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Leadership in Early Childhood Education: Exploring Leader Competencies Through the Design and Validation of a Novel Survey Tool
Full text linkWorkforce shortages, regulatory pressures, and inconsistent leadership preparation, and inequities are all issues facing the Australian Early Childhood sector. Providing targeted support to leaders requires effort and commitment from all stakeholders. A multi-stage, mixed methods research approach was employed, involving document analysis, focus groups, survey development, deployment and validation, and interviews. This study contributes to literature surrounding early childhood leadership practices and provides a novel, validated survey tool that will help guide effective leader development
Whanau first: a culturally responsive evaluation of the F.A.S.T. stroke campaign in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textFood Policies and Sustainability: European Lessons for Transforming Australia's Food Systems
No full textTranslingual Entanglements of Emotions and Translanguaging in Language Learning and Teaching Contexts
No full textIn this review article, we present the idea of “translingual entanglements of emotions,” which seeks to illustrate how emotions can be inherently entangled within language learning and teaching contexts in relation to language users’ translanguaging practices. Just like the trajectory of translanguaging approaches seeks to transcend what is generally seen as language or divisions between named languages, we suggest the idea of translingual entanglements of emotions to explore the multiple ways translanguaging is connected to, and part of, one's language education. Emotion is enmeshed within local modes of translanguaging, and it is bound up with changing modes of translingual resources embedded within translanguaging. It is entrenched in the everyday translanguaging practices of language teachers and learners in the classroom. From this perspective, unpacking translingual entanglements of emotions through translanguaging is essential, and we achieve this through an examination of recent literature that explicitly and implicitly addresses language teacher and learner emotion in relation to translanguaging
Building Bonds: Pre and post evaluation of an education program for midwives to support the early mother-infant relationship
Full text linkBackground: Supporting the social-emotional development of the infant during their early years is crucial to lifelong health. Midwives are well placed to promote positive maternal and infant wellbeing, particularly to encourage the emerging mother-infant relationship through education and support. Aim: To evaluate the self-reported confidence, knowledge and ability of the midwives who participated in the ‘Building Bonds’ education to support the mother-infant relationship and assess their satisfaction with the activity. Design: Mixed methods using a pre and post-survey design Methods: Validity and reliability of the purpose-designed survey was undertaken. The survey was implemented in December 2023 at a metropolitan hospital prior to and after undertaking the online educational intervention. Results: Thirty-three midwives completed the pre-survey, 15 completed the post-survey, with 13 of the respondents matched to both the pre- and post-surveys. Overall, the midwives reported a positive change in confidence, attitude, knowledge and ability to support the mother-infant relationship after completing the ‘Building Bonds’ education. Half of the participants had never received education regarding the mother infant relationship and reported benefit in practice from engaging in the education. Conclusion: Midwives have an essential role in supporting the development of the mother-infant relationship and value the knowledge and confidence gained through the ‘Building Bonds’ education. Many midwives reported they had incorporated what they had learnt into practice. Providing midwives with ongoing education to ensure that they have the confidence, attitude, knowledge and ability to support the mother-infant relationship is important
Bio-mediated CN cycling in serpentinites and the origin of life
No full textHydrogen-rich, high pH conditions associated with serpentinisation are fundamental to some theories of the origin of life on Earth and other planets. In these theories, the first life formed in hydrothermal vents from organic compounds produced by metal-catalysed reduction of carbon dioxide and nitrate by hydrogen. Competing theories suggest that life could not have arisen without hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and that HCN was provided by vaporisation of large impactors. Here, we show that carbon- and nitrogen-bearing species are associated with chalcopyrite and native copper in serpentinised peridotite from the Wadi Tayin Ophiolite, Oman. We propose a model in which serpentinisation produces hydrogen that reduces copper in chalcopyrite to form native copper, and reduces oxidised carbon and nitrogen to form reduced carbon and nitrogen. In this model, reduction of carbon and nitrogen is catalysed by copper, and previously undocumented nanolayers of silver within metallic copper may enhance catalytic properties in natural systems. Microbial involvement is consistent with microstructural observations, documented microbial activity and isotopic data within the Wadi Tayin Ophiolite. However, similar features can form abiotically. Our discovery establishes spatial links among components believed to have supported the emergence of life. Further, mineral-hosted CN-species provide a previously unconsidered reservoir of nitrogen within serpentinites, which may deliver nitrogen to the deep mantle via subduction
From Bones to Buildings: Co-Precipitation of Hydroxyapatite and Calcite Biominerals – Towards Bioengineered Acid Resistant Materials
No full textHydroxyapatite [Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂] is one of the most stable calcium phosphate mineral due to its thermodynamic stability in the crystalline state, low solubility over a wide pH range (above 4.4). These minerals are found abundantly in nature, including our bones and teeth, and coexist with different calcium minerals as calcium carbonate1. Microbially induced precipitation of these minerals offers several advantages, including milder reaction conditions, operational simplicity, lower cost and self-healing2. Microbially induced hydroxyapatite closely resembles biogenic hydroxyapatite found in natural bone and tooth enamel in terms of crystallite size and semi-crystalline structure3.
