Evidence-based programs in children's services: A critical appraisal

Evidence-based programs (EBPs) are increasingly being implemented in children's services agencies in developed countries. However, this trend is meeting resistance from some researchers, policy makers and practitioners. In this article we appraise the main critiques, focusing on scientific, ideological, cultural, organizational and professional arguments. We contend that some of the resistance stems from misconceptions or an oversimplification of issues, while others represent valid concerns that need to be addressed by proponents of EBPs. We set out implications for the development and evaluation of programs and how they are introduced into service systems, and conclude with broader recommendations for children's services. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Mathematical models of magnetospheric convection and its coupling to the ionosphere

Mathematical models of magnetospheric convection and its coupling to ionospher

Working with parents to support children's learning

This is the final version. freely available from the Education Endowment Foundation via the link in this recordThis guidance report aims to help schools considering how they can work with parents and carers to improve children’s learning.* Schools work with parents and families in many ways and with a range of aims, for example, to involve parents in school decisionmaking, to be proactive about safeguarding, and to engender relationships of trust and respect between school and home. In this report, we focus mostly on activities that aim to improve children’s learning directly. So, when we refer to ‘parental engagement’ we mean ‘schools working with parents to improve children’s academic outcomes’. This guidance report draws on a recent review of the evidence about parental engagement in children’s learning funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). It is not a new study in itself, but rather is intended as an accessible overview of existing research with clear, actionable guidance. The guidance also draws on a wider body of evidence and expert input. Relative to other areas in which the EEF has produced guidance to date, for example related to literacy, there is, as yet, less rigorous evidence for what constitutes effective parental engagement in children’s learning, so an over-arching message for schools is to plan and monitor their work in this area carefully. In addition to the evidence review, the EEF commissioned a survey of what schools in England are currently doing to engage parents in children’s learning. This information is used to provide context for the recommendations, and to identify where there are gaps between current practice and the evidence. More information about the review and how it was produced is provided at the end of this guidance report. Some key references are included for those wishing to explore the subject in more depth. The full evidence review and research on current practices that underpin this guidance will be published separately, and will contain a more comprehensive reference section.Education Endowment Fun

Autistic adults’ experiences of managing wellbeing and implications for social prescribing

doi: 10.1080/09687599.2023.2263628Autistic people demonstrate poor outcomes on objective measures of wellbeing, yet research centring lived experience provides a more nuanced picture. There is growing support for person-centred, holistic and community approaches to enhancing wellbeing for autistic people. Social prescribing may be one such approach. This qualitative study explored the concept of wellbeing for autistic adults – including barriers and self-management – and the implications of this for modifying social prescribing. It involved semi-structured interviews with 21 autistic adults in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis of the data supports research suggesting that self-determination may underlie many aspects of wellbeing for autistic people. The COVID-19 pandemic provided new opportunities to develop wellbeing strategies but also had negative impacts. Social prescribing could promote self-determination by signposting autistic people to peer support opportunities building on intrinsic interests

Perfect Bedfellows: Why Early Intervention Can Play a Critical Role in Protecting Children—A Response to Featherstone et al. (2014) ‘A Marriage Made in Hell: Child Protection Meets Early Intervention’

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from OUP via the DOI in this record.In their article ‘A marriage made in hell: Child protection meets early intervention’, Featherstone et al. (2014) question the value of early intervention in preventing or addressing early signs of child maltreatment. In this article, we summarise and critique their main contentions. Among the issues we cover are the difference between intervention and support, the tension between fidelity and flexibility, the relative value of randomised controlled trials, the evidence of ‘what works’, the use of neuroscience, the place of innovation and the role of wider socio-economic factors. We are sympathetic to many of the points raised by Featherstone et al. but argue that they misrepresent early intervention, provide insufficient empirical support for their case and ignore evidence that runs counter to their views. We outline an alternative vision for child protection that addresses many of the concerns expressed while incorporating high-quality evidence on early intervention.Vashti Berry's time is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula

Index

The interest in relativistic beam-plasma instabilities has been greatly rejuvenated over the past two decades by novel concepts in laboratory and space plasmas. Recent advances in this long-standing field are here reviewed from both theoretical and numerical points of view. The primary focus is on the two-dimensional spectrum of unstable electromagnetic waves growing within relativistic, unmagnetized, and uniform electron beam-plasma systems. Although the goal is to provide a unified picture of all instability classes at play, emphasis is put on the potentially dominant waves propagating obliquely to the beam direction, which have received little attention over the years. First, the basic derivation of the general dielectric function of a kinetic relativistic plasma is recalled. Next, an overview of two-dimensional unstable spectra associated with various beam-plasma distribution functions is given. Both cold-fluid and kinetic linear theory results are reported, the latter being based on waterbag and Maxwell–Jüttner model distributions. The main properties of the competing modes (developing parallel, transverse, and oblique to the beam) are given, and their respective region of dominance in the system parameter space is explained. Later sections address particle-in-cell numerical simulations and the nonlinear evolution of multidimensional beam-plasma systems. The elementary structures generated by the various instability classes are first discussed in the case of reduced-geometry systems. Validation of linear theory is then illustrated in detail for large-scale systems, as is the multistaged character of the nonlinear phase. Finally, a collection of closely related beam-plasma problems involving additional physical effects is presented, and worthwhile directions of future research are outlined.Original Publication: Antoine Bret, Laurent Gremillet and Mark Eric Dieckmann, Multidimensional electron beam-plasma instabilities in the relativistic regime, 2010, Physics of Plasmas, (17), 12, 120501-1-120501-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3514586 Copyright: American Institute of Physics http://www.aip.org/</p

Treatment of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with yttrium-90 radioembolization: a systematic review and pooled analysis.

Radioembolization with yttrium-90 microspheres offers an alternative treatment option for patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). However, the rarity and heterogeneity of ICC makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions about treatment efficacy. Therefore, the goal of the current study is to systematically review the existing literature surrounding treatment of unresectable ICCs with yttrium-90 microspheres and provide a comprehensive review of the current experience and clinical outcome of this treatment modality. We performed a comprehensive search of electronic databases for ICC treatment and identified 12 studies with relevant data regarding radioembolization therapy with yttrium-90 microspheres. Based on pooled analysis, the overall weighted median survival was 15.5 months. Tumour response based on radiological studies demonstrated a partial response in 28% and stable disease in 54% of patients at three months. Seven patients were able to be downstaged to surgical resection. The complication profile of radioembolization is similar to that of other intra-arterial treatment modalities. Overall survival of patients with ICC after treatment with yttrium-90 microspheres is higher than historical survival rates and shows similar survival to those patients treated with systemic chemotherapy and/or trans-arterial chemoembolization therapy. Therefore, the use of yttrium-90 microspheres should be considered in the list of available treatment options for ICC. However, future randomized trials comparing systemic chemotherapy, TACE and local radiation will be required to identify the optimal treatment modality for unresectable ICC.S-S Liau is in receipt of the MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship. He is also funded by University of Cambridge Parke-Davis Fellowship, Royal Society of Medicine Ellison-Cliffe Fellowship, Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Fellowship, HCA International Foundation Fellowship, European Society of Surgical Oncology Minor Fellowship, and MRC Centenary Early Career Award.This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074879831401097X#

Diffusive Shock Acceleration with Magnetic Amplification by Non-resonant Streaming Instability in SNRs

We investigate the diffusive shock acceleration in the presence of the non-resonant streaming instability introduced by Bell (2004). The numerical MHD simulations of the magnetic field amplification combined with the analytical treatment of cosmic ray acceleration permit us to calculate the maximum energy of particles accelerated by high-velocity supernova shocks. The estimates for Cas A, Kepler, SN1006, and Tycho historical supernova remnants are given. We also found that the amplified magnetic field is preferentially oriented perpendicular to the shock front downstream of the fast shock. This explains the origin of the radial magnetic fields observed in young supernova remnants.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, accepted to Ap