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WFPC4001 Certificate of Credit in the Principles of Commissioning (in person) Teaching materials
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Revisiting “Penguins in the anthropause : Covid-19 closures drive gentoo penguin movement among breeding colonies”
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic led to a near complete shutdown of the Antarctic tourism industry for two years, providing a natural experiment to test the impact of tourism on Antarctic penguins. An early study using Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) imagery (Flynn et al., 2023) found evidence for rapid gentoo penguin migration into a tourism hotspot during the Covid-19 anthropause, which was notable given the assumed high site-fidelity of this species. Here we present improved methods for processing RPAS imagery and, from the improved imagery, an updated interpretation of gentoo breeding behavior during this period. This re-analysis revealed that fewer penguins successfully established nests at the tourist hotspot than was originally reported, instead, high levels of penguins not on nests were present onshore. This may indicate an increased presence of subadults or non-breeding adults, movement of individuals to new locations during the Covid-19 anthropause without successfully establishing nests, or delayed nesting from increased snowfall. Overall, there was a decline in nests in the metapopulation during anthropause. This re-analysis sheds new light on penguin attendance and movement during this unusual period of suspended tourism and indicates that any tourism impact studies involving rotating closures would need to extend over several seasons for responses with time lags to fully manifest. While the core findings of Flynn et al. (2023) – that the cessation of tourism coincided with an unexpected shift in breeding patterns of gentoo penguins – remain true, our re-analysis provides a more nuanced perspective on the impacts of the Covid anthropause
Cultural influences on farmer attitudes and mitigation strategies towards primates in community forests of Bali and Lombok, Indonesia
Get PDFHuman-wildlife interactions over shared resources can negatively affect both human and wildlife populations, especially in human-modified habitats such as community forests. We assessed community farmers’ attitudes towards two resident primate species (long-tailed macaques and ebony langurs) in Bali, predominantly Hindu, and Lombok, predominantly Muslim. From May to July 2024, we employed a mixed-method approach, including semi-structured interviews with 67 community farmers. We explored how psychological factors (e.g. perceived benefits, importance of primate protection) interacted with lethal vs. non-lethal mitigation strategies via structural equation modelling and logistic regression. We found significant differences in perceptions and mitigation between islands and primate species. Beliefs and cultural practices shaped perceptions: Balinese respondents were more tolerant of crop-foraging primates than respondents on Lombok. Crop damage by macaques was more frequent and severe than that by langurs, leading to more negative attitudes and active deterrence measures towards macaques. The use of lethal measures was only reported in Lombok. Our results indicate that fostering human-primate coexistence in community forests would benefit from emphasizing the perceived benefits of primate presence. Tailored conservation initiatives that respect local beliefs and address community-specific challenges are essential for promoting tolerance towards primates and sustainable crop protection strategies
From Blair to Bliar
No full textA bold and balanced re-appraisal of New Labour in power.
Rewriting the story of New Labour, Glen O'Hara challenges the prevailing narrative to present a more balanced and positive assessment. New Labour, new Britain? is the first book to examine both the intentions behind New Labour's domestic policies and their real-world effects, moving beyond the entrenched left-right debates that have dominated the party's legacy.
The period from 1997 to 2007 marked a pivotal moment in modern British history, as New Labour sought to reshape Britain into a more cohesive and forward-thinking society. It saw the rise of socially liberal attitudes and flourishing public services under a government committed to rebuilding and investing in them. Yet New Labour's track record was far from flawless and its legacy remains complicated and contested.
Through interviews with key players and rigorous archival research, O'Hara offers a new perspective on Tony Blair's years in power. Painting a fuller picture of New Labour's successes and challenges, he highlights its lasting impact on Britain and offers a thoughtful reassessment of its place in history
Updated psychometric assessment of the original Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (LDCDQ)
Get PDFAim: The Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (LDCDQ) is a screening tool for identifying preschool children who may have Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), originally developed in the Hebrew language. This study updated the original LDCDQ's psychometric properties with an expanded sample size, and ascertained sensitivity, specificity and cutoff scores.
Method: An observational cross-sectional study design with convenience and snowball sampling was employed. Israeli preschool children aged 36-59 months (n = 399; 48.48 + 6.73) were recruited to two groups (typically developing [TD] n = 269; 47.65 + 6.78; referred n = 130; 50.09 + 6.35). The LDCDQ and a demographic questionnaire were completed for all children. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC2) was administered to n = 77 children (n = 24 TD). Receiver operating curves (ROCs) were used to investigate sensitivity and specificity, and propose cutoff scores.
