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What does it mean to be research-informed? Three perspectives from Professional Enquiry with Professional Learning Communities
No full textNo description supplied</p
Does escaping a war zone feel worse than being there? War and coping by Ukrainian civilians in Ukraine and Poland
No full textObjective: While the factors facilitating and compromising stress-coping by civilians in an active war zone and those who have fled it are critical to the experiences of trauma, they are under-explored, which the current paper aims to address. Method: Between March 23rd and May 15th of 2023, 122 Ukraine-based and 132 Poland-based Ukrainian participants completed a survey measuring different aspects of trauma, social beliefs and coping. Results: Compared to the war zone civilians, the Poland-based refugees scored significantly higher in terms of general war repercussions, peritraumatic experiences, PTSD symptoms, loneliness, anxiety about the loved ones and chemical/biological/missile/drone attack anxiety. While no differences between them were found in terms of other factors, regression and SEM analyses suggests that the general well-being was compromised in both samples by lower sensation-seeking, higher loneliness, higher fantasy-proneness, lower expected support from the West, and higher expected Chinese and Iranian support for Russia. Religiosity did not play a role. Conclusions: While the role of perceived social support (at the levels of friends and family) turned out to be limited, the (broader) expected support (from the West) played a more significant role. Additionally, our exploratory Civilian War Trauma Structural Equation Model suggests that anxiety interacts with the individual's overall vulnerability, thus exacerbating the psychological impact of war.</p
Emulating a traditional CPU for execution on a quantum computer
No full textThe field of quantum computing is becoming increasingly accessible to the mainstream IT sector, alongside impressive advances in technical specifications, which include increased numbers of qubits and a reduction in error rates. However, the appropriate quantum technology mainly operates at a circuit and logic level, where many of the advancements made in the traditional computing field are not available, challenging to realise, not relevant or even possible. The relationship between classical and quantum computer programming is not well established in the sector, with most classical developers aware of the potential improvements in efficiency available with the use of quantum computers but constructing a simple circuit / oracle / function is challenging.The current work presents new methods of emulating traditional CPU instructions for execution on a quantum computer, in order to deliver some of the missing capabilities that the traditional computing field has taken advantage of since the 1980's. This is significant due to the lack of basic mathematics, logic and bitwise functions available to users and programmers of quantum computers. A traditional CPU emulator is developed based on the Z80 CPU/instruction set, which contains every possible mathematic, bitwise and logic function a programmer will need in order to ensure a full capability is delivered (some 1,200 instructions). These instructions and emulators are encapsulated within a new SDK named 'Qx86', this grouping enables the easy re-use and integration of said functionality. At the time of writing this novel artefact is the first time a traditional CPU has been emulated for execution on a quantum computer.The development of the Qx86 SDK was undertaken by selecting a sample program and executing each instruction in parallel across a physical CPU, an emulated CPU and the emulated CPU executed on a remote quantum computer (the IBM Belem Falcon r4/T utilising 5 to 30 qubits). Binary metrics confirm that the quantum computer can perform any instruction the traditional CPU can, while remaining instruction and cycle accurate. This allows for any mathematic, bitwise or logic function to be incorporated into a quantum circuit with a simple Python call to a mnemonic instruction. An end-to-end test is also performed for the presented use-case which successfully executes an externally provided binary program (Bubble Sort) on the quantum computer. A relatively simple yet novel approach to quantum error correction integration is also presented and discussed.This work shows that whilst emulating instructions for execution on a quantum computer is slower than local execution, efficiency gains can be seen between the alternative quantum instruction implementation methods (up to a 20-fold reduction in run time and typically a 10-fold reduction in the number of circuits required). It also demonstrates that quantum computers are able to execute the building blocks needed to implement a much wider discipline of logic and mathematic operations than they are currently expected to perform, and in doing so reduces the overheads involved in passing execution back and forth between the quantum computer and the orchestrating computer.</p
