Sustainable Pedagogy in Early Childhood and Beyond

The seminar will consider how adults and children are preparing to manage sustainability in the 21st Century. UNESCO (2017) reminds us of the urgency of the current planetary situation. Gunther and colleagues (2024) stress the need for children to have the capacity and ability to question and be critically open to acquiring new knowledge. Sustainable Pedagogy promotes a children’s rights-based philosophy led from practice

Exploring UK fathers' help-seeking for Paternal Postnatal Depression

Background: Men’s help-seeking is known to be restricted by stigma, but less is known about their seeking for paternal postnatal depression (PND) specifically. Fathers are not routinely screened for PND. Aims: This study explored fathers’ help-seeking processes for paternal PND, including their motivators and perceived barriers. Method: Eight fathers from the United Kingdom who self-identified as suffering from PND took part in semi structured interviews. Interview data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: PND was not recognised as affecting fathers. Fathers felt their needs were minimal in comparison to mothers and did not want to ask for support from professionals. Help-seeking was usually with their GP (family doctor). Some were offered anti-depressant medication, disappointing them and believing this approach unsuited to their emotional experiences to fatherhood. Instead, they wanted therapy and parenting support, and to be aware of consequences of disclosure. Whilst health visitors (maternal, child and family nurses) visited the home, fathers perceived they were attending to the mother, and feared disclosing their own mental health difficulties, fearing this would result in removal of the child and breakup of the family. Some Help-seeking was initiated by their partners. Overall, fathers wanted a safe space where they are asked away from their partners, with time to talk. Conclusion: Fathers may need sensitive and confidential professional support after the birth of their child. Professionals should routinely ask fathers about their well-being, whilst health visitors should reassure fathers that they are there to support them as well as the mother, allaying suspicions among men disclosing mental health difficulties could destabilise the family unit Implications: Current policies and working patterns in the UK disadvantage fathers and leave their needs invisible. Investment in a universal support system, and training of professionals in the needs of fathers with mental health difficulties is needed

From science to storytelling: Advancing a climate knowledge–action framework through reflections on youth-focused, participatory action research in Vietnam

Climate change presents urgent global challenges that demand swift and transformative responses. However, current efforts often fall short, revealing a crisis not only of environmental concern but also of social action. Responses to this have included climate change and sustainability education and communication, though these have tended to be knowledge-heavy, operating under outdated knowledge deficit-based assumptions that merely providing more information will drive action. Such responses and assumptions have also privileged scientific knowledge while overlooking diverse epistemologies and ways of knowing. This paper challenges these assumptions and puts forward a redefining of what it means to ‘know’ and ‘act’ on climate change. Within this, we propose integrating diverse knowledge systems, embracing both scientific and historically marginalised local knowledges, including indigenous, youth-led, experiential, emotional and affective perspectives. Importantly, we also propose a novel way to operationalise this democratically through utilising participatory action research and creative storytelling. Drawing upon our international collaboration with youth in three provinces along the Red River Catchment in northern Vietnam in 2022, a region facing significant climate challenges and injustices, we illustrate the potential of this research approach to bridge the knowledge–action gap. We conclude by introducing our holistic CLIMATE Knowledge Framework that encapsulates this pluralistic and democratic view of knowledge co-creation. This framework serves as a set of guiding principles for educators, researchers and policymakers to advance a more democratic, critically engaged, justice-framed and action-oriented paradigm, facilitating the envisioning and implementation of tangible solutions

Sequence Outlier Detection and Application of Gated Recurrent Unit Autoencoder Gaussian Mixture Model Based on Various Loss Optimization

In the era of big data, detecting outliers in time series data is crucial, particularly in fields such as finance and engineering. This article proposes a novel sequence outlier detection method based on the gated recurrent unit autoencoder with Gaussian mixture model (GRU-AE-GMM), which combines gated recurrent unit (GRU), autoencoder (AE), Gaussian mixture model (GMM), and optimization algorithms. The GRU captures long-term dependencies within the sequence, while the AE measures sequence abnormality. Meanwhile, the GMM models the relationship between the original and reconstructed sequences, employing the Expectation–Maximization (EM) algorithm for parameter estimation to calculate the likelihood of each hidden variable belonging to each Gaussian mixture component. In this article, we first train the model with mean-squared error loss (MSEL), and then further enhanced by substituting it with quantile loss (QL), composite quantile loss (CQL), and Huber loss (HL), respectively. Next, we validate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed model through Monte Carlo experiments conducted under different error terms. Finally, the method is applied to Amazon stock data for 2022, demonstrating its significant potential for application in dynamic and unpredictable market environments

The impact of impact: an invitation to philosophise

This position paper argues for the introduction of a philosophy of research impact, as an invitation to think deeply about the implications of the impact agenda. It delves into the transformative influence of prioritising the end-product of the research journey over the entire knowledge production process. We argue that the prevalence of research impact assessment in Western research ecosystems has reshaped various facets of research, extending from funding proposals to the overarching goals of research agendas, assessment regimes and promotion structures. Through self-reflective analysis, this position paper critically assesses the consequences of this paradigm shift. Utilising perspectives from the UK, Poland, Sweden, and Finland, we explore tensions, conflicts, opportunities, and viabilities arising from such a shift in the teleological purpose of research. This selection of countries offers a spectrum, ranging from early adopters of impact assessment regimes to those where such evaluation is largely absent as of now, and its intermediaries. Moreover, our examination extends across different disciplinary foci, including allied health, business and management studies, earth science, human geography, and history. Our findings suggest a discernible alteration in the fundamental logic of research, where the focus shifts from checks and balances geared towards the advancement of knowledge, towards other supposedly more important goals. Here research is merely cast as an instrumental means to achieve broader societal, political, economic, environmental (etc.) goals. Additionally, we observe that as the formalisation of research impact evaluation intensifies, there are diminishing degrees of freedom for scholars to challenge contemporary power structures and to think innovatively within their research ecosystem

How do patient information documents present dialysis and conservative kidney management? A document analysis

Background Most older people with advanced kidney disease face a decision between conservative kidney management (CKM) or dialysis and must weigh their potential benefits, risks and impacts on quality and length of life. Patient information documents are designed to supplement patients' understanding of their kidney disease and explain treatment options to support decision-making. We aimed to explore how patient information documents frame the treatment options of CKM and dialysis and consider implications for patients' treatment choice. Methods We conducted a qualitative document analysis of patient information documents collected from four UK renal outpatient departments with variation in rates of CKM for people ≥75 years of age. Data were analysed using critical discourse analysis. Results Three global themes were identified: 1) Treatment options are not presented equally: Dialysis was constructed as the assumed patient choice. CKM was often omitted as an option; when included, it was always mentioned last and was typically constructed negatively. 2) Deciding is challenging: Treatment decision-making, particularly choosing CKM, was portrayed as a challenge requiring emotional support, with clinicians the ultimate decision-maker. 3) Dialysis is living, CKM is dying: Patient information documents presented patients as living with one treatment option choice (dialysis) and dying with another (CKM). Advance care planning, palliative care and information about dying were presented only in the context of CKM, implying these were irrelevant topics for people choosing dialysis. Conclusions Patient information documents presented unbalanced explanations of dialysis and CKM. Dialysis was framed as 'treatment' and possible complications were minimized. CKM was framed as 'non-treatment' and linked to advance care planning, palliative care and death. Inaccurate framing of both CKM and dialysis may mean patients exclude treatment options that may be more concordant with their goals, values and preferences

The influence of moisture on pyroclastic density current dynamics and deposits: implications for understanding volcanic stratigraphy

Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs) are hazardous, multiphase currents of heterogeneous volcanic material and fluid. Moisture can enter a PDC system through internal (e.g., pre-eruptive) or through external processes during transport. Prior to this thesis, the impact of moisture on PDC systems has been largely overlooked, and the role of moisture on PDC behaviour, properties of pyroclastic materials and the resulting depositional architecture formed during PDC-forming eruptions has not been addressed. The work outlined in this thesis utilises geomechanical, geotechnical and analogue models alongside fieldwork observations to gain a better insight into the role and behaviour of moisture in PDC systems.This work demonstrates that the addition of moisture into pyroclastic material alters the angle of repose, cohesion, and shear strength. This changes material properties from flowable to non-flowable and impacts the fluidisation profiles and gas escape structures formed. Further investigation of pyroclastic material using geotechnical equipment has shown that shear strength increases at low moisture contents and shear thickening behaviours occur at high moisture contents. This indicates that moisture-rich layers are more likely to resist shearing and be preserved in volcanic successions.Characterisation of PDC deposits in Tenerife have revealed distinct erosional and remobilisation behaviours of flow-unit ash layers that are associated with varying moisture conditions. Additionally, experiments utilising a fluidised flume, and the sectioning of a ballotini current and substrate in gelatine, have allowed internal features to be observed. The addition of moisture to the substrate effectively suppressed erosion, remobilisation, and the formation of various features within the substrate.These results are crucial for understanding flow unit architecture and estimating the frequency of PDC emplacement units during explosive eruptions. A greater understanding of PDC deposits and the processes that formed them is essential for improving our interpretation of current conditions and deposit formation which isessential for future hazard assessments

“Chained to the bed”: Despairing, depressed, and trapped by fatherhood

Postnatal depression is routinely diagnosed in mothers, with an array of support available from healthcare professionals. Conversely, it is often not recognized as a condition affecting fathers, despite evidence suggesting that prevalences are similar. This study focused on the lived experiences of eight UK fathers with postnatal depression and identified a common sense of being trapped, needing to escape but being unable to. The role of fatherhood and its associated cultural expectations forced a situation where fathers must stay and survive, despite being miserable and experiencing intense despair. Fathers knew what was expected of them-they were aware of the need to be a “breadwinner” but at the same time knew their partners needed support at home. Struggling to achieve resulted in them feeling like failures. Fathers described being under a “dark cloud”, or in a “dark hole”, with depression being all consuming and impeding their functioning. One father described being “chained to the bed” and unable to attend to his infant at night. Despite the impact depression had on them, some fathers were reluctant to seek help. They rejected antidepressant medication. Work and the gym provided them some space just to “be”, and allowed them to escape the pressures of home life in a legitimate way. Some fathers were suicidal and unable to see a way out of their darkness. Fathers wanted to develop attachments to their infants and be happy. Support is needed for fathers’ mental health

Machine learning identifies waist-height ratio (WHtR) as the strongest determinant of diabetes and prediabetes in children and adolescents: A comprehensive national nutrition survey

Background: Given the increasing incidence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the adolescent population in India, it is essential to identify the risk factors associated with these conditions. Understanding the risk factors associated with prediabetes and T2D can lead to timely interventions to prevent and potentially avert long-term health complications. Objective: This study aims to use machine learning algorithms to identify the best anthropometric and demographic characteristics associated with prediabetes and diabetes in Indian children and adolescents ages 10–19. Methods: The study utilizes the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2016–2018 in India. The study sample includes children and adolescents aged 10–19 years. We used nine supervised machine learning algorithms to classify, assess, and identify the best model for ascertaining the risk of diabetes among adolescents in India. Various indices were used to evaluate the classification algorithms, such as the ‘accuracy score’, ‘F1 score’, ‘recall score’, ‘precision score’, and ‘area under the curve’ (i.e., AUC). Results were obtained based on the model with higher precision and accuracy in predicting the risk of diabetes among study subjects. Cutoff points for prediabetes were between 5.7 and 6.4 mmol/l and diabetes greater than 6.4 mmol/l. Results: The study comprised 12,318 children and adolescents (6333 males and 5985 females). The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in the study population was 11% (n = 1888), while the prevalence of diabetes alone was 0.6% (n = 233). WHtR was the most crucial feature in predicting prediabetes/diabetes, with an optimum cutoff of 0.62, a sensitivity of 0.93, and an AUC of 0.79. Conclusions: The findings derived from our machine learning analysis underscore the significance of WHtR as a cost-effective and valuable tool for diabetes and prediabetes screening among adolescents in India