Childhood sexual abuse: how do women experience a subsequent diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder/borderline personality disorder?

Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (D.Couns.Psych).Prevalence statistics infer that childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is reported by 16.1% - 85.7% of borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients (de Aquino Ferreira et al. 2018) and of those diagnosed with BPD, 75% are women (NICE, 2009). Thus, BPD is considered in the context of the history of the pathologisation of women through psychiatric diagnosis. Upholding a feminist social constructionist epistemology, this thesis explores the lived experience of women who have experienced CSA and received a subsequent diagnosis of BPD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four women and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the transcripts. The analysis produced five Group Experiential Themes: (1) BPD: The ticket towards or away from condemnation? (2) CSA is not the whole story (3) Sense of Self and Identity (4) A relational minefield and (5) The long road to recovery. This research highlights the ambiguous relationship participants have with their diagnosis of BPD. The role that the diagnostic assessment, the delivery of the diagnosis, and internalised stigma plays in the trajectory of this relationship is discussed. Exploration of the impact of CSA highlighted identity disturbance, relational challenges, and a desire for a sense of belonging as particularly prevalent. The significance of choice in relation to treatment/recovery is identified, specifically as to whether CSA is explored as part of this. Participants emphasised that CSA should be considered in the context of wider childhood experiences. Implications for counselling psychology regarding assessment and diagnosis, treatment and interventions, and addressing stigma are noted, alongside opportunities for further research

Investigating advanced practice for people with intellectual disability and autism: a mixed methods study

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Wiley. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17696Introduction Little is known about the advanced practice contribution health professionals make when working with People with Intellectual Disability and Autism. This paper shares the findings from a study investigating the delivery and impact of two university-led online postgraduate certificates. These programmes specifically focused on preparing health professionals to practice at an advanced level, with people with intellectual disability and autism across the lifespan. Aims The aim was to evaluate the opportunities and challenges the programmes provided, reviewing the online delivery capacity and its usefulness for preparing this group of health professionals at an advanced level across two cohorts of learners. Methods A concurrent mixed methods approach was adopted, collating descriptive and qualitative data virtually between February 2023 and January 2024. Adults with intellectual disability and autism were involved in the panel deciding the outcome of the research tender, as steering group members and as members of a national workforce advisory panel. No computerised software was used for the data analysis. Results Observations from minimal descriptive data, virtual focus group, nine one-to-one interviews, text-based and a jam-board data revealed online pedagogical decisions through multi-professional action learning sets. This supported enhanced practice confidence, enquiry-based practice and inter-professional capability. Conclusions Policy and decision makers should invest in more advanced practice programmes in this field, as they strengthen the care contribution for people with intellectual disabilities and autism. Implications for Practice Advanced practice learning can raise both practice confidence levels and improve opportunities for evidence-based service change for a group of people with complex needs. Reporting Method Mixed Methods Reporting in Rehabilitation Health Science.This work was supported by NHS ENGLAND

Metabolic, androgenic, and physical activity profiles in women aged over 40 years with polycystic ovary syndrome: A comparative analysis using UK Biobank data

© 2025 The Authors, published by SAGE. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1177/174550572513858Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women, linked to metabolic, hormonal, and psychological issues. Management typically involves lifestyle changes, including increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour. Objectives: To compare the health profiles and behaviours of women with and without PCOS. Design: This study analysed data from the UK Biobank, which is a prospective cohort study. Methods: Women with PCOS in the UK Biobank were identified, while age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls were randomly selected. Data on factors associated with PCOS severity and self-reported lifestyle behaviours were analysed. Group differences were tested for significance, and participants were categorised by health behaviours to assess morbidity risk. Results: The study included 319 women with PCOS (mean age: 43.9 years) and 638 in each control group. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in anthropometric (e.g. body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference, and body fat), cardio-metabolic (e.g. blood pressure, triglycerides, and glycated haemoglobin), and androgenic (e.g. sex hormone-binding globulin) indices. Differences were most pronounced between PCOS and age-matched controls but remained when BMI was also considered. Women with PCOS engaged in less vigorous physical activity and had higher screen time and sedentary behaviours. Those with the lowest physical activity and highest sedentary time had the worst health profiles and highest morbidity risk, regardless of group. Conclusion: Women with PCOS exhibit poorer health despite only slight lifestyle differences. Across all participants, lower physical activity and higher sedentary behaviour were linked to increased health risks. Further research is needed to clarify causal relationships between lifestyle factors and PCOS.The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was completed as part of a funded PhD project (CK) through Aston University.Published versio

Early career teachers’ preparedness to teach: from initial teacher training through early career induction in England – an educational professional perspective

