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Surveillance, technology, and the maternal body
No full textIn a world where surveillance and technology increasingly shape the most intimate aspects of human life, this monograph explores how motherhood is transformed by digital tools, AI, and societal control mechanisms. This interdisciplinary study interrogates the intersections of feminism, posthumanism, and surveillance studies to reveal how maternal bodies are not only sites of care but also sites of observation, regulation, and technological intervention.
Building on key theoretical frameworks from Donna Haraway, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, and others, this book dissects how new digital and posthuman technologies—such as parenting apps, robotic caregivers, and smart homes—reshape the role and identity of the mother. From cyborg theory and mid-20th century surveillance practices to AI-driven caregiving and futuristic portrayals of robotic motherhood in media, Surveillance, Technology and the Maternal Body critically examines how motherhood is being redefined in both virtual and physical spaces.
The chapters draw on literature, film, digital media, and architectural theory, tracing the cyborgisation of motherhood and critically reflecting on how these surveillance practices both restrict and reshape what it means to be called 'mother'
Detailed Assessment of the Speed of Handwriting – 2nd Edition (DASH-2) : factor structure and measurement invariance across age and sex
No full textThe Detailed Assessment of the Speed of Handwriting-2 combines and extends previous versions of the test. This study examined the factor structure and presents the first analysis of measurement invariance across two age groups (8–16, 17–25) and sex. The normative sample comprised 762 examinees from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand who completed five tasks: Copy Best (CB), Alphabet Writing (AW), Copy Fast (CF), Free Writing (FW), and Graphic Speed (GS). As there were no significant between-country differences, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on the combined data set. This supported the two-factor model corresponding to the test structure of four core tasks (CB, AW, CB, and FW) reflecting handwriting ability, with a separate measure of grapho-motor ability (GS). Multigroup CFA indicated full configural, metric, and scalar invariance for age groups and sex. The findings provide support for the test structure and reliability of the test across age and sex
Randomised controlled trial of online behavioural sleep intervention for children with epilepsy
No full textWe evaluated the clinical and cost effectiveness of an online sleep intervention (COSI) for parents of children with epilepsy. We conducted a multicentre, parallel-group, unblinded, randomised controlled trial. We recruited children aged 4–12 years with epilepsy and sleep problems through 26 UK outpatient clinics. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) via a computer-generated minimisation algorithm. The primary outcome was the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) at three months. Cost-effectiveness was estimated at six months. We conducted intention to treat analyses. 85 children were enrolled (42 SC; 43 SC + COSI). At three months, the adjusted mean CSHQ difference between arms was 3.00 (95% CI 0.06–5.93; p = 0.05), indicating significant superiority of SC. Children in the SC + COSI group showed a mean 16.5-minute reduction in sleep onset latency by actigraphy and parents increased their knowledge. Only 23 (53%) families accessed the core intervention materials. Incremental mean cost of SC + COSI was £1,232 (95% credibility interval £535–£3,455) with a mean incremental Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) of 0.00 (95% CI -0.03 to 0.04), yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £433,167 per QALY gained a (0.04 probability of being cost-effective at the £30,000/QALY threshold). Improved objective sleep onset latency and enhanced parental knowledge suggest that the underlying behaviour change techniques hold value
The relationship among climate policy uncertainty and energy markets : fossil versus renewable and low-carbon assets
No full textThis paper investigates the intricate relationship between climate policy uncertainty (CPU) and energy market dynamics, focusing on fossil- based and renewable/low- carbon energy assets. Utilising a comprehensive dataset spanning from April 1987 to December 2023, comprising monthly observations of CPU, stock market returns, spot oil prices and various energy commodity futures, we employ time series regressions to analyse the effects of CPU on market returns. Our findings reveal that fossil- based energy assets are significantly and negatively impacted by changes in CPU, while renewable and low- carbon energy assets exhibit minimal or negligible effects. Moreover, we identify a heightened negative impact of CPU during periods of increased uncertainty, underscoring investor sensitivity to abrupt spikes in climate policy uncertainty, particularly in fossil-based energy sectors. Robustness analysis confirms the efficacy of the CPU index as a reliable indicator, emphasising the importance of using comprehensive metrics to assess the influence of climate policy uncertainty on financial markets. Our study underscores the necessity for policymakers and industry stakeholders to recognise the implications of climate policy uncertainty on energy markets and prioritise efforts to establish clear and consistent policy frameworks to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable energy landscape
Effect of vitamin C supplementation on post-exercise recovery : A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo trials
Get PDFIntroduction.
Exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation may impair recovery and performance. Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant, has been proposed to attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage and modulate inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers during recovery.
Methods.
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024594742). Twelve randomized controlled trials involving adult participants exposed to different exercise protocols were included. Vitamin C supplementation, administered in various forms, was compared with placebo. Primary outcomes were inflammatory (CRP, IL-6) and oxidative stress (MDA) biomarkers. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2.0 tool, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework.
Results.
Pooled analyses showed no significant effects of vitamin C supplementation on IL-6 (MD = 0.00; 95 % CI: −0.25 to 0.25; p = 1.00; 2 trials, n = 31) or MDA (MD = −0.59; 95 % CI: −1.99 to 0.81; p = 0.41; 3 trials, n = 41). A significant reduction was observed for CRP (MD = −0.44; 95 % CI: −0.66 to −0.22; p = 0.0001; 2 trials, n = 52). Heterogeneity was substantial for MDA (I2 = 80 %) but negligible for IL-6 and CRP (I2 = 0 %). Risk of bias was predominantly rated as “some concerns” or “high.” According to GRADE, the certainty of evidence was low for IL-6 and CRP and very low for MDA due to risk of bias and imprecision.
Conclusion.
Based on a very limited number of small randomized trials, vitamin C supplementation does not appear to consistently modify post-exercise inflammatory or oxidative stress biomarkers. However, the available evidence is characterized by low to very low certainty, substantial methodological limitations, and imprecision. Therefore, these findings should be interpreted with caution and considered hypothesis-generating, underscoring the need for larger, high-quality, well-controlled trials
WFPC4001 Grading Matrix Certificate of Credit in the Principles of Commissioning
No full textGradming Matrix with student guidanc
‘Not business as usual’ : a tale of critical participatory action research and the extended case method
No full textPurpose.
This paper outlines the approach of critical participatory action research (CPAR) and the extended case method (ECM) within an applied research context. The context for the research example explored is set within employee ownership.
Design/methodology/approach.
CPAR is at the heart of this paper. The ECM is applied to underpin the approaches adopted. The approach to managing data is qualitative.
Findings.
A journey of originality is presented within this paper, which focuses upon CPAR and ECM to provide a unique and alternative methodological thinking crucial for pushing the boundaries of research approaches in organisations.
Originality/value.
Researchers can be encouraged by the stance adopted in the methodological positioning in combination with the participatory data approach and the action research methods underpinning the whole project, affording learning from the experience of complexity and difficulties encountered and shared. It is hoped that this approach will allow other such kindred forms of research to be developed