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Evaluation Report, Holiday Activities & Food Programme for Northamptonshire Sport, Full Report
Full text linkAccording to the Department for Education, there are 1.63 million children eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). Within Northamptonshire there are 184,308 children and young people, aged 0-19 years old, of which 14% are eligible for FSM. As FSM eligibility is a proxy for socioeconomic disadvantage, these statistics highlight that a significant proportion of children in Northamptonshire are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Due to increased costs and reduced income, children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to experience a gap in learning and have ‘unhealthy holidays’ during the school holiday period. To bridge this ‘gap’, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme was created by central Government. This report evaluates the HAF Programme that was delivered in Northamptonshire during the June to August 2021 Summer Holidays. 2,490 children and young people attended the HAF Programme (15.12% of FSM eligible children), from areas across Northamptonshire, with a catchment area of approximately 2,335 km2 and 215 schools
Adoption and Influence of Robotic Process Automation in Beef Supply Chains
Full text linkThis paper aims to critically examine the potential barriers to the implementation and adoption of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the beef supply chain. The beef supply chain has been challenging due to its complex processes, activities, and management. The beef industry has relied heavily on the human workforce in the past; however, RPA adoption allows automating tasks that are repetitive and strenuous in nature to enhance beef quality, safety and security. There are considerable potential barriers to RPA adoption as organisations have not focused on trying to eliminate them due to various reasons. Previous studies lack knowledge related to potential barriers to RPA adoption, so this creates a research gap and requires attention. Statistical data and information are extracted using secondary data relevant to RPA adoption in the beef supply chain. A business process model is formed which uses values or variables using existing statistical data and information. Simulation of the process model is carried out using Simul8 software and analyses of different scenarios help in choosing the best approach for RPA adoption. Results have identified the potential barriers in RPA adoption through the simulation process thus ensuring RPA performs with more potential. Analysis of ‘what-if’ scenarios allows organizational and employee-level improvements along with enhancing RPA’s accuracy. The process model is a generic model for use in real-life scenarios and can be modified by organisations according to their own business needs and requirements. The study contributes in theoretical and practical aspects as it allows decision-makers and managers to adopt RPA in a robust manner and adds to scientific knowledge by identification of potential barriers to RPA adoption
The effect of increasing fine sediment load and drying duration on the re-emergence of Gammarus pulex (Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from the subsurface following flow resumption
Full text link1. Environmental change and growing anthropogenic pressure on water resources is increasing the duration and intensity of drying events in streams in many geographical locations. Favourable sediment characteristics (e.g. high porosity and low fine sediment load within the substrate matrix) may facilitate benthic macroinvertebrate use of subsurface sediments in response to drying. However, the influence of sedimentary characteristics on the use and subsequent recovery of macroinvertebrates from initial vertical migration into, survival during unfavourable conditions within and subsequent re-emergence from subsurface sediments has not been directly observed. 2. Transparent mesocosm tanks were used to directly observe the vertical movement and subsequent re-emergence of G. pulex from subsurface sediments in response to increasing dry period (1 day, 7 days or 21 days) and fine sediment load (0.5–1 mm particle diameter used for light and heavy sediment treatment) and following rehydration and resumption of flowing conditions. 3. Increasing volumes of fine sediment addition limited the ability of G. pulex to access subsurface sediment in response to drying and re-emerge following rehydration. The longest dry period (21 days) reduced the ability of G. pulex to re-emerge from the subsurface sediments following rehydration and flow resumption. 4. Increasing fine sediment load negatively affects taxa using subsurface sediments as a refuge. Increased fine sediment deposition has the potential to reduce both access to the sub-surface and re-emergence once surface flow resumes. 5. As many rivers are beginning to dry out, or are showing prolonged drying due to global warming, it is increasingly important that river management reduces the input of fine sediment into rivers and increase sediment porosity of riverbeds to facilitate access into the subsurface refuge by benthic fauna
Body-worn cameras as a research tool in early years settings: Strengths and weaknesses
Full text linkThis paper discusses the innovative research method of using body-worn cameras for capturing speech and experiences of 3- to 5-year olds in English early years settings. The strengths and weaknesses will be discussed in this multiple case study approach to capturing the quality of speech from young children (n = 43). Adopting an interactionist theoretical framework and viewing the project through an interpretive paradigm, it is asserted there is the necessity to capture data in a way that is naturalistic and ethical at all times. It is argued that that in order to gain a full and deep understanding of young children’s lives, the use of body-worn cameras is pivotal in gaining the data that may not exist otherwise. It is therefore argued throughout this paper that although both strengths and weaknesses exist that weaknesses should be overcome and accommodated in order to enhance future research
Trade Union Revitalisation: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Gig Economy
Full text linkThis chapter provides a review of contemporary issues around trade union revitalisation during the fourth industrial revolution. It focuses particularly on the impact of the gig economy which is been accelerated by artificial intelligence. It explores the concepts of gig economy and artificial intelligence and reviews how they have affected trade union revitalisation activities. Central to this chapter is the critique of the meaning of ‘gig economy’ and ‘artificial intelligence’. The chapter is addressed from the standpoint of countries within the Global South. The chapter concludes with a review of alternative suggestions of revitalisation paradigms considered specifically for countries within the Global South hemisphere
On Paper Exhibition