Results: Internal consistency was confirmed (total score: ɑ = 0.922). Study groups differed significantly (p < 0.001) on LDCDQ total and subscores. The MABC2 and LDCDQ total scores were moderately correlated (r = 0.51; p < 0.001) suggesting concurrent validity. Binary logistic regressions revealed that the LDCDQ total and all subscores significantly predicted study group placement. Sensitivity (95-100 %), specificity (65-69 %), and proposed cutoff scores were established using ROC.
Conclusion: The LDCDQ is a valid, reliable and free-of-charge screening tool that can be used to identify preschool children showing early motor coordination difficulties, who may benefit from early motor development support, and who may ultimately need referral for DCD assessment
The evolutionary functions of imaginative-narrative simulation and how they may contribute to psychological well-being
Get PDFWhat are the evolutionary functions of imaginative-narrative simulation as evident in fiction and other expressions of imagination, and how do they influence psychological well-being? We propose an integrative and multifunctional framework for understanding imaginative-narrative simulation—the mental, imaginative simulation of events, sourced from memory and fiction, and structured through narrative—as a key adaptive capacity. Drawing from evolutionary psychology, cognitive science, and media studies, we identify four core functions of this capacity: functions that support (a) planning and future thought, (b) coping and emotion regulation, (c) bonding and social needs, and (d) identity and worldviews. We argue that these functions can importantly support psychological well-being, and we review a range of empirical studies that have investigated imagination, fiction, and psychological well-being during the period of lockdown restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic that speak to these effects. We suggest that despite its potential, there is a significant gap in the literature on the adaptive value of imagination and fiction, especially in the context of crises, and offer concrete directions for future empirical work
HIF-1–regulated TPM3 links hypoxia to motility and invasion beyond the hypoxic fraction in triple-negative breast cancer
Get PDFtle:f347c889-7fc7-44be-88e0-b04622e4e36b:afee126f-04b2-41a9-a6dd-b29b7c6c20ab:1Hypoxia is a defining feature of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), driving invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Understanding the molecular effectors of hypoxia is essential to identify new therapeutic targets. Here, we investigated tropomyosin 3 (TPM3), an actin-binding protein that regulates filament stability. TPM3 is significantly upregulated in breast cancer, including in TNBC, where elevated levels correlate with poor overall survival. Using validated hypoxia signatures and TNBC cell models, we show that TPM3 is induced in physiologically relevant hypoxic conditions in a HIF-1–dependent manner. Both mRNA and protein levels of TPM3 increased in response to hypoxia, and TPM3 colocalised with F-actin, supporting cytoskeletal organisation. Functional assays demonstrated that depletion or inhibition of TPM3 impaired cell morphology, motility, and invasion in hypoxic TNBC cells, while not affecting viability. Notably, TPM3 inhibition synergised with Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin, enhancing therapeutic efficacy. In addition, TPM3 was incorporated into extracellular vesicles (EVs), with hypoxia increasing EV-mediated transfer of TPM3 to normoxic cells and promoting their motility. These findings establish TPM3 as a hypoxia-inducible, HIF-1–regulated effector of cytoskeletal dynamics and intercellular communication, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target to limit TNBC aggressiveness and improve treatment outcomes
Distinct drinking patterns, help seeking, and alcohol related regret in ADHD, Autism, and AuDHD
No full textADHD is associated with higher alcohol use, while autism is linked to lower use, but little is known about patterns among individuals with both conditions (AuDHD), particularly when accounting for mental health. This study examined whether alcohol consumption, drunkenness, regret, and help-seeking differ across ADHD, autism, AuDHD, and controls, and whether regret predicts intentions to reduce drinking. Using data from the 2021 Global Drug Survey (N = 21,246), we conducted descriptive analyses and multilevel regression models controlling for mental health and demographics. ADHD respondents had the highest AUDIT scores; autism respondents drank less overall but were more likely to fall into the possible dependence category. AuDHD respondents reported the most frequent drunkenness, highest regrets, and greatest desire to reduce drinking (42.3%). Regret strongly predicted wanting to drink less, especially for AuDHD (OR = 6.65). Findings highlight distinct risk profiles and position regret as a promising intervention target
NEW ABC. Networking the educational world : across boundaries for community-building
No full textThis collection provides data from an EU-funded Horizon2020 project “NEW ABC: Networking the Educational World: Across Boundaries for Community-building”, under the call H2020-SC5-MIGRATION-2018-2020. The project is led by Prof. Rachele Antonini at the University of Bologna.
