A-level Food: The gap that remains: A research project on the impact of removing post 16 A-Level examinations for Home Economics and Food Technology in schools in England in 2016

This research project examines the impact of removing post 16 A-level examinations for Home Economics and Food Technology in schools in England from 2016. This research explores teachers’ experiences from 2016-2020, specifically their views on the progression pathway for those students who wish to pursue further study and employment opportunities in the food sector and other relevant occupations. Schools offer non-A-level courses less frequently as there is uncertainty around course equivalence, and this has resulted in an overall reduction in the numbers studying post 16 food courses. Level 3 qualifications are now focused solely on the hospitality and catering sector with only one applied general qualification.  Opportunities for broader areas of study that encompass food science, nutrition and dietetics and food technology have been removed. This has meant that now fewer students access broader career pathways and interests crucially at a time when the UK requires vast numbers of highly skilled postgraduate recruits for the food sector. Teachers made a strong case for why a new A-level course should be developed

Slow down: how to stop spinning at KS3

Rotational or ‘carousel’ models, where pupils move to new material areas and teachers once or twice a term, dominate the organisation of the Design and Technology Key Stage 3 curriculum in England. This dominance has been maintained in the face of a great deal of concern expressed about the negative effects of such models on the quality of teaching and learning and in spite of the long term availability of various alternative models. This paper describes a small-scale study of D&T departments where models other than simple rotation through different material areas have been attempted at KS3. The aim of the study was to find out what had motivated some schools to go against the dominant trend of rotational models at KS3 and to elicit from these schools details of their experience with alternative curriculum structures. The study indicates that schools are successfully adopting a range of non-rotational courses at KS3. Most of the schools claim that the adoption of new structures has led to improved KS3 results and success at recruitment to GCSE programs in the face of the new optional status of D&T at GCSE. Schools also claim improvements in pupils’ perception of D&T as a subject as opposed to disparate material areas and a reduction in sex stereotyped views of the material areas. The obvious objections to non-rotational courses circle around issues of teacher specialism. The schools in this study show that these objections are surmountable; D&T teachers do have the professional capability to extend their repertoire of skills and pupils benefit from their doing so

The future for Advanced level

There is an increasingly diverse group of students opting for at Advanced level work in design and technology and GNVQ Manufacturing. Broadening the range of students means, in particular, that more academically successful ones are joining manufacturing and design and technology courses, increasing the demand on teachers for versatility. This article begins by considering how to offer appropriate courses for academically successful students, and the teaching and learning styles to which such students respond

Public self-consciousness, pre-loading and drinking harms among university students

Background: Social anxiety and self-consciousness are associated with alcohol-related problems in students. The practice of pre-loading is one avenue for exploration regarding this relationship. Individuals may pre-load to reduce social anxiety and feel more confident when socialising, which could lead to the increased harms experienced. The current study aimed to explore reasons for pre-loading, and whether public and private self-consciousness and social anxiety were related to pre-loading, increased drinking and harms. Method: Prospective study with four-week follow up of 325 UK students aged 18-30 years old. Participants completed measures of private and public self-consciousness, social anxiety, alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms and pre-loading. Results: Financial motives and mood-related reasons, such as gaining confidence were reported as reasons for pre-loading. Pre-loading predicted hazardous alcohol consumption, but social anxiety, and public and private self-consciousness did not. However, pre-loading, public self-consciousness and social anxiety predicted alcohol-related harms. Furthermore, public self-consciousness mediated the relationship between pre-loading and harms in a positive direction and this appeared to be more relevant in high risk (AUDIT 8+) than low risk drinkers. Conclusion: Students who scored higher in public self-consciousness appeared to be at greater risk of harms from pre-loading. Further research should examine this relationship further with particular attention to high risk drinkers, and explore which aspects of a night out are related to heightened self-consciousness. Interventions could incorporate measures to reduce public self-consciousness, in order to reduce the negative impacts of pre-loading