No full text2 etchings, titled I can see hear you 10 and 11 exhibited as part of a curated exhibition held a Tarpey gallery Castle Donnington. Tarpey Gallery curated ‘On Paper’, featuring 15 artists whose work revolves around working with paper in their respective disciplines of printmaking, photography and collage, each artist will be displaying between two to six pieces. I can still hear you is a continuum of thematics around the Sound Mirrors at Denge near Dungeness, these are giant concrete structures hidden in a desolate and austere landscape. These mirrors are the birth of radar: concrete listening ears invented to aid the early warning of enemy planes, eventually replaced by radar and rendered defunct. The prints talk of conversations lost, of people lost, of conversations never begun, of things we wished we’d said. Elusive ghosts and deep seated memories are brought into being. The imagery is part in-memoriam, part remapping. I use the term mapping not in the sense of a literal cartography but rather as a feeling and emotional connection with place
The Comparative Effect of Different Timings of Whole Body Cryotherapy Treatment with Cold Water Immersion for Post-Exercise Recovery
Full text linkDespite several established benefits of Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) for post-exercise recovery, there is a scarcity of research which has identified the optimum WBC protocol for this purpose. This study investigated the influence of WBC treatment timing on physiological and functional responses following a downhill running bout. An additional purpose was to compare such responses with those following cold water immersion (CWI), since there is no clear consensus as to which cold modality is more effective for supporting athletic recovery. Thirty-three male participants (mean ± SD age 37.0 ± 13.3 years, height 1.76 ± 0.07 m, body mass 79.5 ± 13.7 kg) completed a 30 min downhill run (15% gradient) at 60% VO 2 max and were then allocated into one of four recovery groups: WBC1 ( n = 9) and WBC4 ( n = 8) underwent cryotherapy (3 min, -120°C) 1 and 4 h post-run, respectively; CWI ( n = 8) participants were immersed in cold water (10 min, 15°C) up to the waist 1 h post-run and control (CON, n = 8) participants passively recovered in a controlled environment (20°C). Maximal isometric leg muscle torque was assessed pre and 24 h post-run. Blood creatine kinase (CK), muscle soreness, femoral artery blood flow, plasma IL-6 and sleep were also assessed pre and post-treatment. There were significant decreases in muscle torque for WBC4 (10.9%, p = 0.04) and CON (11.3% p = 0.00) and no significant decreases for WBC1 (5.6%, p = 0.06) and CWI (5.1%, p = 0.15). There were no significant differences between groups in muscle soreness, CK, IL-6 or sleep. Femoral artery blood flow significantly decreased in CWI ( p = 0.02), but did not differ in other groups. WBC treatments within an hour may be preferable for muscle strength recovery compared to delayed treatments; however WBC appears to be no more effective than CWI. Neither cold intervention had an impact on inflammation or sleep
Using Organigraphs to Map Disaster Risk Management Governance in the Field of Cultural Heritage
Full text linkGlobal cultural heritage is threatened by the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters caused by climate change. International experts emphasise the importance of managing cultural heritage sustainably as part of a paradigm shift in cultural heritage perception, understanding, and management. This paradigm shift has stimulated a need to integrate cultural heritage into preexisting disaster risk management governance. However, there is currently a lack of robust and practical approaches to map the complex nature of disaster risk management governance. It is here considered that a shared understanding of the respective roles and responsibilities of the different organisations involved in risk management is a critical element in improving the preparedness of cultural heritage sites. The purpose of this article is to present the utility of the Organigraph technique and its main components as a tool to map governance structures, identify key stakeholders, and integrate cultural heritage experts into wider disaster risk management. The article presents a semi-empirical research approach, consisting of four iterative phases in which a series of digital workshops, semi-structured meetings, and bilateral expert meetings were used to co-produce five Organigraphs for heritage sites participating in an ongoing European Project. Our findings suggest that Organigraphs provide a valuable tool at the disposal of practitioners and academics with the potential to provide a basis for cross-national, cross-issue, and cross-scale peer learning between heritage sites. Furthermore, the technique is a valuable self-diagnostic tool to facilitate learning and proactive discussions in the preparedness phase of disaster risk management. Finally, they facilitate the co-creation of solutions through an evolving, interactive platform to integrate data driven approaches
RNA-based therapeutics for neurological diseases
Full text linkRNA-based therapeutics have entered the mainstream with seemingly limitless possibilities to treat all categories of neurological disease. Here, common RNA-based drug modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs, RNA aptamers, RNA-based vaccines and mRNA drugs are reviewed highlighting their current and potential applications. Rapid progress has been made across rare genetic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, but safe and effective delivery to the brain remains a significant challenge for many applications. The advent of individualised RNA-based therapies for ultra-rare diseases is discussed against the backdrop of the emergence of this field into more common conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and ischaemic stroke. There remains significant untapped potential in the use of RNA-based therapeutics for behavioural disorders and tumours of the central nervous system; coupled with the accelerated development expected over the next decade, the true potential of RNA-based therapeutics to transform the therapeutic landscape in neurology remains to be uncovered
Public perceptions on the role of wayfinding in the promotion of recreational walking routes in greenspace – cross-sectional survey
Full text linkThe study explored public perceptions of the role that wayfinding signage can play to enhance engagement with recreational walking routes in greenspaces. A mixed-methods online survey was distributed within Northampton, England and there were 266 respondents. The survey had Likert scale and open text answer options to allow for respondents to share richer opinions. Key themes suggested recreational wayfinding signage could increase participants’ confidence to explore, perceptions of safety, motivation to walk further, and reduced anxiety. 33% strongly agreed that wayfinding signage for recreational walking routes should be installed in public parks and footpaths. Respondents felt strongly that motivational statements and monthly route usage statistics should not be included on signage. Wayfinding signage may promote increases in greenspace physical activity by addressing anxiety, confidence, safety, motivational and social norm barriers
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