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.The research focused on the preparedness of Early Career Teachers (ECTs), as previous studies on initial teacher training (ITT) policy in England identified several areas of pedagogy where ECTs felt insufficiently prepared. Viewed through a subjective lens, the study explored the perspectives of seven educational professionals working at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the West Midlands. Since the research area had limited literature, the aim was to address this gap by developing a theory through exploring: 1) How the ITT curriculum, based on the core content framework (CCF) (DfE, 2019a), has prepared ECTs to teach, and 2) How does the ITT curriculum, based on the CCF, allow ECTs to experience both the practical and theoretical aspects of teaching? A further question was explored after it arose during data analysis: 3) How does the new framework (DfE, 2019a, 2019b) differ from previous government policies/reforms? The interpretive, exploratory, single case study utilised a five-step methodological framework. It begins with a literature review on ECT preparedness regarding England’s ITT system and compares it internationally. Here, it draws on the work of John Dewey to explore the effectiveness of these teacher education systems. This is followed by a clear definition of the case study’s purpose and its context within its historical and political background. Next, it identifies the sampled case and explains why it was chosen. Following this, it outlines the study’s qualitative data collection methods, including a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Finally, the case study describes the methods used in grounded theory for data analysis. The study’s findings showed that the new framework alone might not fully equip ECTs to teach in England, as several factors, such as workload, well-being, and the need for ongoing professional development and trained mentors, can obstruct this. The study indicates that ECTs require access to a wider range of theories and that their practical experience should encompass various school settings. This research enhances our understanding of ECT readiness and underscores the importance of developing a shared understanding among policymakers, teacher educators, and school communities

Senior leaders: succession planning and talent management in the Ghanaian civil service

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the Degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil).The study examined how Ghana’s senior civil service leaders reviewed the policy framework and the implementation of merit-based recruitment through a succession plan, which can create a successful reform in the African civil service. The thesis aimed to shed light on the under-researched area of leadership development in Africa, proposing a model framework for a career preparation strategy that could effectively and efficiently sustain the leadership pipeline in the Ghanaian civil service. The colonial masters left behind no employment management legacy, resulting in a gap in succession planning that led to the decline of the Ghanaian civil service. The findings of this study are of utmost importance in understanding and addressing these issues. The research question was: To what extent can leadership reforms mitigate patrimonialism in the post-independence Ghanaian civil service through succession planning that reflects the colonial era? The civil service, once a commendable and worthwhile practice to emulate in sub-Saharan Africa during the initial stages of independence, has unfortunately declined, posing a significant problem. Kelsall argued that the African political economy is characterised by patrimonial or neo-patrimonial leadership. However, the implementation of the policy process can help create an understanding of the continuous growth of bureaucratic and political performance. Leadership is crucial for the development of the civil service and must be developed effectively. Leadership development is closely connected to succession planning, enabling organisations to maintain a competitive advantage through effective talent management. According to Management practitioners, an organisation that does not practice succession planning heads towards doom. Qualitative semi-structured interviews, supported by focus group discussions, were conducted within the Ghana Civil Service, comprising twenty candidates from two directorates, including their heads. Findings are that Ghana’s civil service has adopted the global e-recruitment system since 2018, which operates without political and religious interference in external recruitment. Another apparent observation was the light application of policy in general over the country and the need for a separate talent manager in the recruitment directorate. This role, the study suggests, is crucial for working with the leadership team to execute talent management strategies to reinforce succession plans, thereby enhancing leadership development to initiate, implement, and monitor policies with expertise from the recruitment directorate, which oversees all human resources activities, including the identification and nurturing of potential leaders

Embeddedness in the startup and growth of black women entrepreneurs in the West Midlands (UK)

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.Black women-owned businesses exhibit one of the highest rates of start-up activity, yet they also face the highest rates of failure. Despite this, there is a notable scarcity of research specifically addressing the entrepreneurial activities of black women. Existing literature predominantly focuses on women entrepreneurship and ethnic minority entrepreneurship, often overlooking the unique challenges encountered by black women in establishing and scaling their businesses. It is crucial to examine this demographic to uncover the multifaceted barriers they face throughout their entrepreneurial journey and to explore potential strategies for overcoming these obstacles. This research aims to investigate the role of embeddedness in accessing essential resources for business growth, while also highlighting the lived experiences of black women entrepreneurs. To achieve this aim, the research employs a mixed methodology, using both secondary data from the Longitudinal Small Business Survey (LSBS) and semi-structured in-depth interviews with 24 black women entrepreneurs operating their businesses in the West Midlands. This study also draws on institutional theory to explore their experiences and mixed embeddedness theory to illustrate the significance of embeddedness in overcoming barriers and accessing growth resources. The data indicates that factors influencing startup and growth of these businesses are both internal and external. Additionally, black women entrepreneurs continue to face institutional barriers rooted in historical contexts, which impede the growth of their entrepreneurial activities. On the other hand, the data indicates that embeddedness facilitates access to valuable resources, including up-to-date information, free training opportunities, financial support, mentorship programs, increased visibility, cost reduction and expand market share through referrals. This research advances theory by applying mixed embeddedness frameworks, including a new technological dimension to explain black women’s entrepreneurship. It highlights how structural and cultural factors shape their ventures and reveals internal and external barriers to growth, including limited community support and cultural perceptions within the black community

Tailored performance of additively manufactured titanium TPMS bone scaffold

© 2025 The Authors, published by Elsevier. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00456Triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS), exemplified by the Schwarz geometry, provide an optimal platform for bone scaffolds due to their high surface-to-volume ratio, continuous porosity, and bone-analogous mechanical response. Here, titanium TPMS scaffolds were additively manufactured via laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) with precise control over geometric parameters. A data-driven surrogate model, informed by experimental and numerical analyses, was developed to map the relationship between design variables and mechanical performance. The model enabled the design of scaffolds with tailored stiffness matching that of native bone, while revealing the dominant roles of wall thickness and cell size. Porosity varied from 47 % to 68 %, governed inversely by wall thickness, while elastic modulus scaled from 6 to 24 GPa, driven primarily by wall thickness and secondarily by cell size. Yield and ultimate strengths exhibited strong positive correlations with wall thickness, spanning 240–655 MPa and 320–784 MPa, respectively. This study provides a predictive framework for engineering 3D printed titanium scaffolds with targeted mechanical properties, offering a basis for next-generation load-bearing orthopaedic implants.Accepted versio

Disability and COVID-19

This is an author's accepted manuscript of a chapter published by Springer Nature in The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability edited by Gabriel Bennett & Emma Goodall. The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version. For re-use, see Springer's terms and conditions.The outbreak of COVID-19 (Sars-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and spread globally, triggered a number of discriminatory practices and discourses, ranging from direct anti-East Asian racism through to indirect prejudices against certain social, political and cultural groups. Those affected by indirect prejudices included individuals who already had disabilities and, while the pandemic has caused 7.1 million deaths to date, the disease itself has, in many cases, also caused long term physical compromise. Particularly at risk of this were those individuals who had pre-existing health challenges or who were from certain cultural backgrounds, with BAME individuals more severely impacted than white. As well as these two distinct categories of COVID-related disability, the virus has multiple further implications for disability, around which there is extensive scholarship and which this chapter summarises, including aspects that relate to: children, ethics, health care, disability employment, disability organisations, intellectual and neurologically challenged disability, communication, mental health, the digital divide, social inclusion, health staff mental health, and ‘do not resuscitate’ notices

Use of AI in Government. Written evidence submitted by Professor Suresh Renukappa; Ryan Bhuttay; Chandrashekar Subbarao; Professor Subashini Suresh; Professor Prashant Pillai; Professor Manjunath Aradhya; Professor Tonny Veenith (UAIG0022)

Written evidence submitted to the UK Government Public Accounts Committee inquiry on the use of AI in Government

Critical review on the sustainability of metal additive manufacturing: environmental and economic perspectives

© 2025. The Authors. Published by Scilight Press Pty Ltd. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://www.sciltp.com/journals/rset/articles/2507000971Manufacturing is an important pillar of socio-economic development, but it has a large carbon footprint and causes serious damage to the ecosystem. There is significant pressure on the manufacturing sector to embrace eco-friendly manufacturing technologies to reduce its environmental burden. Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM) is a rapidly evolving field with promising prospects to balance the economic and ecological concerns. Recently, manufacturing businesses started to examine MAM as a potential route to strengthen their eco-footprint and improve sustainability performance. The shift from Conventional Manufacturing (CM) processes to MAM requires significant capital investment, staff training, and possibly changing the business model. This may lead to hesitancy among enterprises to take on such risks without guaranteeing the sustainability benefits of MAM. This paper conducts a comprehensive review and critical evaluation of the environmental and economic impacts of MAM. The paper draws guidelines on the best production contexts that enable the fulfilment of environmental goals and maintain economic viability through MAM technologies. In general, Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) techniques are considered environmentally friendly and cost-effective for small-scale production of lightweight small parts with complex shapes and relatively high resolution. In contrast, Direct Energy Deposition (DED) processes are valuable for repairing and manufacturing large-scale parts that have medium shape complexity and relatively low resolution.Published onlin