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At the margin and in the centre: how men working in early childhood education and care frame their role
Get PDFMen remain underrepresented in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), comprising fewer than 4% of the workforce across OECD countries including the site of this study, Australia. Despite global efforts to increase male participation, men are often the solo male educator and face both stigma as deviants and valorisation as pioneers. The extent to which these binary framings inform men’s professional identity is not well understood. Using frame analysis and Elliott’s (2020) conceptualisation of open margins and closed centres, we analyse accounts of 12 men working alongside other men in three ECEC services in Australia. We identify two dominant framings. The Crucial Man is employed to justify men’s presence by asserting they fill a deficit of masculinity as justification for their work choice. In contrast, when speaking of their role as an educator of young children, they frame themselves as The Professional Educator, focusing on caregiving, collaboration, and professional expertise they gain in their role. Our findings highlight the need to move beyond gender essentialism when developing policies aimed at increasing diversity within the workforce. Highlighting professionalism focuses on the central role of alleducators in ECEC rather than reinforcing narratives that assume a crucial role of men in ECEC
Dementia and hearing loss: from risk to mechanisms and management
Get PDFHearing loss in midlife is an important and potentially modifiable risk factor for the development of dementia. Research examining the association between dementia and hearing loss has expanded rapidly; however, evidence for the mechanisms linking the two conditions is inconclusive, limiting the development of targeted interventions. This review provides a critical overview of current evidence on dementia risk in relation to hearing loss, proposed mechanisms underpinning this association, and emerging evidence on the effectiveness of hearing interventions in modifying trajectories of cognitive decline, dementia risk, and disease progression. Alongside its role as a risk factor, hearing loss commonly co-occurs with dementia, highlighting the need for integrated approaches to care that address the considerable impact of these co-morbid conditions on individuals and communities. Finally, we emphasise the importance of including diverse populations in future research to improve generalisability of findings and help advance equity in dementia prevention and care
Awareness of and engagement with microchipping services among UK dog owners
Get PDFEarly observations on the effectiveness of the Compulsory Dog Microchipping policy, which was introduced across Great Britain in 2016, indicated improved reunification of stray dogs with their owners and an overall reduction in stray dogs handled by UK Local Authorities. However, concerns regarding its long-term effectiveness emerged due to inaccurate and out-of-date owner details on microchipping records. This study explores dog owners’ understanding of microchipping legislation, their engagement with microchipping databases, and practices relating to the accuracy of contact details. An online survey administered by YouGov Plc collected anonymous data from a representative sample of 1,510 dog owners in Great Britain between August and September 2020. Results revealed that even though most respondents indicated that they were aware of legal requirements, engagement with microchipping databases was low, with almost half of respondents reporting that they had never accessed a database platform. The majority indicated that their information on the microchipping record was accurate, however, there was a considerable confusion between microchipping databases and veterinary practice management systems, with many owners unable to identify which database held their records. These survey findings suggest that awareness barriers undermine the effectiveness of compulsory microchipping. Hence, in addition to the recent policy reforms of the UK government to introduce a central point of access and the requirement of microchipping database companies to send annual reminders, this study highlights the importance of improving public awareness through education campaigns
Unraveling thermal response of human body to steady and transient thermal environments: A non-Fourier bioheat transfer model and its validation
Get PDFGiven the growing impacts of climate change and extreme heat events, accurate modeling of the human body's response to various thermal environments is necessary for evaluating one's thermal comfort and implementing thermal regulation. It becomes essential especially in the context of climate warming and the frequent extreme weathers recently. Based on non-Fourier law of heat conduction, this study has developed a novel model of bioheat transfer for unraveling human body's response to steady and transient thermal environments. This model, by fusing the renowned Gagge's two-node model with a dual-phase hysteresis model, takes account of phase lags in heat flux and conduction caused by microstructural interactions and the thermoregulation effects of physiological activities within biological tissues. Extensive comparisons with reported analytical and experimental results show that the model can precisely predict the temporal evolution of temperature in living tissue layers and small changes in the human core temperature. It is well validated by studies under both steady-state and step-transient thermal environments. Compared to the simplified thermoregulatory bioheat model, our model yields reduced root mean square errors (RMSEs). In steady-state conditions, the RMSEs of the mean skin and core temperature are reduced from 0.50 °C to 0.38 °C and from 0.62 °C to 0.52 °C, respectively. In step-transient ones, the RMSE of the mean skin temperature is reduced from 0.44 °C to 0.37 °C. Our model provides a more reliable and accurate tool for quantifying the thermal responses of human body to steady and volatile thermal environments
Multiple small intestinal metastatic tumours: from basics to advanced testing
No full textWe report the case of a patient with 13 metastatic small bowel tumours presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. He had a video-assisted thoracoscopic left upper lobectomy a year previously for a lung adenocarcinoma. Histological findings of the resected small bowel confirmed a poorly differentiated anaplastic adenocarcinoma (pT3 N1 Mx). Molecular testing on the tumour showed that it harboured KRAS c.182A>T (p.Gln61Leu) mutation, which was similar to the mutation reported on the primary lung adenocarcinoma. Based on this he received adjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy (carboplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab) and a CT scan performed two months after the small bowel resection demonstrated no evidence of tumour recurrence. He, however, developed chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting, and with further deterioration was placed on a palliative care pathway and died 3 months after the bowel resection. This case highlights the role of integrating histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular genetics in distinguishing metastatic from primary small intestinal adenocarcinomas
A model for gap formation between dry preforms and curved tool surfaces in closed-mould composites manufacturing processes
