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Impairment-aware resource allocation scheme for elastic optical networks with different service priorities
Get PDFToday, elastic optical networks (EONs) are required to accommodate traffic with different service priorities. For example, mission-critical applications such as industrial internet, smart grids, and remote surgery require an ultra-reliable low-latency communication system. The novel impairment-aware resource allocation scheme proposed here prioritises traffic. It satisfies the quality and latency requirements of mission-critical traffic while causing minimum disruptions to other forms of low-priority traffic connections. The results obtained for 6-node and 14-node networks under various traffic distribution environments indicate that the proposed algorithm achieves higher spectral efficiency, reduces spectrum fragmentation, and causes minimal disruptions over the benchmark algorithm.</p
Enabling better carer involvement:a qualitative evaluation of the involvement service belonging to a carers organisation in the United Kingdom
Get PDFBackground: Globally, unpaid carers face economic and societal pressures. Unpaid carers’ support is valued at £132 billion a year in the United Kingdom (UK) alone. However, this care comes at a high cost for the carers themselves. Carers providing round the clock care are more than twice as likely to be in bad health than non-carers. These carers are therefore proportionately more likely to need statutory services such as health care provision. It is critical that carers are better supported to be involved in the shaping, delivery and evaluation of the services they receive. Unfortunately, qualitative evidence on how carer organisations can do this better is scarce. Methods: Working collaboratively with a community-based carers organization, we undertook a qualitative study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 23 participants. Online, semi-structured, one-to-one interviews were conducted with carers, community organization staff and stakeholders to ascertain their experience and views on the involvement service. Results: Firstly, there are a range of benefits resulting from the involvement service. The carers see the service as an opportunity to connect with other carers and share their views and ideas. Secondly, staff and service providers also reported how involvement gave a platform for carers and was of value in helping them shape needs-led services. Thirdly, we found that barriers to good involvement include the lack of a clearly understood, shared definition of involvement as well as the lack of a diverse pool of carer representatives available for involvement activities. Conclusion: The findings from our study provide important insights into how carers, staff and service stakeholders view barriers and enablers to good involvement. The findings will be of interest to a range of community-based organizations interested in further involving members of their community in shaping the services they receive.</p
Reflections on identity:narratives from educators
No full textThis book is focussed on professional identity in education. Chapters consider the notion of expertise, the impact of managerial approaches, the importance of communities of practice, and the effects of increasingly marketised approaches. By using narratives, the book opens up a ‘conversation’ about this important topic. Educators and leaders from a variety of settings will explore their professional experiences and the impact these have had on forming values in the professional role
Through the looking glass: professional identity during a pandemic
Get PDFWhen compared with other professions (such as law and medicine), educators do not have a strong sense of professional identity. It could be argued that as a sector, education has been compliant to the demands of others and as a result exploring what it means to be a professional educator has not been high on the agenda for most teachers or leaders in further and higher education. This research takes an autoethnographic approach by placing participants at the centre of the analysis. Using reflections as a form of personal inquiry, participants explored their professional identity from a specific standpoint and within a particular context. This involved cultural analysis and interpretation not only of identity but of the ways in which environmental factors contribute to it. The reflections provided an opportunity to explore the topic with an experienced eye as well as offering a space for reflexivity. By taking a ‘through the looking glass’ approach, participants embraced the notion of ‘uncertain certainty’ (Bolton, 2001). Initial findings suggest that in the move to the virtual classroom both teachers and leaders have experienced a range of novel challenges. Whilst teachers have had to learn new skills and look at their roles in a different way, leaders have been forced to reconsider policy as well as the infrastructure required to support teaching activity. The last two years have shown a sector which is both fragile and resilient and a world where the impossible has become possible and where previous ‘truths’ are no longer definitive
Digital rhythm training improves reading fluency in children
Get PDFMusical instrument training has been linked to improved academic and cognitive abilities in children, but it remains unclear why this occurs. Moreover, access to instrument training is not always feasible, thereby leaving less fortunate children without opportunity to benefit from such training. Although music-based video games may be more accessible to a broader population, research is lacking regarding their benefits on academic and cognitive performance. To address this gap, we assessed a custom-designed, digital rhythm training game as a proxy for instrument training to evaluate its ability to engender benefits in math and reading abilities. Furthermore, we tested for changes in core cognitive functions related to math and reading to inform how rhythm training may facilitate improved academic abilities. Classrooms of 8–9 year old children were randomized to receive either 6 weeks of rhythm training (N = 32) or classroom instruction as usual (control; N = 21). Compared to the control group, results showed that rhythm training improved reading, but not math, fluency. Assessments of cognition showed that rhythm training also led to improved rhythmic timing and language-based executive function (Stroop task), but not sustained attention, inhibitory control, or working memory. Interestingly, only the improvements in rhythmic timing correlated with improvements in reading ability. Together, these results provide novel evidence that a digital platform may serve as a proxy for musical instrument training to facilitate reading fluency in children, and that such reading improvements are related to enhanced rhythmic timing ability and not other cognitive functions associated with reading performance. Research Highlights: Digital rhythm training in the classroom can improve reading fluency in 8–9 year old children Improvements in reading fluency were positively correlated with enhanced rhythmic timing ability Alterations in reading fluency were not predicted by changes in other executive functions that support reading A digital platform may be a convenient and cost-effective means to provide musical rhythm training, which in turn, can facilitate academic skills.</p
