher revenues in 2023 and 53.5% in 2022.
-Digital revenues grew by 7% year-on-year. They now constitute over 31% of total revenues, as multiple publishers successfully implement paywalls and digital subscriptions, while at the same time monetising products such as podcasts and newsletters.
-Publishers continue to invest in efforts to diversify their revenue streams. Alternative income streams – such as events, e-commerce, and memberships – are gaining in traction. They now account for nearly a quarter (23.8%) of total revenues.
Digital Transformation and Business Outlook
-While digital transformation is maturing, only 10% of publishers rate their efforts as "sophisticated." Developing markets face greater challenges, with 51% of respondents describing their efforts as “emergent.”
-Optimism in the industry is rising, with 61% of respondents feeling positive about the next 12 months, increasing to 64% over the next three years. This is driven by factors such as growing revenue diversification, technological advances, and strategic acquisitions.
Outgoings and Investments
- Editorial costs now account for nearly 37% of publisher budgets, up from 28% in 2023, reflecting efforts to deliver distinct content and new verticals.
- The amount of publishers’ budgets going to print has decreased slightly, and investment in product development has halved since last year. Product remains an important focus, so decreased costs are likely to be the result of maintaining and developing existing products, instead of creating new ones.
- Investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Analytics Tools are also pivotal to the strategic priorities of news publishers in the coming year.
Artificial Intelligence and Relationships with Platforms
- AI is transforming workflows, and is being used for everything from creating audio articles, through to deployment of dynamic paywall and chatbots. However, challenges remain around issues of copyright and company-wide adoption.
-Relationships with platforms continue to evolve. Partnerships with video, messaging, and AI platforms have shown the greatest improvement over the past 12 months. However, revenue from platform partnerships dropped to 12% of total revenues in 2024, down from 15.1% last year.
Press and Media Freedom
-Attacks on media freedom are increasing globally, with rising incidents of online harassment, cyberattacks, and physical violence against journalists. Almost 100 journalists were killed in 2024.
-Regulatory actions, legal threats, and platform censorship further threaten media independence, especially in developing markets.
-Shining a light on these issues, as well as investing in initiatives like anti-SLAPP legislation and digital safety training, is critical to protecting journalists and fostering media freedom
What do we actually know about the biomechanics of pregnancy and labour? A systematic scoping review
No full textPregnancy and childbirth involve profound biomechanical transformations, adaptations, and functional demands on the maternal body. Although biomechanical complications have been identified as a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality, this remains one of the most under-researched areas in perinatal health. This systematic scoping review aimed to map and synthesise existing literature on the biomechanics of pregnancy and labour. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidance, comprehensive searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and MIDIRS were conducted up to May 2025. Eligible sources were peer-reviewed empirical studies assessing musculoskeletal, kinematic, kinetic, postural, or dynamic parameters in pregnant or labouring women. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened against predefined eligibility criteria. Data were charted using a structured extraction form and synthesised narratively across key biomechanical themes. Eighty-seven studies were included, all of which focused on pregnancy. No studies conducted during labour were identified. Most were observational with small sample sizes and limited diversity. Ethnicity was reported only in one study. Four key themes emerged: (1) Posture and spinal curvature, (2) Gait and locomotor analysis, (3) Functional tasks and interventions, and (4) Balance and stability. Findings showed high individual variability and no consistent biomechanical pattern across pregnancy. Real-world, neuromuscular, and labour-related biomechanics remain largely unexplored. This review underscores a critical gap in perinatal research: while biomechanical adaptations during pregnancy have been increasingly studied, labour remains entirely unexamined from a biomechanical perspective. Current evidence is fragmented, methodologically narrow, and lacks diversity, offering limited clinical relevance. We are effectively operating in a biomechanical vacuum, without empirical data to guide safer, more efficient, and personalised birth practices. Existing clinical approaches rely heavily on tradition, anecdotal experience, and untested theoretical assumptions. Addressing this evidence void, particularly in labour biomechanics and ethnic representation, is essential to improve perinatal outcomes and support equity in maternal care
Dynamic Temperature–Vacuum Swing Adsorption for Sustainable Direct Air Capture: Parametric Optimisation for High-Purity CO₂ Removal
Get PDFDirect Air Capture (DAC), as a complementary strategy to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), offers a scalable and sustainable pathway to remove CO₂ directly from the ambient air. This study presents a detailed evaluation of the amine-functionalised metalorganic framework (MOF) sorbent, mmen-Mg₂(dobpdc), for DAC using a Temperature Vacuum Swing Adsorption (TVSA) process. While this sorbent has demonstrated promising performance in point-source CO₂ capture, this is the first dynamic simulation-based study to rigorously assess its effectiveness for low-concentration atmospheric CO₂ removal. A transient one-dimensional TVSA model was developed in Aspen Adsorption and validated against experimental breakthrough data to ensure accuracy in capturing both the sharp and gradual adsorption kinetics. To enhance process efficiency and sustainability, this work provides a comprehensive parametric analysis of key operational factors, including air flow rate, temperature, adsorption/desorption durations, vacuum pressure, and heat-exchanger temperature, on process performance, including CO2 purity, recovery, productivity, and specific energy consumption. Under optimal conditions for this sorbent (vacuum pressure lower than 0.15 bar and feed temperature below 15 ⁰C) the TVSA process achieved ~98% CO₂ purity, recovery over 70% and specific energy consumption about 3.5 MJ/KgCO₂. These findings demonstrate that mmen-Mg2(dobpdc) can achieve performance comparable to benchmark DAC sorbents in terms of CO2 purity and recovery, underscoring its potential for scalable DAC applications. This work advances the development of energy efficient carbon removal technologies and highlight the value of step-shape isotherm adsorbents in supporting global carbon-neutrality goals
Marker based and markerless motion capture for equestrian rider kinematic analysis: A comparative study
No full textThe study hypothesised that a markerless motion capture system can provide kinematic data comparable to a traditional marker-based system for riders mounted on a horse. The objective was to assess the markerless system’s accuracy by directly comparing joint and segment angle measurements taken during walking and trotting with those obtained from a marker-based system. Ten healthy adult participants performed five dynamic trials during walking and trotting. A twelve-camera marker-based system and eight-camera 2D video-based system were synchronised. Three-dimensional hip, knee, shoulder and elbow joint angles, and the global trunk and pelvis angle were computed for comparison between the two systems. To assess the error between systems, the root mean square difference (RMSD) was averaged across each gait cycle and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) paired t-tests were applied. The sagittal trunk angle had the lowest RMSD of 2.0° and elbow rotation had the highest RMSD of 19°, with the same values for walking and trotting. SPM indicated increased hip flexion (0–100 %, p < 0.001) and elbow flexion (24–47 %, p = 0.03; 63–100 %, p < 0.001) in the walking gait cycle for the markerless system. A lack of joint range of motion and obscured medial limbs during walking whilst mounted on horses may cause increased offsets for markerless data in equestrian riders. No significant differences were found for the transverse plane, yet there tended to be increased RMSD. This lack of consistency suggests results from the transverse plane in equestrian riders should be interpreted with caution. Study findings indicate that markerless technology has the potential to be a suitable alternative to marker-based systems for assessment of equestrian riders, dependent on the segment/joint angle of interest and the level of acceptable error. These results indicate that markerless systems can effectively be utilised for rider biofeedback, though their application may be limited for specific joint analyse
CirDEF: Standardised Information Framework to address the Information Needs of Circularity Indicators
No full textCircularity indicators are widely used to assess progress toward sustainability through circular economic practices. However, the diverse data requirements for these indicators often result in inconsistencies, overlaps and misinterpretations when evaluating circularity. This study addresses the absence of a unified, standardised approach to defining and applying circularity indicators, by developing a framework, named “CirDEF”. This standardised and holistic information framework supports the varied information needs of circularity indicators across system scales, indicator types, and stakeholder contexts. A systematic literature review was conducted, analysing 75 resources to identify existing circularity indicators. The resulting standardised information framework structured around input, process, and output model incorporated with key attributes such as business, time, dimensional, impact, and performance. This allows for the creation of a holistic platform that can redefine existing circularity indicators and improve decision-making. The framework was validated through expert interviews using face, content, and construct validation methods, to ensure theoretical and practical relevance. CirDEF enables dynamic, context-specific circularity assessments by allowing users to apply any relevant circularity indicators instead of relying on fixed indicators. This adaptability supports real-time decision-making, traceability, and proactive implementation of the circular economy. By resolving ambiguities, overlaps, and the static measurement limitations, CirDEF serves as a comprehensive system that facilitates data-driven decisions and aligns with SDGs. This is the first study of its kind to provide a thorough resource for academics, industry practitioners, and policymakers, enabling a holistic evaluation of circularity indicators through a standardised information framework across various processes and life cycles on a global scale
Survey, taxonomy, and emerging paradigms of societal digital twins for public health preparednes
Get PDFThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has demonstrated the severe impact of infectious diseases on global society, politics, and economies. To mitigate future pandemics, preemptive measures for effectively managing infection outbreaks are essential. In this context, Societal Digital Twin (SDT) technology offers a promising solution. To the best of our knowledge, this survey is the premier to conceptualize an SDT framework for infection containment under a novel systematic taxonomy. The framework categorizes infection management into five stages, namely infection initiation, spread, control, combat, and recovery. It provides an overview of SDT approaches within each category, discussing their validation strategies, generalizability, and limitations. Additionally, the survey examines applications, data-driven design issues, key components, and limitations of DT technology in healthcare. Finally, it explores key challenges, open research directions, and emerging paradigms to advance DT applications in the healthcare domain, highlighting smart service paradigms such as SDT as a Smart Service (SDTaaSS) and Healthcare Metaverse as a Smart Service (HMaaSS)
Influence of ilmenite, garnet, and rutile on the hardened, thermal resistance, and radiation shielding properties of UHPHWC
No full textThis study evaluates Ultra-High Performance Heavyweight Concrete (UHPHWC) incorporating fine aggregates such as garnet, rutile, and ilmenite to enhance density, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and radiation shielding efficiency. The effects of these aggregates as partial or full sand replacements were investigated under standard and elevated temperatures. Experimental tests assessed workability, Strength, and radiation shielding (RS) using gamma sources Cs-137 (662 keV) and Co-60 (average energy ≈ 1250 keV). Results showed that ilmenite-based mixtures achieved the highest density (3895 kg/m³) and optimal mechanical performance, with the 50% and–50% ilmenite mix recording the highest strength 172 MPa. Increased ilmenite content significantly improved radiation attenuation, achieving the lowest Half-Value Layer (HVL) and Tenth-Value Layer (TVL). Despite exposure to 800°C, ilmenite-based UHPHWC retained superior shielding efficiency, with a linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) reduction of only 16.9%–18% for Co-60 and 15.2%–16.7% for Cs-137, while maintaining 31.3% of its original compressive strength. The lowest permeability (1.17 × 10−11 cm/sec) was observed in ilmenite-rich mixtures, reinforcing their suitability for water-resistant applications. This study confirms that ilmenite significantly enhances UHPHWC’s durability, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and radiation shielding properties, making it an ideal material for applications requiring fire resistance and superior radiation attenuation