Whole Child Development Mapping Project in Western Europe and North America: The UK (1)

Visualization 1 Originally published in Optics Express on 28 November 2016 (oe-24-24-27785

Multidisciplinary perspectives on the history of human interactions with life in the ocean

Abstract There is an essentially circular interaction between the human social system and the marine ecosystem. The Oceans Past V Conference “Multidisciplinary perspectives on the history of human interactions with life in the ocean” held in Tallinn, Estonia, in May 2015 was an opportunity for the presentation and discussion of papers on a diverse array of topics that examined this socio-ecological system from a historical perspective. Here we provide background to the disciplines participating in the conference and to the conference itself. We summarize the conference papers that appear in this special volume of the ICES JMS and highlight issues which arose during general discussion. We make two conclusions. First, to have greater impact and ensure more efficient use of knowledge gained from marine historical ecology (MHE) and marine environmental history (MEH) in ecosystem-based management and related policy development, practitioners need to work more routinely with population and ecological modellers and statisticians. This will allow greater processing of the available historical data to derive ecologically meaningful properties that can then be used to assess the ecological impact of long-term changes of affected species and define appropriate and realistic management targets. Second, increased multi- and trans-disciplinary effort is required to better understand the relative importance of different human demographic, technological, economic, and cultural drivers on the patterns, intensities and trajectories of human activities affecting marine ecosystems.</jats:p

Sex Education: Challenges and Choices

Noting public concern about sexual exploitation, abuse and sexualisation, we argue that sex education in the UK needs revision. Choice is a feature of current sex education policy and, acknowledging that choice can be problematic, we defend its place in an approach to sex education premised on informed deliberation, relational autonomy, a particular view of personhood and moral literacy. We argue, however, that choice and the approach outlined must be located in the realities of young people’s lives

A Success Story? Delivering the Vision for Catalyst

In a bold and unprecedented move by the University, a new building, housing Library and Learning Services, Student Services and Careers was agreed by the University’s Board of Governors at their November 2016 meeting. At an initial cost of £26m it represents the largest single investment in a new building project by the University. This was a project to create an inspiring building and ‘provide an intellectually stimulating, creative and inclusive environment for [the university’s] community’. Whilst being highly student-focused, it was designed as a facility for the entire Edge Hill community including researchers, staff, alumni, and external visitors. Its proposed location at a central point of arrival on campus, would make a statement not only about the importance of the student experience, but also act as a reference point to the institution’s heritage of female empowerment with a ‘suffragette garden’ and spaces designed for outdoor public speaking and performances. The decision to co-locate Services was seen as a progressive and sustainable initiative, creating efficiencies of space and resources, and enabling the delivery of a converged front-line service with 24 hour opening. Arranged over 4 floors, the 8000sqm building was designed to accommodate and deliver, all enquiries, advice and support related to residential and on campus accommodation and campus life; pastoral support for care leavers, well-being, counselling, money advice and chaplaincy; academic support for library users, academic skills and research support; disability support; transitions between years and for those seeking careers advice, volunteering, graduate employment and part-time work. A complementary staff facing suite of services comprise advice for effective use of learning technologies, library resources and web based services. The construction of the building began in July 2017 and the first staff members moved into their new offices in June 2018, with the building and its services fully operational in September 2018. This case study will summarise key decisions made during the construction phase, including the development of a vision for the building and will reflect on the extent to which goals identified pre- entry have been realised during the first year of occupancy

Prescription for change: medical undergraduates' perceptions of learning in traditional and problem-based courses

Abstract available: p. [3

Near infrared spectroscopy for the assessment of peripheral tissue oxygenation in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterised by increased pulmonary vascular resistance and results in increased morbidity and mortality due to right heart failure and a progressive decline in cardiac output [1, 2]. The latter disturbs oxygen delivery to the periphery and may lead to pathological changes in tissue oxygenation. The balance between global oxygen supply and demand is reflected in mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), an index that is generally reduced in patients with PAH [3]. SvO2 at baseline is one of the strongest predictors of survival in PAH [4–6]; this is also true for changes in SvO2 during follow-up [5]. Cut-off values of 60% [7] and 65% [5] have been used to distinguish between prognostic groups suggesting that these may be suitable treatment goals. SvO2 is measured invasively in the pulmonary artery, where venous blood mixes after circulating through the superior and inferior vena cava, coronary sinuses and the right-heart chambers