The research actions in the UK Team.
This collection details the data collected from the team in the United Kingdom, which was co-led by Prof. Sarah Crafter at The Open University and Prof. Guida de Abreu at Oxford Brookes University. The project was supported by Postdoctoral Researchers, Dr. Nelli Stavropoulou, Dr. Eleni Stamou and researcher Ms Kelly Lambert.
The UK team undertook two ‘pilot actions’, similar to an intervention, which used participatory action research and co-creation as a key approach. The two interventions were:
1) Empowering young translators (Work Package 4).
The aim of this pilot action was to produce participatory co-creative activities to emotionally and socially support young people who translate and interpret for peers, family, and their local communities. We collaborated with a highly culturally and linguistically diverse secondary school in England. With their support, we set up an after-school club known as the ‘Young Translators Club’ for young people who speak multiple languages and who regularly translate for others which took place across the academic year of 2021 – 2022. We also undertook interviews with young translators in two secondary schools.
2) The adventures of the Little Prince in the World (Work Package 5).
The ‘Adventures of the Little Prince in the World’ pilot was first developed in Cyprus and then re-piloted and adapted in UK schools. Using the literary work by Antoine De Saint-Exupery, “The Adventures of the Little Prince”, the aim of this pilot action was to build the resilience of migrant children by reshaping the narratives of their experience to enable them to feel included in the school environment. In the UK the Team focused on collaborating with teachers in primary and secondary schools in 2022 – 2023 to co-create participatory activities aimed at fostering a sense of belonging, respect, friendship and community for children and young people from a migrant background and improve their smooth inclusion into school life.
Overview of the wider project.
The purpose of the NEW ABC project is:
1. To develop real-life co-participated actions by stakeholders in education that tap into their real needs and can be used to inform policy makers on effective solutions to overcoming challenges to integration;
2. To empower and develop the capacity for agency, inclusivity and to have voice of all the stakeholders involved heard, particularly children in diverse communities; and
3. To ensure the development of integrated approaches at the local and (inter)national level during and after the end of the project.
To achieve these aims, the NEW ABC implemented nine activity-based pilot actions for the inclusion of migrant and refugee children and young people in education. The implementation of the nine activity-based pilot actions sought to engage stakeholders, especially those groups such as children and young people who migrate or are refugees, whose voice might go unheard or heeded, in the collaborative design of formal informal and non-formal educational activities that facilitate their inclusion.
The pilot actions were co-created and implemented in two consecutive stages, in order to ensure applicability, scalability and sustainability. Work Package 4 was the first stage of the pilot actions and involved the first implementation of the co-creation of activities with key stakeholders. Work Package 5 involved the partner countries exchanging the pilot actions and re-piloting in a different country context.
The NEW ABC methodological and conceptual framework.
All of the pilot actions across the partner countries shared the same methodological and conceptual framework which combined the following:
• Participatory Action Research (PAR).
In the NEW ABC project, PAR binds together the project’s conceptual and methodological framework. PAR approaches involve researchers and other stakeholders (community members, researchers, interested/affected groups, non-academic, policy-makers, etc.) working together to examine a problematic situation and/or create actions to change it. Participatory approaches often draw on narrative, storytelling and arts-based research.
• The Co-Creation Approach.
The core of NEW ABC methodology lies in participatory action research and co-creation, which conceptually share the same tenets: the development of democratic partnerships between researchers and local/community stakeholders; their involvement with the PAR approach in the design of the research, evaluation and dissemination of the findings; and the empowerment of interested/affected/groups/stakeholders by actively involving them through co-creation methods in the design of practices that have contextual fit and are responsive to the expressed needs of the community and the participants they serve.
• Care and Compassion approach to migration.
The NEW ABC uses care and compassion as theoretical concepts that underpin their pilot actions. ‘Care’ and ‘compassion’ are treated as foundational theoretical and moral principles running through our pilot actions.
• The Whole Child Approach.
The whole child approach puts children and young people at the center and focuses on what works best for them and on what the other stakeholders in education e.g. educators, families, policymakers, community members, and associations – must do to ensure their integration and success.
• The Bottom-Up Approach.
The bottom-up approach facilitates the engagement of stakeholders, the voices of children, vulnerable groups, the community, educators, and families to find expression in the co-creation of innovation pilot actions that address a variety of challenges to integration in education