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Strengthening Community-Based Falls Prevention in England: Evidence Review and Policy Recommendations
No full textFalls among older adults in the UK are a major public health concern, with approximately one-third of people aged 65 and over experiencing a fall each year. Falls can result in severe injuries and
contribute to increased health and social care costs, as well as disability and premature death. Despite strong evidence for falls prevention programmes, implementation across England remains inconsistent and fragmented. This policy brief presents recommendations for policymakers, commissioners and community leaders to support the commissioning, implementation and public understanding of effective falls prevention. We outline key recommendations to scale effective programmes and improve workforce capacity to ensure their sustainability. There is an opportunity by addressing these factors to support healthier, independent ageing and alleviate pressure on the health and care syste
Site level data on projected Western Atlantic coral reef accretion rates and SST-OA projections (dataset)
No full textNo description availabl
Breeding spatial behavior of an Iberian dimorphic raptor (Circus cyaneus) based on GPS tracking
No full textThe Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a medium-sized, dimorphic raptor from Eurasia which usually hunts birds and small mammals. Studies on the spatial behavior of the species based on GPS-tracking devices are extremely scarce at the global level. Thus, here we GPS-tracked 24 adult Hen Harriers (Circus cyaneus) to study the overall patterns of the breeding spatial ecology of the species in Iberia, including home range sizes, cumulated distances, temporary variability, and the effect of latitude. The breeding season period of the tagged Hen Harriers started on 21 March ± 25 days (mean ± SD) and ended on 04 July ± 21 days, with a duration of 104 ± 18 days. We found an effect of latitude on the phenology, with northern individuals breeding later than southern individuals. Breeding home ranges (95% KDE as kernel density estimation) averaged 53.7 ± 68.2 km2, while core areas (50% KDE) averaged 6.2 ± 11 km2. Home ranges were smaller during the central weeks of the breeding period, when females were arguably incubating, and progressively increased as chick-rearing progressed. Regarding fidelity to breeding areas, of the four females analyzed over 2 consecutive years, all returned to the same area to breed in the second year, with a measured overlap in home ranges of 51 ± 22 %, and core areas in 34 ± 40%. Future studies combining comprehensive field monitoring with remote tracking are necessary to further explore the behaviour of the species. Nonetheless, given that there are not GPS-based studies of Hen Harrier breeding ecology worldwide, our work provides a basic overview of the species that can be used as starting point for further studies
What is the role of non-surgical clinicians in the assessment and management of degenerative cervical myelopathy? – Insights from the RECODE-DCM peri-operative rehabilitation incubator
No full textIntroduction
Evidence on degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) has frequently focussed on surgical management, overlooking the role of non-surgical clinicians. Their contributions in the patient journey remain largely underexplored in the literature.
Research question
What is the role of non-surgical clinicians in the assessment and management of people with DCM?
Material and methods
This narrative review synthesizes knowledge from a comprehensive MEDLINE search and the collective expertise of the RECODE-DCM Peri-Operative Rehabilitation Incubator, an expert working group hosted by Myelopathy.org. Key domains of non-surgical clinician involvement include: 1) early recognition and referral, 2) patient education, 3) pain management, 4) preoperative management, and 5) postoperative rehabilitation.
Results
Timely DCM diagnosis depends on first-contact clinicians recognizing hallmark symptoms. In the absence of standardized screening criteria, tools like the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score can support early identification. Non-surgical clinicians educate patients with mild or non-myelopathic spinal cord compression to recognize signs of DCM progression, ensuring timely surgical consultation. These clinicians also play a multidisciplinary role in the biopsychosocial management of pain, incorporating pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to address nociceptive and neuropathic pain. While predictors of postoperative outcomes, such as disease severity, gait dysfunction and smoking, are known, evidence on preoperative optimization and prehabilitation remains limited. Emerging research highlights the benefits of early postoperative rehabilitation, including cervical range of motion and stabilization exercises, in improving 12-month postoperative outcomes.
Discussion and conclusion
Non-surgical clinicians play an integral role in DCM management across the care continuum. A multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach is essential. Postoperative rehabilitation holds promise, but prospective trials are necessary to establish standardization and optimal strategies for clinical delivery
The Everyday Politics of Food Co-Ops. Care, Aid and Community in Austerity Britain
No full textNational politics has a significant impact on organizing and accessing community welfare. This book engages with notions of everyday politics within two London-based food co-ops emerging from different political environments and ideologies. It provides a careful and engaging examination of the experiences of political and economic change in Austerity Britain, revealing how national politics came to punctuate everyday lives within the co-ops. It highlights the political resonances that practices of care, aid and community organizing came to have within the food co-ops at a time of rapid welfare withdrawal, as well as the tensions between more radical and neoliberal imaginaries that played out within them
The investigation of protein-rich whole-food sources within protein metabolism
No full textAll tissues within the human body are made up of proteins, which are in a constant state
of turnover to maintain protein homeostasis. From the body’s protein pools, skeletal
muscle provides the largest reservoir of amino acids, which in the absence of nutrition,
serves as one of the main regulators of whole-body metabolism. Whilst this is crucial for
the maintenance of protein homeostasis, during a fasted state, it comes at an expense of a
loss of muscle mass, which is of concern when skeletal muscle is a major dictator of
overall quality of life, being critical for human locomotion and postural maintenance.
Therefore, understanding how the food we eat influences whole-body and skeletal muscle
metabolism is of great importance to regulate and maintain muscle mass. Our current
understanding of how nutrition regulates whole-body protein metabolism and skeletal
muscle metabolism has been primarily derived from the investigation of isolated
(supplemental) protein. However, what is less well known, is the effect of protein in
whole-food form. This is concerning, when the majority of daily food and protein intake
is consumed through cooked whole-foods, although as yet, this has not been well
documented. In addition, the relatively little data we have on whole-foods has suggested
non-protein components within the whole-food matrix may play a role in potentiating the
anabolic response to feeding. Granted this has only been suggested in a few whole-food
sources, with supporting data largely determined by in vitro work or animal models.
Accordingly, the purpose of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive investigation into
the role of protein-rich whole-foods in protein metabolism. This approach involves
characterising the consumption of protein-rich whole-foods in habitual diets. It considers
potential anabolic non-protein components within whole-foods and investigating the
effect that whole-food ingestion has on post resistance exercise whole-body protein
turnover and muscle protein synthesis rates.
Firstly, this thesis characterised how dietary protein is consumed in habitual diets of
recreationally active and resistance trained young adults. With a focus primarily on the
source (animal or non-animal) and form (whole-food or supplemental [isolated]) of
protein consumed throughout the day and at different meal moments. Furthermore, this
thesis demonstrates that the vast majority of protein is consumed in whole-food form,
with the largest contribution from animal derived sources. This is true for both
recreationally active, and resistance trained individuals. Although resistance trained
individuals are more likely to consume supplemental protein at snack moments. With this in mind, more mechanistic studies are required to investigate protein-rich whole-foods
from a range of sources and their effect on protein metabolism, given current dietary
protein guidelines are underpinned primarily from studies investigating isolated
(supplemental) animal derived proteins.
As such, this subsequently transitions to applying a targeted metabolomic approach to
determine non-protein components within a range of protein-rich whole-foods, that have
been considered to have an anabolic potential. The foods included within this analysis
were; whole egg, pork, salmon, lentils, mycoprotein and egg whites (more isolated less
nutrient dense). With an interest in the effect of cooking, this thesis investigated how the
metabolomic profile of foods differ between their raw and cooked forms, using a water
bath to cook each food source. From the targeted metabolites detected, 22 out of 24 (in
the raw form; 92%) and 23 out of 24 metabolites (in the cooked form; 96%) differ between
foods. The number of metabolites that either increase or decrease with cooking varies
across foods. Large differences at the nutritional and metabolite level between food
sources indicate the diverse range of additional components, other than protein, within a
whole-food matrix. The identification of potential anabolic non-protein components
within a range of whole-foods provides the necessary step in order to examine why certain
whole-foods may provide a more (or less) robust anabolic potential.
This work is developed further by demonstrating a novel finding that the ingestion of a
variety of whole-food sources (0.25 g protein per kg of body mass) stimulates postexercise whole-body protein and myofibrillar protein synthesis to a similar extent compared to a more isolated protein (egg whites). This is in spite of a large variability in
plasma essential amino acid kinetics, specifically leucine, between food sources. These
data contribute to the growing narrative that the key factors determining postprandial
handling of protein, to produce a robust protein synthetic response, are not considered as
important when ingesting protein in whole-food form.
Collectively this thesis demonstrates that the majority of protein in young adults is
consumed in whole-food form, which possess potential anabolic non-protein components
within their matrices, and when consumed, have the ability to robustly stimulate acute
postprandial whole-body and muscle protein synthesis rates. Contained within this thesis,
is a novel body of work utilising three unique approaches to provide a comprehensive
analysis of the role of whole-foods in protein metabolism
Intergenerational tabletop game design for exploring the climate emergency: insights from an undergraduate field course
No full textWhile studies show the value of playing games for exploring complex geographical concepts, much less research considers the value of game construction. Here we present the rationale, methodology and pedagogical affordances of an “intergenerational climate change game” creation assignment that formed part of a 2nd year undergraduate field course to the Isles of Scilly, Southwest UK. During and after the field trip, students and staff reflected on the process and learnings. First, the assignment was effective in consolidating students’ knowledge from various field trip activities and encouraging critical thinking. Students actively engaged in the learning process by playing and appraising their own and each other’s games. They enjoyed the creative and novel approach, which was felt to develop teamwork, soft skills and problem solving. The intergenerational element also developed students’ ability to simplify complex concepts to be understood by older/younger non-expert audiences. We conclude by considering the role of playful methodologies in geography undergraduate field trips, and further applications of our approach
I-Card: A Generative AI-Supported Intelligent Design Method Card Deck
No full textA design method card deck helps designers understand and provoke thinking by presenting each method in a simple format and allow designers to switch between methods seamlessly by maintaining the same simple format across the deck. However, recent observations have shown designers hesitate to use a card deck due to the lack of support, while other tools have provided identified support with generative AI. Through a formative study, we identified the specific support designers need when applying the design method cards and intentions in integrating generative AI. Accordingly, we developed the intelligent design method card deck, I-Card, which integrates generative AI to provide applicable design methods, design knowledge and data support, and interactive and dynamic support. A user study demonstrates that I-Card improved the design efficiency and applicability by offering personalized guidance, enhanced decision-making with comprehensive data generation and provided more design inspiration via interactive support
Evaluation of innovative policy for nature-based solutions: analysis from three European city case studies
No full textAddressing the current unprecedented climate and environmental challenges in our urban areas and beyond entails innovation in policymaking across sectors, rather than siloing, which has often been the status quo. Nature-based Solutions (NBS) can provide tangible, innovative and integrated policy solutions to current challenges, including climate change and nature renewal, therefore departing from previous sustainable development approaches. At the same time, the policy integration NBS entail mean they are subject to complex governance influences. Through a comparative analysis of interview and policy workshop data in three European city case studies, this paper examines the external, societal and governing influences on NBS innovation, and the governance structures in which NBS innovation is likely to occur—including political aspects of NBS which have hitherto been relatively unexplored. The results indicate important facilitating and hindering factors across governing, societal and external categories, and show some association between NBS innovation and decentralized policy making. They highlight the importance of policy coherence of NBS initiatives with government policy / strategy; and of the willingness by policy makers / local government staff to engage with / appeal strategically to political decision-makers regarding external policy drivers—e.g. climate adaptation and health. The data also indicates that where citizen participation was built into NBS projects, this led to both innovation and additionality in design, quality, biodiversity, multi-functionality and co-benefits of green / blue spaces. Key differences that led to differing NBS outcomes included size and complexity of the urban area, and characteristics of the governing architecture
Bridging AI skills gaps in marketing education: prompt engineering as a key competency
No full textThe advancement of artificial intelligence is reshaping the marketing landscape, underscoring the need to integrate prompt engineering into marketing education. This study presents a conceptual framework for embedding prompt engineering within marketing curricula, rooted in established educational theories. An integrative literature review and thematic analysis revealed five critical themes: the essential role of prompt engineering, key techniques for marketing students, curriculum integration challenges, effective implementation strategies, and wider implications for marketing education. The resulting framework encompasses five core components: foundational AI and marketing knowledge, skill development in prompt engineering, curriculum integration and design, faculty development through interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical AI use. A workshop-based case study demonstrates how instruction in advanced prompting techniques enhanced content clarity, creativity, and practical AI readiness. Building on these findings, the paper offers actionable recommendations for curricular design, faculty training, hands-on learning opportunities, industry partnerships, ethical considerations, and ongoing assessment. By equipping students with robust prompting skills and ethical awareness, educators can address the evolving demands of AI-driven marketing, ultimately advancing the profession. This comprehensive framework helps institutions modernize their marketing programs, fostering graduates prepared for innovation and responsible AI engagement