AMO perspectives on the well-being of neurodivergent human capital

Purpose: Existing management research and management practices frequently overlook the relationship between the above-average human capital of highly functioning neurodivergent employees, their subjective well-being in the workplace and performance outcomes. This paper calls for greater attention to the hidden human capital associated with neurodiversity by mainstreaming implementation of neurodiversity-friendly policies and practices. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on the ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) framework, this conceptual paper integrates research on employee neurodiversity and well-being to provide a model of HR-systems level and human capital development policies, systems and practices for neurodivergent minorities in the workplace. Findings: This paper illustrates that workplace neurodiversity, like biodiversity, is a natural phenomenon. For subjective individual psychological and organisational well-being, neurodivergent employees require an empathetic culture and innovative talent management approaches that respect cognitive differences. Practical implications: The case is made for neurodivergent human capital development and policy-makers to promote inclusive employment and decent work in a context of relatively high unemployment for neurodivergent individuals. Originality/value: This paper extends current debates on organisational equality, diversity and inclusion to a consideration of workplace well-being for highly functioning neurodivergent workers. It calls for more equitable and empathetic approaches to investing in employees with neurodevelopmental and cognitive disabilities

Approaches to teaching pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties in design and technology

The DfES defines pupils with Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESDs) as people who are: ‘Withdrawn or isolated, disruptive and disturbing, hyperactive and lack concentration; those with immature social skills; and those presenting challenging behaviours arising from other complex special needs.’ (DfES 2001: 58). This definition encompasses a very broad range of children with diverse needs. However, there are common approaches that can be used to meet the needs of these children in design and technology (D&T). Traditionally design and technology has been a particularly popular subject for pupils displaying BESDs. There has been little research as to why this should be. This paper explores practice in D&T by making reference to case study material collected from four schools. The case studies were commissioned by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) for dissemination via the NCaction website (a searchable resource for schools that illustrates how the National Curriculum works in practice). The case studies considered activity undertaken by pupils working in resistant materials, food technology and CAD/CAM. The case studies highlighted the use, by teachers of pupils with BESDs, of common approaches including group work, raising self esteem, the use of rewards and challenge, relevance and using IC

Safety Recommendations for Evaluation and Surgery of the Head and Neck During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Importance The rapidly expanding novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has challenged the medical community to an unprecedented degree. Physicians and health care workers are at added risk of exposure and infection during the course of patient care. Because of the rapid spread of this disease through respiratory droplets, health care workers who come in close contact with the upper aerodigestive tract during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as otolaryngologists–head and neck surgeons, are particularly at risk. A set of safety recommendations was created based on a review of the literature and communications with physicians with firsthand knowledge of safety procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Observations A high number of health care workers were infected during the first phase of the pandemic in the city of Wuhan, China. Subsequently, by adopting strict safety precautions, other regions were able to achieve high levels of safety for health care workers without jeopardizing the care of patients. The most common procedures related to the examination and treatment of upper aerodigestive tract diseases were reviewed. Each category was reviewed based on the potential risk imposed to health care workers. Specific recommendations were made based on the literature, when available, or consensus best practices. Specific safety recommendations were made for performing tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19. Conclusions and Relevance Preserving a highly skilled health care workforce is a top priority for any community and health care system. Based on the experience of health care systems in Asia and Europe, by following strict safety guidelines, the risk of exposure and infection of health care workers could be greatly reduced while providing high levels of care. The provided recommendations, which may evolve over time, could be used as broad guidance for all health care workers who are involved in the care of patients with COVID-19

Clinical relevance of biomarkers of oxidative stress

SIGNIFICANCE Oxidative stress is considered to be an important component of various diseases. A vast number of methods have been developed and used in virtually all diseases to measure the extent and nature of oxidative stress, ranging from oxidation of DNA to proteins, lipids, and free amino acids. Recent Advances: An increased understanding of the biology behind diseases and redox biology has led to more specific and sensitive tools to measure oxidative stress markers, which are very diverse and sometimes very low in abundance. CRITICAL ISSUES The literature is very heterogeneous. It is often difficult to draw general conclusions on the significance of oxidative stress biomarkers, as only in a limited proportion of diseases have a range of different biomarkers been used, and different biomarkers have been used to study different diseases. In addition, biomarkers are often measured using nonspecific methods, while specific methodologies are often too sophisticated or laborious for routine clinical use. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Several markers of oxidative stress still represent a viable biomarker opportunity for clinical use. However, positive findings with currently used biomarkers still need to be validated in larger sample sizes and compared with current clinical standards to establish them as clinical diagnostics. It is important to realize that oxidative stress is a nuanced phenomenon that is difficult to characterize, and one biomarker is not necessarily better than others. The vast diversity in oxidative stress between diseases and conditions has to be taken into account when selecting the most appropriate biomarker. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000