Research on biologically produced minerals for applications in construction industry has primarily focused on Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP)4. However, conventional MICP often exhibits limitations, particularly in acidic environments4. Considering these challenges, this study explores the enhancement of MICP through Microbially Induced Phosphate Precipitation (MIPP) by co-precipitating hydroxyapatite alongside calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). Three bacterial strains capable of inducing hydroxyapatite formation were identified and evaluated for their ability to co-precipitate carbonate and phosphate minerals under controlled conditions. Key environmental parameters, including calcium-to-phosphate ratio, pH, and bacterial metabolic activity were systematically optimised to maximise biomineral precipitation efficiency. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was employed to visualise bacterial precipitation dynamics over time, revealing the spatial distribution and progressive growth of mineral phases. Morphological and mineralogical characterisation was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM); which confirmed the successful co-precipitation of hydroxyapatite and calcite. Acid resistance and mechanical performance of the precipitated biominerals was conducted using nanoindentation and acid resistance tests; which demonstrated that phosphate incorporation significantly improved the biocement stability, crystalline behaviour and structural integrity. These findings highlight the potential of integrating MICP and MIPP as a novel bioengineering strategy for living materials with improved acid tolerance.
References:
1- Naidu S. et al.. (2016) Journal of the American Ceramic Society. 2016;99(10):3421-3428. doi:10.1111/jace.14355
2- Sassoni E. (2018) Materials (Basel, Switzerland). 2018;11(4) doi:10.3390/ma11040557
3- Dorcioman G. et al. (2023) Pharmaceutics. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041294.
4- Dhami N.K. et al (2013). Front Microbiol. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00314
Face, Photograph, Portrait. The use of Printmaking to explore contemporary forms of image making technology that continue to blur the distinction between the original and the copy
No full textThis research investigates how human qualities persist in mechanically reproduced images of the face. Combining practice-led research with traditional printmaking, digital and AI-generated imagery, the project explores how process marks become integral to portraits. Drawing on Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology and Benjamin's concept of aura, the study reveals parallels between classical Greek sculpture and AI image generation, both using mathematical principles to construct idealised forms. The resulting prints demonstrate how reproduced images maintain human qualities while challenging traditional notions of the original and the copy
The heat, the heart and beyond: a narrative review of the many ways climate change impacts human health
Full text linkThis article provides a narrative review of recent literature on the health impacts of climate change, synthesizing epidemiological findings, mechanistic insights, and policy implications across major exposure domains. Anthropogenic climate change is fundamentally altering global climate systems, with significant and multifaceted implications for human health. Epidemiological data indicate a strong correlation between ambient temperature fluctuations and cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, the frequency and severity of wildfires have intensified due to climate change, contributing to elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and resulting in substantial premature mortality. Climate change is modifying the geographic distribution and seasonality of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, posing new challenges for infectious disease control. Air quality degradation alongside heightened UV radiation, contributes to a higher incidence of respiratory diseases, skin cancers, and ocular disorders. Climate-induced disruptions to agricultural systems are undermining food security, leading to increased malnutrition and related morbidity. Additionally, the psychological burden of climate-related events, including natural disasters and displacement, has been linked to rising rates of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and affective disorders. These effects are more evident in vulnerable populations, including the elderly, individuals with pre-existing health conditions, those of lower socioeconomic status, and populations residing in low-income countries. Urgent mitigation strategies targeting greenhouse gas emissions are required to limit further climate-related health burdens. Concurrently, adaptive strategies must be implemented to bolster resilience across ecological, infrastructural, and health systems. Although public health systems are critical in addressing these challenges, a coordinated, multidisciplinary research agenda is imperative to elucidate the complex pathways linking climate change and health, and to develop evidence-based interventions aimed to reduce its negative impacts on human health