A first year course co-ordinators network: a targeted approach to academic development

In this paper we present the background, aims and rationale for establishing a First Year Course Co-ordinators’ Network (FYCCN) at the University of Glasgow. This is followed by an explanation of how themes that emerged from discussions with network members were used to inform the content of subsequent meetings. We present evaluation findings of the impact of the FYCCN, where feedback highlighted the value of the network to first year co-ordinators in terms of meeting others with a similar role and sharing practice. Feedback also identified that some co-ordinators’ need more administrative support in their role. Discussion focuses on the benefits of the FYCCN as a form of academic development that targets participants on the basis of shared academic tasks rather than their level of experience or discipline

Postdigital research:Genealogies, challenges, and future perspectives

Since the inception of Postdigital Science and Education journal and book series, postdigital scholarship has experienced rapid growth. However, implications of postdigital research (methods) have remained unclear. What does it mean to conduct postdigital research? What are the main challenges and opportunities of postdigital research? And, probably most importantly, what are its perspectives for the future? This essay outlines genealogies, challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives of postdigital research. It offers our understanding of main developments in the field and serves as a supplement to the call for papers for our edited book on postdigital research forthcoming in Postdigital Science and Education book series. <br/

Exercise pathophysiology and exercise therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an incurable disorder of the pulmonary circulation, characterised by progressive vascular remodelling, vasoconstriction and increased right ventricular afterload. The direct consequence of this is impaired cardiac output, initially in response to exercise and in later stages of the disease at rest. Progressive exercise limitation is the cardinal clinical feature and ultimately premature death from right heart failure ensues. Available disease targeted treatments slow progression, however, PAH remains incurable with a high symptom burden and prognosis remains poor. Lung transplantation provides the only hope of cure. A small proportion of patients are eligible and fit enough for transplantation, notwithstanding the availability of suitable donor lungs and associated post-transplant morbidity in those who survive. Current drug therapy is expensive and is limited to three classes of pulmonary arterial vasodilator. The most effective form of treatment, epoprostenol, is invasive, requiring central venous access and significantly impacts on quality of life despite the associated improvements in exercise capacity. The abnormalities in the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation are well established in PH. More recent evidence has highlighted multi-system abnormalities in PH patients, with muscle dysfunction from a clinical to cellular level, systemic inflammation and insulin resistance. It is unclear whether these changes are a result of the atrophying effects of low cardiac output, or a systemic process associated with PH but independent from cardiac function. Historically exercise had been avoided in PAH, however recent evidence suggests it provides significant benefit in terms of exercise capacity and quality of life. Exercise is an attractive therapeutic option for many reasons. With established infrastructure, it is cost effective, sustainable and provides wide-ranging benefits out with the pulmonary circulation, such as reduced risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and improved mental health. The exercise programmes studied in PAH have been wide ranging in terms of the approach used and have shown variable degrees of success. The most successful programmes have employed fairly intensive exercise regimens and many countries do not have the resource or infrastructure to adopt this approach. The role of exercise therapy in PAH and the mechanisms by which it exerts a beneficial effect remain poorly understood. It is also unclear what the best outcome measure is to determine the efficacy of exercise-based interventions in PAH. The feasibility of intensive exercise therapy in countries where residential exercise programmes are not robustly established remains untested. The aims of this thesis are • To establish the population demand, feasibility and safety of PH specific exercise therapy in a UK pre-capillary PH population. • To explore potential physiological and biological mechanisms behind the improvements seen in exercise capacity in order to gain a greater understanding of the disease process. • Identify key components of the exercise programme to allow recommendations for effective PAH exercise prescriptions moving forwards. To address the aims of the thesis, three studies were performed. The first two studies were precursors to the main study discussed in chapters 5 to 9: 1. “Assessing the demand for exercise therapy in a Scottish PAH population” (Chapter 2): 2. “The ventilatory, gas exchange and haemodynamic response to upright and supine exercise”, (Chapter 3), 3. “The effect of adding exercise training to optimal drug therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension”. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to exercise physiology in PAH and describes the current state of knowledge regarding exercise therapy in PAH Chapter 2 describes the current standard of care for patients with PAH in Scotland and the demand for exercise therapy in the Scottish PAH population. From this data, it is clear that there is significant enthusiasm for exercise rehabilitation in PAH. Potential barriers to its uptake or implementation were explored and these included employment, carers commitments and proximity to the exercise venue. In Chapter 3, the ventilatory, gas exchange and haemodyanamic responses to upright and supine exercise are discussed in order to determine the degree to which exercise capacity is reduced in the supine position and the physiological changes that accompany this. This information was used to help design the protocol used for supine endurance exercise with invasive haemodynamic measurements, discussed in Chapter 7. From this data, it is clear that exercise capacity is significantly reduced in the supine position, this appeared to be due to changes in ventilatory efficiency and was associated with significant alterations in the stroke volume – heart rate response to exercise. Chapter 4 outlines the study protocol and exercise intervention for the main study in this thesis “The effect of adding exercise training to optimal drug therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension”. Chapter 5 describes the overall efficacy of exercise therapy in PAH in relation to the primary outcome measures of the study “The effect of adding exercise training to optimal drug therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension”; specifically, 6 minute walk distance (6MWD), quality of life and right ventricular ejection fraction. Analysis of potential “responders” and “non-responders” and factors associated with poorer prognosis are discussed in an exploratory post-hoc analysis. Chapters 6 to 9 adopt a systems-based approach to describe the physiological and pathobiological changes that are present in the studied PAH cohort and the factors that change with exercise therapy. Each chapter discusses the specific relationship with responders and non-responders to exercise therapy in more detail. The specific methods used to assess each system are discussed in the individual chapters and the overall protocol for the exercise therapy is discussed in Chapter 2. Chapter 6 discusses the impact of exercise therapy on lung function, looking at cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), pulmonary function tests and mouth pressures. The sensitivity of different exercise outcome measures are also explored including cycling endurance time, 6MWD, and incremental CPET. Chapter 7 investigates invasive haemodynamic responses to exercise therapy using both resting and exercise right heart catheterisation. A steady state exercise protocol is used to assess serial measurements of haemodyamics and oxygen extraction throughout exercise. In Chapter 8, a non-invasive approach to assessing cardiac status before, during and after exercise therapy is investigated using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP). These changes are correlated with invasive haemodynamic markers. Chapter 9 discusses the impact of exercise therapy on muscle function, metabolism and levels of systemic inflammation. Serum and muscle biomarkers are explored to provide pilot data on potential mechanisms for PAH myopathy and how it may be reversed. Collectively these chapters demonstrate improved exercise capacity and quality of life in response to exercise therapy in PAH. This is associated with improved ventilatory efficiency and cardiovascular function, with changes being linked to prognosis. Potential mechanisms behind these improvements are explored and include the reversal of deconditioning, lung recruitment, improved vascular endothelial health, reduced atrial stretch and reduced hyperventilation. Chapter 10 outlines the major findings and conclusions of this research and future research avenues to be explored

Teacher-trainee Perceptions of Coeducation in a Microteaching Context in the Sultanate of Oman

Since 1970, the Sultanate of Oman has undergone rapid development, modernisation and educational reform within which a policy of coeducation has been introduced in grades 1 to 4, cycle 1, Basic Education schools and in most state-run and private higher education institutions. Situated within a coeducational tertiary college, a critical interpretive case study was conducted on 25 male and 85 female third-year English teacher trainees. Informed by a social-constructionist framework this study seeks to understand their perceptions of coeducation in the microteaching component of their initial teacher education programme. This study also provides a platform for the voices of these teacher trainees to be heard. Due to the accepted and practiced large-culture norms discouraging male and female interaction between non-family members in the Arabian Gulf, it was found that the coeducational microteaching classes are sites of struggle through which, drawing on the work of Barkhuizen (1998), six perceptions emerged: sustainments, emotions, predictions, reflections, evaluations and transformations, represented by the acronym, SEPRET. While there is only a slight difference in their perceptions of coeducational microteaching, the male and female trainees are both fostering stereotypical gender roles through which small cultures of ‘romance’ and ‘laddishness’ are being perpetuated. As a result of coeducation, they are experiencing a negative ‘mirror’-effect where they are masking, inhibiting, and repositioning aspects of their performance, participation and identities. The large- and small-culture constructs of Holliday (1999) are evidenced inside and outside the coeducational microteaching classroom walls and a new model of learner actions on their perceptions of coeducation is presented. The study ends with the voices of the teacher trainees calling upon the powers that be to understand their behaviour and recommends single-gender rather than coeducational microteaching spaces in this particular Omani initial teacher education context