Thymus transplantation for complete DiGeorge syndrome: European experience

Background: Thymus transplantation is a promising strategy for the treatment of athymic complete DiGeorge syndrome (cDGS). Methods: Twelve patients with cDGS were transplanted with allogeneic cultured thymus. Objective: To confirm and extend the results previously obtained in a single centre. Results: Two patients died of pre-existing viral infections without developing thymopoeisis and one late death occurred from autoimmune thrombocytopaenia. One infant suffered septic shock shortly after transplant resulting in graft loss and the need for a second transplant. Evidence of thymopoeisis developed from 5-6 months after transplantation in ten patients. The median (range) of circulating naïve CD4 counts (x10663 /L) were 44(11-440) and 200(5-310) at twelve and twenty-four months post-transplant and T-cell receptor excision circles were 2238 (320-8807) and 4184 (1582 -24596) per106 65 T-cells. Counts did not usually reach normal levels for age but patients were able to clear pre-existing and later acquired infections. At a median of 49 months (22-80), eight have ceased prophylactic antimicrobials and five immunoglobulin replacement. Histological confirmation of thymopoeisis was seen in seven of eleven patients undergoing biopsy of transplanted tissue including five showing full maturation through to the terminal stage of Hassall body formation. Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) expression was also demonstrated. Autoimmune complications were seen in 7/12 patients. In two, early transient autoimmune haemolysis settled after treatment and did not recur. The other five suffered ongoing autoimmune problems including: thyroiditis (3); haemolysis (1), thrombocytopaenia (4) and neutropenia (1). Conclusions: This study confirms the previous reports that thymus transplantation can reconstitute T cells in cDGS but with frequent autoimmune complications in survivors

Increasing the capacity of policy agencies to use research findings : a stepped-wedge trial

SPIRIT was funded as part of the Centre for Informing Policy in Health with Evidence from Research (CIPHER), an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Research Excellence (APP1001436), which is administered by the Sax Institute. CIPHER is a joint project of the Sax Institute; Australasian Cochrane Centre, Monash University; University of Newcastle; University of New South Wales; Research Unit for Research Utilisation, University of St Andrews; Australian National University; and University of South Australia.Background:  This paper describes the trial of a novel intervention, Supporting Policy In health with evidence from Research: an Intervention Trial (SPIRIT). It examines (1) the feasibility of delivering this kind of programme in practice; (2) its acceptability to participants; (3) the impact of the programme on the capacity of policy agencies to engage with research; and (4) the engagement with and use of research by policy agencies. Methods:  SPIRIT was a multifaceted, highly tailored, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised, trial involving six health policy agencies in Sydney, Australia. Agencies were randomly allocated to one of three start dates to receive the 1-year intervention programme. SPIRIT included audit, feedback and goal setting; a leadership programme; staff training; the opportunity to test systems to facilitate research use in policies; and exchange with researchers. Outcome measures were collected at each agency every 6 months for 30 months. Results:  Participation in SPIRIT was associated with significant increases in research use capacity at staff and agency levels. Staff reported increased confidence in research use skills, and agency leaders reported more extensive systems and structures in place to support research use. Self-report data suggested there was also an increase in tactical research use among agency staff. Given the relatively small numbers of participating agencies and the complexity of their contexts, findings suggest it is possible to effect change in the way policy agencies approach the use of research. This is supported by the responses on the other trial measures; while these were not statistically significant, on 18 of the 20 different measures used, the changes observed were consistent with the hypothesised intervention effect (that is, positive impacts). Conclusions:  As an early test of an innovative approach, SPIRIT has demonstrated that it is possible to increase research engagement and use in policy agencies. While more work is needed to establish the replicability and generalisability of these findings, this trial suggests that building staff skills and organisational structures may be effective in increasing evidence use.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe