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‘Works for some but not others’ A qualitative study on teachers’ perspectives and perceived pupil experience of a North West London school-based run/walk programme
Get PDFDeveloping physical literacy (PL) in childhood is a key to develop lifelong physical activity. Teachers’ play an important role in supporting children’s PL and are at the forefront for continued participation in school-based interventions. This study aimed to discuss teacher-perceived pupils’ experiences of a London-based run/walk intervention and explore its contribution to PL. Semi-structured interviews were developed to explore school delivery and teacher perceptions. Six themes developed: perceived experiences, perceived outcomes of participation, teacher attitudes, fidelity/adherence, logistics and intervention suggestions. A novel insight is that the intervention ‘works for some but not others’ and the importance of self-select pace
Learning analytics readiness and awareness in developing countries: the case of Egypt
No full textThe higher education institutions in Egypt are challenged with the high enrolment student rates, crowded classes and inability to track each student's progress individually, which increased the demand to find a solution to redeem those problems. Although learning analytics is an expanding solution to support different educational challenges, from performance tracking and detecting students at risk, learning analytics developments concentrated on addressing solutions for developed countries.
Accordingly, the discipline still requires a broader and in-depth interpretation of its contextual usage in developing countries, especially Egypt. The usage and development of learning analytics need direct input from various stakeholders to understand their views towards learning analytics. The study seeks to address this problem to explore the situation in the Egyptian context to build guidance for learning analytics usage in developing countries, especially Egypt.
The study has employed a mixed-method approach to investigate stakeholders’ perceptions toward learning analytics in developing countries, taking Egypt as a contextual example. The study conducted interviews with decision-makers and faculty members, along with focus groups with students. Moreover, a questionnaire depending on a model developed from the literature and qualitative analysis was distributed to the main stakeholders, mainly students and instructors, to test the research hypotheses.
The study extracted learning analytics implementation requirements and challenges in developing countries. It helped the researcher develop a model containing the main drivers that influence learning analytics impact and implementation
Recovery of rare earth elements (REE) from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) through heterotrophic bioleaching
No full textRecovering rare earth elements (REE) from secondary sources, such as electronic waste (e-waste), is increasingly gaining attention as these elements are at high supply risk, and the environmental impacts of mining them are of concern. Global REE recycling rates remain below 1%. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) represent a valuable source of critical materials (e.g., Cu, Au, REE). However, the recovery of REE from WPCBs has received comparatively less attention until now. The overall aim of this research was to investigate the extraction of REE from WPCBs through bioleaching and provide insights into the microbial mechanisms involved in the REE bioleaching process. Industrially comminuted WPCBs were provided by e-waste recycling companies from the UK. The chemical composition of the WPCBs material was analysed. The distribution of REE and other metals in different size fractions was determined, and the correlation between elemental concentrations and particle size was investigated. The material was subsequently used for bioleaching studies. Bioprospecting of microbial strains exhibiting bioleaching capabilities involved screening strains isolated from a contaminated site. The optimization of the bioleaching process was carried out using a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach, which included the analysis of microbial organic acid production. The study explored the kinetics aspect of the bioleaching process, examining both biotic and abiotic settings to identify distinctions between these approaches and provide an understanding of the microbial mechanisms driving the bioleaching of REE.
Characterization of the WPCBs material revealed a remarkable inverse correlation between REE concentrations and particle size. Concentrations of Y, La, and Gd were found up to a thousand times higher in the smaller particle size compared with coarser particles. Base metals including Cu, Sn, Pb, and Zn did not show this trend. A newly isolated Penicillium expansum strain outperformed established reference strains (e.g. Aspergillus niger) in the heterotrophic bioleaching of REE from WPCBs. Adjusting initial pH (7.5), providing low phosphate concentrations (0.1 mM), and excluding the use of a buffering agent in the bioleaching medium were identified as the most effective factors for maximizing bioleaching of REE. Pulp density and contact time with WPCBs were also critical variables. Significant improvements were achieved for extraction of La and Tb, with increases from 20 to 40%, and 26 to 50%, respectively. Bioleaching efficiencies of Pr, Nd, and Gd improved by more than 25%, approaching 70% recovery. Gluconic acid was identified as the primary produced organic acid and main leaching agent. The dissolution of REE from WPCBs was dominated by the proton-promoted acidolysis mechanism, with challenges associated with REE entrapment within complex compounds (e.g. mixed oxides and silicates). Furthermore, complexolysis of metals with the deprotonated organic acid was significant, particularly for Cu extraction. REE solubilization occurred within 24 hours, a considerably faster pace compared to published studies on fungal-mediated bioleaching. The microbial mechanisms involved in the bioleaching of REE were related to the regulation of fungal extracellular pH and enhanced biolixiviant production in response to the phosphate-limited growth conditions. The gluconic acid-rich biolixiviant was more effective than abiotic experiments containing similar concentrations of organic acids, indicating the involvement of other metabolic products. The presence of plasma membrane H+-ATPase (proton pumps) in the fungal isolate was proposed as a potential contributor to the bioleaching process. Exploring fungal genomics and underlying mechanisms of pH homeostasis is a promising avenue to enhance understanding of the process and improve extraction rates
The strategic facilitation of change across UK public services: a critical reflection
Get PDFThis Context Statement critically explores my public works in my various capacities as a community organiser, strategic facilitator, an educator and leadership development specialist, and as a Director in the English National Health Service (NHS). My intention has been to consider these public works in their wider context, to draw out implications that may inform learning across relevant fields of practice, and to gain a deeper understanding that will inform my future public works.
The completed public works that I explore are:
• My facilitation of two parliamentary roundtables on behalf of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness (2017-18).
• My design and delivery of the annual Jo Cox Memorial Lecture at the University of Cambridge (2018).
• My role in leading the co-design of the NHS Maternity Summit (2021).
In addition, I consider a current public work, the ongoing development of the Future Vision leadership programme, for which I have acted as one of the Lead Faculty since 2021.
Key insights from this Context Statement include:
• The role and value of transdisciplinary attitudes, skills, and practices in creating the conditions for systemic change.
• The importance of the relationship between small-scale actions and large-scale frameworks for change, and how this dynamic enhances our ability to lead change in complex systems.
• Why people, seeking to create the conditions in which intelligent, effective and sustainable change happens, need to better understand the interrelationship between ‘inner skills’ (relating to the world, and ourselves, in more nuanced ways) and ‘outer skills’ (how we lead change adaptively with others).
• Why imagination and experimentation are critical to generating breakthrough insights that actually change the thinking and behaviour of people leading change in public services
Freeing the 51%: women remain the world’s largest oppressed nation
No full textIn many nations around the world, women form a majority of the population. Only in very few nations, however, do they form the majority of positions in government and thus form the majority of voices making decisions impacting domestic and international policy. In this era of democracy and equal rights, there is clearly more that needs to be done. And while we should not overlook just how far women have come in many parts of the world in the last half century, neither should we let this conceal how much further we need to go. [...
Introducing a conceptual model for electronic customer relationship management readiness in the banking sector
No full textCustomer Relationship Management (CRM) is one of the main priorities for almost all organisations, particularly in banking. Information Technology (IT) has changed ways of interacting with customers, resulting in the concept of Electronic Customer Relationship Management (eCRM), which has caused a shift from offline CRM to eCRM. ECRM aims to attract and retain customers, improve customer service by creating a solid relationship with them, and provide valued financial products as required. Thus, it is vital to identify readiness factors in any organisation to ensure that they are capable of deploying eCRM and reduce the likelihood of failure. Due to the current gap in having a comprehensive eCRM readiness model in banks, this research attempts to fill this gap by developing an updated conceptual model for eCRM readiness for banks. These factors will provide banks with guidelines for evaluating their eCRM readiness status
Effect of hot water immersion on acute physiological responses following resistance exercise
Get PDFPurpose: Hot water immersion (HWI) is a strategy theorised to enhance exercise recovery. However, the acute physiological responses to HWI following resistance exercise are yet to be determined.
Methods: The effect of HWI on intramuscular temperature (IMT), muscle function, muscle soreness and blood markers of muscle cell disruption and inflammatory processes after resistance exercise was assessed. Sixteen resistance trained males performed resistance exercise, followed by either 10 min HWI at 40°C or 10 min passive recovery (PAS).
Results: Post-intervention, the increase in IMT at all depths was greater for HWI compared to PAS, however this difference had disappeared by 1 h post at depths of 1 and 2 cm, and by 2 h post at a depth of 3 cm. There were no differences between groups for muscle function, muscle soreness or any blood markers.
Conclusion: These results suggest that HWI is a viable means of heat therapy to support a greater IMT following resistance exercise. Recovery of muscle function and muscle soreness is independent of acute changes in IMT associated with HWI
Moral leniency towards belief-consistent disinformation may help explain its spread on social media
Get PDFThe spread of false and misleading information on social media is largely dependent on human action. Understanding the factors that lead social media users to amplify (or indeed intervene in) the spread of this content is an ongoing challenge. Prior research suggests that users are not only more likely to interact with misinformation that supports their ideology or their political beliefs, they may also feel it is more acceptable to spread. However, less is known about the influence of newer, issue-specific beliefs. Two online studies explored the relationship between the degree of belief-consistency of disinformation on users’ moral judgements and intentions to spread disinformation further. Four disinformation narratives were presented: disinformation that supported or undermined the UK Government’s handling of COVID-19, and disinformation that minimised or maximised the perceived risk of COVID-19. A novel scale for measuring intentions to contribute to the spread of social media content was also used in study 2. Participants reported greater likelihood of spreading false material that was consistent with their beliefs. More lenient moral judgements related to the degree of belief-consistency with disinformation, even when participants were aware the material was false or misleading. These moral judgements partially mediated the relationship between belief-consistency of content and intentions to spread it further on social media. While people are concerned about the spread of disinformation generally, they may evaluate belief-consistent disinformation differently from others in a way that permits them to spread it further. As social media platforms prioritise the ordering of feeds based on personal relevance, there is a risk that users could be being presented with disinformation that they are more tolerant of
Poor on the Roll in Queereal Secretions
No full textExperimental film work 'Poor on the Roll' (2021) digital video, w/ sound, 6mins 30 sec. looped, in: 'Queereal Secretions' group exhibition in Annex Gallery, Glasgow School of Art, Curators Nicky Coutts and Henry Rogers, 13 Nov. to 15 Dec. 2023.
Produced by Queer Materialities Group: Coutts, Nicky, Rogers, Henry, Hannah, Michelle, Hodson, Elizabeth, Murray, Liz, Šik, Becky, Topping, Jane, McKee, Francis and McGilvary, Owain
Associated with publication of 'Queer Materialities' by Article Press
An exploration of the experience of Black and Minority Ethnic nurse educators in UK universities
No full textBook Summary
Research shows that racism affects the working lives of nurses and nurse academics, as well as healthcare service delivery and outcomes. This book looks at the impact of racism, from experiences of microaggression to discrimination and structural and institutionalised racism.
Focusing on the work of six doctoral researchers and practitioners who have chosen to address and investigate the racism they experience, witness or observe in the UK’s National Health Service and Universities, this book
includes personal reflections on their findings. The substantive chapters are framed by a discussion of policy and research on racism, thoughts on research supervision within this field and a drawing together of the key themes developed through this book.
Giving voice to nurses’ and lecturers’ responses to racism in nursing education and practice, this is an important contribution for students, researchers and practitioners with an interest in health inequalities, healthcare organisations, research methods and workforce development.
Chapter Summary
Research has shown that black ethnic minority academics are subjected to discrimination, particularly in the form of racial microaggressions. This results in marginalisation, damaged self-esteem and limited opportunities for career advancement. Black female academics face even greater challenges due to the intersection of race, ethnicity, gender and class. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research on the experiences of black female ethnic minority nurse academics. Therefore, this chapter aims to examine sections of an interview transcript from a PhD thesis, focusing on one individual named ‘Pearl.’ To analyse Pearl’s data, a narrative methodology was employed, utilising a dialogic/performance approach that emphasises the importance of the narrative to both the storyteller (Pearl) and the listeners. This approach is supported by critical race and feminist theorists and will be used to better understand Pearl’s story. In her narrative, Pearl described a culture of white, male hegemony at her higher education institution, where black female academics experience sexism, bullying, systemic racism and interpersonal racism. Her story also highlighted the impact of racial trauma. Despite these obstacles, Pearl did not consider herself a victim and achieved success in academia. The intersecting systems of oppression can significantly shape the experience of black female nurse academics