Metacognitive Monitoring in Written Communication: Improving Reflective Practice

Educational programs aimed at developing metacognitive skills usually focus on students, neglecting the development of teachers by teaching metacognitively aware instructional methods. The effectiveness of such development programs is well-established, but there is a gap between research findings and their application in schools. A framework for a training program was developed in the context of an international partnership project aimed at enhancing the metacognitive abilities of both children and teachers. The final form of classroom activities was developed at the country level using action research methods with the involvement of teachers. After implementing a 3-week educational program involving 35 experimental and 19 control groups from Romanian public schools, a comparison of pre- and post-test scores indicated a significant increase in the number of children in the experimental group with improved efficiency in metacognitive monitoring in reading. Teachers’ metacognitive awareness significantly improved after the Teacher Training Program, as indicated by a comparison of the pre- and post-training results of the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory for Teachers (MAIT). No correlation was found between teachers’ development scores (as expressed by differences between pre- and post-intervention MAIT results) and the number of students from their classes whose progress in metacognitive monitoring significantly increased. The cyclical process of the action research methodology proved to be useful for increasing the efficiency of the intervention program. However, due to methodological limitations, the results are primarily interpretable within a local context. The results confirm expert recommendations aimed at integrating the targeted development of metacognitive teaching skills into both pre-service and in-service teacher training programs

Conversations across international divides: children learning through empathy about climate change

Primary school curricula often largely avoid the climate crisis, and teachers feel ill-equipped to teach it. In the secondary school curriculum, the climate crisis is generally addressed only in specific subjects such as science or geography. Our own and others’ research indicates that children are curious about climate change and become less anxious when they feel agentic in facing its effects. The challenges of everyday life for children in parts of the world severely affected by the rapidly changing climate are seldom included in educational contexts. This article reports on a project that linked a school in a UK town with a school on a Fijian island to explore a holistic approach to understanding the impacts of climate change. The children aged 9 to 11 built friendships across the globe through film messages, email, written letters, and drawings. As part of getting to know one another, the children asked and answered questions about their lives. Those questions and other creative activities revealed children’s interests and priorities and the extent of their local and global knowledge and enabled us to consider a personalised approach to climate justice. By co-creating and exchanging their stories the children could begin to understand the social and emotional impacts as well as the science of climate change. We discuss the role of empathy in children’s learning about climate change, and consider how connections across international divides can be facilitated

Understanding how British Pakistani women speak about resilience through the lens of the Resilience Portfolio Model

The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the way British Pakistani women speak about resilience during the Covid-19 adversity. It draws upon in-depth narrative interviews with 13 British Pakistani women, aged between 38 to 69. The analysis is grounded in the Resilience Portfolio Model developed by Grych and colleagues. The Resilience Portfolio Model proposes that each individual has a unique “portfolio” of strengths and protective factors which consists of ‘assets’ (regulatory strengths, interpersonal strengths, and meaning-making strengths) and resources available to individuals. Just like many people across the globe, women were impacted by the pandemic in different ways, nevertheless, they maintained resilience through regulatory behaviours of walking and enjoying nature, engaging in praying and reading of the Quran. Women invested in positive relationships that supported the development of social capital within their community and allowed them to connect with others in meaningful and reciprocal ways. Their religious beliefs and identity was not only key in their ability to make sense of the pandemic, but promoted a sense of belonging which enabled them to engage with their community resources. Findings show that women’s assets worked in tandem with their resources to promote their overall wellbeing during the Covid-19 adversity. This highlights the need for practitioners to combine individual ‘strengths’ and community resources when developing preventative and responsive interventions for ethnic minority women who have experienced adversity and for policy initiatives to consider recreational resources that help to minimise isolation in ethnic minority communities

Does Information Communication Technology facilitate or solve crime? Exploring the experience of law enforcement practitioners in three countries

Purpose (limit 100 words) The frequency, harm and reach of transnational serious organised crime (SOC) is increasing. This study examines how Information Communication Technology (ICT) has facilitated this type of crime and has been used by law enforcement agencies to tackle it. Design/methodology/approach (limit 100 words) 62 law enforcement practitioners, from the UK, Australia and New Zealand, who had experience of tackling SOC through intelligence-led approaches were interviewed. Following thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews four themes were highlighted. Findings (limit 100 words) The study found a high degree of practitioner consensus across the UK, Australia and New Zealand on four points. First, SOC had become more transnational, significantly increasing in frequency and diversity. Second, this trajectory had been facilitated using ICT. Third, law enforcement practitioners were using ICT to improve the detection and disruption of SOC offenders. Finally, the potential of ICT was not being maximised by law enforcement as practice continued to rely heavily on manual processes and human relationships. The reasons behind this trend were explored. Originality/value (limit 100 words) It is the first to show law enforcement agencies across three countries share similar organisational and individual behaviour concerning information management practice when engaged on intelligence-led approaches. It suggests new ways to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of approach

Impact of Severe COVID-19 Infection on Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in ANOCA Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and aims Millions of survivors from severe COVID-19 infection suffer from residual symptoms including anginal chest pain. The pathophysiological mechanisms, particularly the role of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), however, remain elusive. We compared the incidence and endotypes of CMD in patients with angina without obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) between those who had a history of severe COVID-19 infection (COVID group, defined as COVID patients needing supplemental oxygen therapy with SpO2 < 90% on room air), versus those who didn’t (Control group). Methods This multicentre, prospective cohort study enrolled 117 ANOCA patients (COVID group n=59, Control group n=58). All participants underwent exercise stress testing and invasive coronary physiology assessment to measure coronary flow reserve (CFR), and the index of microvascular resistance (IMR). CMD was defined as CFR<2.0 or IMR≥25. Patients also completed the modified Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ-7) after invasive functional assessment. Results CMD was diagnosed in 42 patients (35.9%): 47.5% in the COVID group and 24.1% in the Control group (p=0.015). The prevalence of structural CMD was significantly higher in the COVID group (28.8% vs. 5.2%, p<0.001). The median IMR was significantly higher in the COVID versus the Control group (20.00 [15.00, 42.00] vs. 17.00 [12.00, 21.00], p=0.002) while no significant differences were observed in CFR and FFR. The SAQ-7 summary scores (54.44 vs. 59.44, p=0.003) and physical limitation and quality-of-life domain scores were all significantly lower in the COVID group. Conclusions The incidence of CMD, particularly structural CMD, was higher in ANOCA patients with a history of severe COVID-19 infection, suggesting a link between persistent angina and CMD in this population

West African ancestry in seventh-century England: two individuals from Kent and Dorset

Archaeogenetics, the study of ancient DNA, can reveal powerful insights into kinship and the movement of individuals in (pre)history. Here, the authors report on the identification of two individuals with genetic profiles consistent with recent sub-Saharan African ancestry, both of whom were buried in early-medieval cemeteries in southern Britain. Focusing primarily on a sub-adult female from Updown in Kent, the authors explore the societal and cultural contexts in which these individuals lived and died, and the widening geographic links indicated by their presence, pointing back to the Byzantine reconquest of North Africa in AD 533–534

Integrating biochemical and functional assessments in equine joint research: A study of gait asymmetry and synovial fluid biomarkers

Injection of recombinant interleukin-1β (reIL-1β) is commonly used in equine joint research to evaluate the clinical and biological outcomes of inflammation, often tracking changes over time to assess the effects of the experimental model. Incorporating functional assessments, such as gait asymmetry analysis, in conjunction with biological assessments, is essential for capturing the real-world impact of joint interventions and ensuring findings translate to meaningful improvements in equine health and locomotion. This study aimed to examine the relationship between synovial fluid biochemical changes and symmetry analysis (inertial measurement unit; IMU) following a 75-ng injection of recombinant interleukin-1β (reIL-1β) into the left intercarpal joint of 11 horses Synovial fluid samples were collected at 0 h (pre-injection; control) and at 6 h and 12 h post-injection and analyzed for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), glycosaminoglycan (GAG), nitric oxide (NO), chondroitin sulfate epitope 846 (CS846), and resolvin D1 (RvD1). The IMU data were collected at baseline (hour 0) and 6 and 12 h post-injection to assess poll and pelvic movement during in-hand trot trials, with MinDiff (loading asymmetry) and MaxDiff (push-off asymmetry) values calculated. A linear mixed model was used to assess the association between biochemical outcomes and asymmetry measures with significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Increased synovial PGE2 significantly contributed to greater poll MinDiff (estimate = 0.007, SE = 0.003, P = 0.006), whereas elevated CS846 was a key contributor to increased poll MaxDiff (estimate = 0.006, SE = 0.003, P = 0.036). Additionally, higher PGE2 was linked to lower pelvis MaxDiff (estimate = −0.002, SE = 0.001, P = 0.024), whereas increased CS846 was associated with higher pelvis MinDiff (estimate = 0.003, SE = 0.001, P = 0.026). This research emphasizes the value of integrating biochemical and functional data to provide a more comprehensive tool for evaluating interventions for joint health

Social support in the perinatal period: a feminist exploration of asylum seeker and refugee women’s experiences and suggestions for change

Asylum seeking and refugee women in the UK face significant challenges to their perinatal wellbeing, with high levels of maternal mortality and morbidity experiencing multiple disadvantages and inequalities due to their immigration status, gender, migration experience and minoritised ethnic status. These women can lack social support and improving the level of social support available to women who experience multiple disadvantages can be a way of improving their perinatal experiences and wellbeing. There are, however, currently no studies which explore this in the context of asylum seeking and refugee women in the UK. A feminist-informed study was undertaken aiming to explore asylum seeker and refugee women’s experiences of social support in the perinatal period and their suggestions for change. A critical interpretative synthesis was undertaken to explore existing literature on perinatal social support for asylum seeking and refugee women in a European context. From this, two empirical studies, underpinned by feminist social constructionist epistemology were undertaken to explore asylum seeking and refugee women’s experiences of perinatal social support in the UK and the ways they felt this support could be improved. Women with lived experience, and staff and volunteers who supported them, were interviewed using feminist semi-structured interviews (n=22), then for study 2, four focus groups, including a member checking group (n=11) were undertaken. Findings from the studies identified key issues around needing social support to access statutory services and overcome challenges to meet basic needs. The role and nature of networks of support were discussed, getting support right to meet women’s needs, and who provides support and how. Midwives were considered central to provide support and knowledge and communication. These results fit with the ethics of care, placing women’s experiences within the socio-political context of the immigration system and current healthcare provision, focusing on ideas of the careless state, the voluntary sector and the creation of caring communities, systemic carelessness in maternity care, promiscuous care and gender and care. The research marks a unique contribution to knowledge being the first study, using a feminist-informed approach, to explore UK based asylum seeking and refugee women’s experiences and perceptions of social support and their suggestions for change

Tailoring midwifery care to women's needs in early labour: The cultivation of relational care in free-standing birth centres

Aim To understand and interpret the lived experience of newly qualified midwives in their first year in a free standing birth centre caring for women in early labour. Background Women who present in hospital labour wards in early labour are encouraged by hospital staff to go home. This leaves women to navigate early labour without professional care, leaving them on their own to manage the transition from early to active labour. However, some women request care for this transition. Design This is a Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology study. Methods Three unstructured interviews were conducted with 15 newly qualified midwives in their first year working in a free-standing birth centre. This paper focuses on the research participants’ lived experience offering care to women in early labour. The study was conducted from 2021-2024. Findings Three themes were revealed in analysis: “Paving the way into labour”: Tailoring care to women's needs in early labour; “Perhaps it was intuition.”: Experiencing deeper knowing as a newly qualified midwife; and “She locked the door and wouldn't let me in.”: Navigating uncomfortable situations in early labour. Conclusions The lived experience of newly qualified midwives offering care in early labour shows potential for midwives to build trusting relationships with women in this phase. Relevance to clinical practice Prioritizing relational care over interventions in early labor can enhance trust and confidence between midwives and birthing women, particularly in settings where policies discourage early admissions. Issue Women presenting in hospital labour wards in early labour who are sent home are often discouraged, feeling that their concerns and embodied experiences have not been heard. What is already known When labouring women are admitted to hospitals in early labour, they are prone to receive a cascade of interventions. What this paper adds When newly qualified midwives began working in free-standing birth centres, they acquired skills and knowledge to accompany women in early labour who requested care. Relational care in early labour builds women's trust in their ability to give birth and does not rely on interventions to augment labour