Beyond monolithic threat: understanding risk typology in court-involved Black male youth
Get PDFBlack male youth are at greatest risk of disparate contact and detention in the U.S. juvenile justice system. This study aims to identify recidivism risk/need patterns among African American male youth in the Ohio juvenile justice system, utilizing cluster analysis of risk assessment data from the Ohio Youth Assessment System-Disposition (OYAS-DIS). We found four distinct risk patterns and accompanying recidivism rates in the Black male youth population. Two of the clusters exhibited moderate levels of risk. However, they had significantly different recidivism outcomes, suggesting certain combinations of risk factors have more or less impact the propensity for crime in the Black male sample. Implications for policy and practice are discussed, as well as future directions for research
Leading modes and feature zones of sea ice concentration in North Pacific during Spring seasons of 2000–2020
Get PDFUnder the influence of the Arctic amplification, sea ice variability in North Pacific is becoming a key indicator of global climate changes. Due to the widespread and complex impacts of North Pacific sea ice variations, the understanding of its dynamic changes, especially its spatial and temporal evolution patterns, has great significance. In this study, we used the rotated empirical orthogonal decomposition to divide the whole North Pacific into six feature zones on the evolution sea ice concentration under the recent global warming and highlighted the complexity and diversity of sea ice variations in the offshore waters
Engaging young people with sexual health services in general practice surgeries: a qualitative study of health care professionals
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Evidence to date suggests that young people are becoming more sexually active and are forming relationships during the early stages of their lives, sometimes engaging in sexual risk-taking, which contributes to high rates of conception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Young people at risk of adverse sexual health outcomes are the least likely to engage with reproductive and sexual health promotion programmes and services (RSHPPs), especially in mainstream clinics such as general practice (GP) surgeries. The study aimed to explore the views and experiences of service providers.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative approach to explore the views and experiences of designing and implementing RSHPPs for young people in GP surgeries was used. A total of seven participants were interviewed, including four general practitioners (GPs), two of whom were managers at the practice; one nurse; one healthcare and support worker; and one practice manager.RESULTS: The context of RSHPPs such as local health priorities and partnerships to address STIs and unplanned pregnancies among young people contribute to the implementation and engagement of young people with RSHPPs. Training of GPs, nurses, and support workers helps develop confidence and overcome personal factors by promoting effective engagement of young people with RSHPPs.CONCLUSION: Addressing local health priorities such as reducing teenage pregnancies and STIs requires organisations to provide RSHPPs in both non-clinical and clinical settings to ensure that RSHPPs are accessible to young people. There is room for improvement in access to RSH for young people in GP surgeries by addressing organisational and structural barriers to access.</p
Policy briefing: wellbeing in the lives of young refugees in Scotland
Get PDFThe Drawing Together project explored how 53 young refugees experience integration through rebuilding their everyday lives in Scotland, Finland and Norway. This policy briefing focuses on the findings from Scotland. It provides insights for Scottish policy makers and practitioners to better equip them in promoting the wellbeing of young refugees
Implementation of step-down Intermediate Care (IC) in Buckinghamshire, UK: a qualitative evaluation study of healthcare professionals' experiences and perspectives
Get PDFStep-down intermediate care aims to offer short-term care for people who are medically optimised for discharge but needing a period for further assessment and/or rehabilitation. The aim of this study, which was nested in a larger evaluation project, was to explore the experiences and perspectives of healthcare professionals to understand the implementation of a step-down IC service in Buckinghamshire, UK. The evidence is used to inform the service providers of what elements worked well and what areas require improvement. A qualitative study using semistructured interviews was conducted in May 2022. Ten healthcare professionals participated. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The following five core themes were developed: (1) the developmental period of step-down IC, (2) providing care together, (3) perceived functions of the integrated hub, (4) communication, and (5) resources. Findings from the interviews highlighted the excellent working relationships among healthcare professionals from different disciplines, which contributed to their job satisfaction and the efficiency of the service. In addition, healthcare professionals stressed the importance of the integrated hub, as it facilitated the communication between the teams and speeded up the decision-making. Several organisational challenges, such as communication issues, healthcare professionals’ capacity, and the need for further funding were also voiced. Involving staff in the evaluation of a step-down intermediate care service has provided useful information on the service’s implementation process and will inform the development of a long-term strategy for intermediate care
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