No full textThe formation of a gap between the dry reinforcement and the tool surface at a bend, i.e. a geometrical feature with single curvature, in a tool for closed-mould manufacturing processes is caused by tensile forces in the reinforcement. The gap shape was analysed based on the mechanical model of an arched beam supported by an elastic foundation. The compaction stiffness of the reinforcement was derived from linearisation of the power-law approximating the reinforcement compression response. Fifth-order differential equations were derived and solved with the appropriate boundary conditions to find expressions for the local gap height. Applying a minimum-energy principle, the gap was found to typically extend into the flat sections of the geometry on both sides of the bend. Its size increases with increasing bend angle and applied force. It decreases with increasing bend radius, cavity height, level of pre-compaction, and stiffness of the reinforcement in compaction and in bending. If the gap height is expressed as a function of the fibre volume fraction, the correlation between the gap size and the fibre volume fraction was found to be negative if the tensile force is constant, and positive if the force increases with increasing fibre volume fraction. The solutions derived here allow the geometry of the gap and the bent preform to be described in more detail than in previous studies, which allows further analysis of the manufacturing process, e.g. predicting the effect of racetracking in the formed gap during a Resin Transfer Moulding process
Organisational variation in Recovery College implementation: 31-college qualitative study
No full textBackground By 2021, we found that 88 Recovery Colleges were operating in England. Recovery Colleges adhere to shared principles including adult education and co-production, but are also heterogeneous, varying in the populations they serve, their sources of funding and access to resources. Previous research has not explored the organisational factors that influence the set-up of Recovery Colleges, nor the factors which facilitate or pose challenges to their sustainable operation. Aims To identify how Recovery Colleges vary in their operation and to ascertain how organisational factors facilitate or hinder the set-up, running and sustainability of English Recovery Colleges. Method Semi-structured interviews with 31 Recovery College managers across England were analysed using framework analysis. Results Four themes were identified: Recovery College pioneers; Adapting to the local context; Degree of autonomy within the National Health Service; and Ongoing organisational work. Colleges were commonly established by key individuals from diverse backgrounds, leveraging their organisational positions and lived experience to facilitate implementation. Colleges were adapted to fit local contexts, shaped by factors including existing services, regional demographics and community resources. Colleges varied in their relations with key funders, with some operating comparatively autonomously and others tied closely to their ‘parent’ organisations. Sustaining college operations involved ongoing organisational work to respond to changing pressures. Conclusions Recovery Colleges exhibit consistent values and aims oriented around supporting recovery through education and co-production but are diverse in their operation. These colleges are highly complex interventions, and their sustainability requires organisational agility to manage competing pressures
Performing the Rabbit God: Imagining Queer Identity and Heritage in the Chinese Diaspora
No full textThis essay examines how the classical Chinese story of the Rabbit God has been reinterpreted in the global Chinese diaspora in recent years. Using the examples of Andrew Thomas Huang’s 2019 film The Kiss of the Rabbit God, the author’s 2024 poetry collection The Passion of the Rabbit God, and artist FJ’s Rabbit God performance at the ‘We Are LGBTQIA+ ESEA’ exhibition held in 2025, the article showcases some creative ways in which the Rabbit God story has been reimagined for cultural and political purposes, advocating an open and undogmatic approach to queer Chinese identity and heritage
Attribution of responsibility for corrupt decisions
No full textThis paper studies responsibility attribution for outcomes of collusive bribery. In an experiment, participants labeled as either citizens or public officials can propose a bribery transaction to another participant (labeled as either public official or citizen, respectively), who decides whether to accept the proposal. We then let either the victims of the corrupt transaction or the bystanders of it judge the individual decisions of proposing and accepting. We interpret these judgments as a measure of responsibility attribution. We find that labels (citizen or public official) have a stronger effect than positions in the decision sequence (proposer or responder): public officials are consistently regarded as more responsible for corruption than citizens, while those accepting a bribery transaction are regarded as only somewhat more responsible than those proposing it. Further, we find that victims judge corruption decisions more severely than bystanders, although bystanders’ judgments are also consistently negative. In treatments with a neutral context, we find that judgments are less harsh than in the corruption context, bystanders’ judgments are much less harsh than those of victims, and responders are judged more severely than proposers. Our results suggest that people judge corrupt actors in context, more harshly when they are labeled as law enforcers (i.e., public officials), and that unaffected parties (i.e., bystanders) react nearly as negatively to corruption as those directly affected by it (i.e., victims)
Selection of Implementation Strategies for a Self-guided, Digital Return-to-Work Toolkit for Employers and Stroke Survivors
No full textStroke incidence among working-age adults is increasing. Many experience barriers when returning to work and have limited access to vocational rehabilitation. Digital health interventions may enhance rehabilitation provision, yet their implementation strategies are poorly reported. This study aimed to identify and describe strategies to support implementation of a self-guided, digital return-to-work toolkit for employers and stroke survivors. The study sought to explore employers’ perspectives on factors influencing toolkit implementation, map findings onto the Theoretical Domains Framework, apply the StrategEase tool to identify strategies, and refine strategy selection through stakeholder consultation. Interviews were conducted with seven employers to explore influential factors. A survey of 50 employers included an open-ended item on implementation. Qualitative data were synthesised and mapped onto the Theoretical Domains Framework. The StrategEase tool was used to identify implementation strategies. The strategies were refined through feedback from an employer workshop and advisory group meeting. Influential factors were identified at multiple levels, including user beliefs about consequences, workplace resources, and length of vocational rehabilitation pathways within the healthcare system. Selected strategies included staff meetings and briefings, policy and guidance changes, educational materials and sessions, mandating change, accreditation, and development of a network of toolkit users. The StrategEase tool was easy to apply. Its tailored approach may enhance the implementation and impact of interventions. Further research is needed to (a) inform the toolkit’s implementation, involving diverse stakeholders, (b) investigate the effectiveness of implementation strategies, and (c) investigate the StrategEase tool’s applicability and effectiveness in other contexts
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