Diverse but shallow, unrealistic but influential: women’s dilemmas when viewing plus-sized models of colour on billboards
No full textIn Western women’s clothing marketing, portrayals of slender white female bodies are ubiquitous and unavoidable. However, in 2018, a multitude of images of plus-size models of colour were posted on billboards at bus, train and underground stations in London. We undertook focus groups with women based in London to explore how they made sense of these images. Our findings show participants grappling with two dilemmas: they celebrated that the images of models were more diverse than traditional thin, white models, but they also raised concerns that the racial diversity was shallow and whitewashed, with the thin ideal simply replaced by a new curvy ideal. The participants also wrestled with the dilemma that they were aware the images were manipulated and unrealistic, but they admitted they still aspired to these representations. We argue these public representations of plus-size models are not a cure for the tyranny of thinness but promote new dilemmas that women struggle to negotiate.</p
Enhancing Plant Growth and Yield Under Reduced Water and Nutrient Conditions: The Role of Biostimulants in Improving Irrigation Efficiency and Drought Resilience in Soilless Strawberry Cultivation Under Glasshouse Conditions
No full textIntroduction: Strawberries are globally valued for their flavour, nutritional benefits and antioxidant content. However, their cultivation is highly sensitive to abiotic stresses, particularly water and nutrient limitations, which can impact yield and quality. Soilless systems like hydroponics offer a solution by improving irrigation efficiency in commercial strawberry cultivations. This study investigates the use of microbial biostimulants and protein hydrolysates to enhance water and nutrient use efficiency and drought tolerance in hydroponic strawberry production under glasshouse conditions.Method: The study was conducted at ARU Writtle's unheated glasshouse from May to November 2024, using two strawberry cultivars, ‘Loren’ and ‘Malwina’. Plants were grown in commercial compost media under two irrigation regimes (100% and 50%) and treated with biostimulants (Vitalnova TriBoost and Hicure). Measurements included plant growth, fruit yield, and physiological parameters. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS to assess treatment effects and correlations.ResultsBiostimulant treatments, significantly improved various growth and physiological traits, especially under deficit irrigation. In ‘Loren’, TriBoost moderately increased leaf production, while in ‘Malwina’, it significantly enhanced leaf count (14.4%), shoot fresh weight (52%), shoot water content (25.1%) and stomatal conductance (17%). Hicure improved stomatal conductance in both cultivars, suggesting improved physiological responses to reduced irrigation. Although biostimulants did not significantly influence fruit count, TriBoost and Hicure significantly improved fruit weight by 35.7% and 37.0% respectively in ‘Malwina’ under 50% irrigation.ConclusionThis study shows that biostimulants, particularly Hicure and TriBoost, can improve growth and physiological performance of hydroponically grown strawberries under reduced irrigation. However, yield increases were observed in only one cultivar, with no yield benefit in the other cultivar despite improved growth. These cultivar‐specific responses highlight the importance of tailored biostimulant use and provide valuable insights for growers, as biostimulants can support improved irrigation efficiency and drought resilience in soilless strawberry production.</p
Experiences of individual and collective stigma resulting from the 2008-9 witch-hunts carried out by the Gambian dictatorship: implications for transitional justice
No full textYahya Jammeh's 22-year rule of The Gambia was marked by gross human rights violations, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances. In 2008–09, Jammeh embarked on a “witch hunt” campaign, mostly targeting poor and elderly men and women. Among the physical and psychological consequences of this activity were significant levels of stigma. In the context of transitional justice, this paper examines the experiences and consequences of stigma associated with witchcraft accusations for victims, their families, and communities. This mixed-method study found evidence of social rejection, isolation, and negative effects on mental health. Families suffered social exclusion, bullying, and loss of educational opportunities. Whole communities also experienced social divisions and a loss of reputation. While some of these had improved over time, problems persisted 13 years later. Participants made a range of suggestions for reconciliation, including public declarations of innocence, making witchcraft accusations illegal, and both external and community-led interventions to tackle stigma. Please refer to the Supporting Information section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.</p
Revisiting perceived hunger; an examination of lived experiences and research practices
No full textThe scholarly study of hunger reflects varying theoretical and conceptual approaches, methodological concerns, and sampling issues. The present thesis endeavoured to explore gaps between research practices and lived experiences that would advance our understanding of hunger and expand awareness of psychological influences associated with hunger. The first study was a systematised mapping review identifying methods used to operationalise the physiological, neurological, and psychological components implicated in hunger. Results suggest researchers predominantly rely on physiological measures over neurological or psychological components. The lack of a unified approach assessing psychological components suggested an exploration of participant accounts of hunger as a lived experience would provide depth on the topic. A variety of nuanced responses were sought using interviews and focus groups, so three types of participants were selected based on their responsibility for feeding others and distinct energy and dietary requirements: vegetarians and vegans, athletes, and mothers of school-aged children (N = 34). In the third study, a novel instrument, the Hunger and Fullness, Tolerance and Avoidance (HaFTaA) scales, was developed by drawing on insights from the literature and qualitative data gathered during the second study. Following a review by experts, validity of the scales was examined using exploratory factor analysis (N = 800). Results demonstrated adequate internal consistency, concordance between males and females for two distinct factors of hunger and fullness, and temporal stability over 4-weeks. In study four, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and indices of validity were assessed (N = 818). Validity was evidenced using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 (TFEQ-R18), Hunger beliefs, Compensatory Unhealthy Eating Scale (CUES), and body mass index (BMI), suggesting the HaFTaA measure is valid for use in future research. These findings will contribute to theoretical frameworks assessing psychological dimensions of appetite, streamlining identification of mechanisms associated with dysregulated eating and thereby improving health outcomes across the population.</p
Discovery of novel anti-fibrotics through phenotypic screening
No full textFibrosis is defined as the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components following injury, affecting any organ in the human body. Fibrotic diseases of the vital organs (e.g. lung, heart, kidney, and liver) can be chronic, progressive, irreversible, and fatal. Although fibrotic diseases account for 45% of the mortality in the Western world, the available treatment options are limited in number, efficacy, and safety. There is a lack of progress in the development of novel anti-fibrotics, which has been attributed to a reliance on target-based screening. Phenotypic screening has been shown to be more successful in identifying first-in-class drugs compared with the target-based approach. Here we critically review the current landscape of phenotypic screening campaigns in fibrosis, evaluate their success in identifying translatable lead compounds, and highlight methodological pitfalls.</p
Associations between Masseter and Temporal Muscle Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurements and Sarcopenia and Nutritional Status in Older Adults
No full textNo description supplied</p
The Coloniality of the British Army: A Decolonial Framework
No full textIn this article, we seek to shift debate on the coloniality of the British Army by using a decolonial framework to think differently about the institution and its core concepts. Two conceptual moves are central to this effort. First, we argue that conceptions of the British Army need to be broadened to acknowledge its reliance on a ‘Reserve Army of Labour’; that is, the racialised and gendered auxiliary labour that is indispensable but also expendable for its operations. Second, we reframe the British Army’s core institutional logic of ‘operational effectiveness’ - as imagined in the context of counter-insurgency warfare and associated with ‘minimum force’ - as an instance of the coloniality of power. Both these conceptual moves, we argue, make visible the coloniality embedded in the Army’s institutional fabric, and resituate conversations currently largely held in terms of discrimination, diversity and inclusion through a deeper assessment of the relations and entanglements structuring the British Army. We conclude by drawing practitioners’ attention to the tensions inherent to ‘decolonising’ the British Army, and suggesting that scholarship on the British Army should acknowledge coloniality as a core feature of the modern institution, not merely as a historical foundation, but as a contemporary reality.</p
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