THE WICKED PROBLEM OF LOW FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN IT: A COLLABORA-TIVE WORKSHOP APPROACH (10)

The decreasing number of young women undertaking IT-related degree programmes and careers has been a worrying trend for the past twenty years. Given that IT has never been more pervasive and accessible, decreasing female participation in the discipline (and the variety of reported causes) presents a ‘wicked problem’ for IT educators and professionals. In this research study, we suggest that the ‘wicked problem’ of low female participation in IT requires a practical, collaborative solution. To make sense of the low take-up of IT careers, we undertook a qualitative, exploratory study of female- only schools in Ireland using a tailored, collaborative workshop approach (#MakeITWork). Study findings indicate that while attitudes towards IT careers are largely outdated, these views can be swiftly changed through a collaborative workshop approach. Overall, this study highlights the need for (i) greater stakeholder collaboration and (ii) better quality information available via novel formats if the entrenched, negative (and often erroneous) perceptions of the IT industry are to be dispelled

Building a Shared Understanding of Female Participation in IT through Collaboration: A Shared Mental Model Approach

Information Technology has never been more pervasive and accessible, yet decreasing female participation in the field (and the variety of reported causes) presents a ‘wicked problem’ for IT educators and professionals. In this article, we suggest that female students’ decision-making is adversely impacted by an inaccurate, shared understanding of IT. Subsequently, the problem of low female participation in IT requires a practical, collaborative solution. Employing an abductive research approach, we undertook a qualitative, exploratory study of female-only schools in Ireland using the #MakeITWork programme. During this multi-phased programme, we conducted (i) focus groups to explore female students’ perception of IT undergraduate degree programmes and careers; (ii) knowledge exchange (KX) sessions to communicate IT degree and career opportunities; and (iii) a survey to assess the efficacy of the approach in changing perceptions. Data analysis revealed that a new accurate shared mental model (SMM) was needed to support female students’ education decisions. This facilitated theory development with respect to female students’ decision to pursue IT education and careers. Study findings indicate that while attitudes towards IT careers are largely outdated, these views can be changed through a collaborative intervention workshop approach. This can be achieved through greater stakeholder collaboration and better quality information available via novel formats

Towards Transformative Analytics for Palliative Care

Models of care for life limiting illnesses are changing. Drivers of this change include an ageing population, increased cancer incidence, and increased palliative care needs in chronic illnesses. Currently, specialist palliative care in the community operates by delivering a “one size fits all” service which is no longer fit for purpose to meet the growing demand while maintaining a holistic approach that meets the needs of patients and their families. To tackle this challenge, we propose an analytics solution to better support new models of specialist palliative care in the community. This article outlines the first step in this research which investigates the state of the art in analytics technology in the home healthcare and palliative care domain. This research supports our understanding of the technology currently available in order to develop a novel solution to enable data-based decision making in a specialist healthcare service

Period poverty: The perceptions and experiences of impoverished women living in an inner-city area of Northwest England.

BackgroundThe menstrual needs of girls and women are important to health, education, and well-being. Unmet need and harm from poor menstrual health in low-and- middle-income countries have been documented, but with little empirical research undertaken in high income countries. Continuing austerity in the UK suggests menstruators are likely more vulnerable to 'period poverty' than previously, with the COVID-19 pandemic assumed to exacerbate the situation.AimTo explore the menstrual experiences and perceptions of women in the UK who are living under circumstances of deprivation, alongside views of staff working in organisations supporting these women, to understand whether women's menstrual needs are met.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted in an inner-city in NW England. Three focus group discussions and 14 in-depth interviews were conducted across three study sites supporting impoverished women. Data was analysed thematically.ResultsThemes were: reflections on menstruation; affordability of products; access to public facilities; organisational support; potential solutions. Many women perceived menstruation as a burden in three aspects: physical discomfort and pain; psychological anxiety; and shame and stigma. Managing menstruation was difficult due to cost relative to low incomes, with food, heating and lighting prioritised, leaving women improvising with materials or wearing products for longer than desired. Most suggested that products should be free, often remarking if men required similar items this would happen. Most women were unaware supporting organisations provided free products. Staff felt the small range of products offered did not meet client needs and were ill-prepared to have conversations on products and clients' menstrual needs.ConclusionImpoverished women lack the necessary resources to manage their menses well which negatively impacts their health and brings stress, embarrassment, and shame. Support, including access to free products, is needed at both local and national level to help impoverished women manage their menstrual hygiene

FES-related tyrosine kinase activates the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor at sites of cell adhesion

IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and integrin cooperative signaling promotes cancer cell survival, proliferation, and motility, but whether this influences cancer progression and therapy responses is largely unknown. Here we investigated the non-receptor tyrosine adhesion kinase FES-related (FER), following its identification as a potential mediator of sensitivity to IGF-1R kinase inhibition in a functional siRNA screen. We found that FER and the IGF-1R co-locate in cells and can be co-immunoprecipitated. Ectopic FER expression strongly enhanced IGF-1R expression and phosphorylation on tyrosines 950 and 1131. FER phosphorylated these sites in an IGF-1R kinase-independent manner and also enhanced IGF-1-mediated phosphorylation of SHC, and activation of either AKT or MAPK-signaling pathways in different cells. The IGF-1R, β1 Integrin, FER, and its substrate cortactin were all observed to co-locate in cell adhesion complexes, the disruption of which reduced IGF-1R expression and activity. High FER expression correlates with phosphorylation of SHC in breast cancer cell lines and with a poor prognosis in patient cohorts. FER and SHC phosphorylation and IGF-1R expression could be suppressed with a known anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor (AP26113) that shows high specificity for FER kinase. Overall, we conclude that FER enhances IGF-1R expression, phosphorylation, and signaling to promote cooperative growth and adhesion signaling that may facilitate cancer progression