Heat in the Heartland: Climate Change and Economic Risk in the Midwest

This report offers a first step toward defining the range of potential economic consequences to the Midwest if we continue on our current greenhouse gas emissions pathway. The research combines state-of-the-art climate science projections through the year 2100 (and beyond in some cases) with empirically-derived estimates of the impact of projected changes in temperature and precipitation on the Midwest economy. The authors analyze not only those outcomes most likely to occur, but also lower-probability, higher-cost climate futures. These are the "tail risks," most often expressed here as the 1-in-20 chance something will occur. Unlike any other study to date, this report looks at climate impacts at a very geographically granular level, in some cases providing county-level results

Krik? Krak! Exploring the potential of creative life writing for opening dialogic space and increasing personal freedom

My doctoral research is a critical and creative investigation into the dialogic relationship between memory and imagination through creative life writing and its potential for personal freedom. It looks at what happens when writers enter into a creative relationship with their life stories, focusing on the potential of creative life writing for loosening narratives and self-conceptions that mould identity. I explore my topic in three different ways: through (1) qualitative research into the effects on participants of a series of creative life writing workshops I facilitated at a hair salon/barbershop serving a culturally diverse community of people of African, Caribbean, Asian and European heritage; (2) my own creative life writing, Skipworth Street’s Bonfire Night, written in response to the qualitative research; and (3) a case study of Lionheart Gal, a book of creative life writing produced by Sistren Theatre Collective in 1970’s Jamaica. My explorations of these three components are informed by two different but related bodies of literature: theory and practice of creative life writing for personal development and literary and political writings from the African Diaspora. Four main observations from the research are explored: (i) the practice of creative life writing enabled the writers at the salon, and myself through my own writing, to ‘access and objectify’ our personal material (Hunt 2001) and, by doing so, to distance ourselves from life-held narratives and open up psychic space for looking at ourselves from different perspectives; (ii) through the process of creative life writing the writers discovered a sense of self that was multiple and embodied; (iii) the notion of finding a voice in the creative writing process was intrinsic to the participants’ experience of finding personal freedom, allowing them to speak in the workshop with greater authority; (iv) creating a safe-enough environment for creativity to take place was essential to enable participants to move with confidence into their own personal space and writing. The research takes up Sistren’s director, Honor Ford-Smith’s (1986) call for a ‘unity between aesthetic imagination and the social and political process’. She believed that for real political change to take place there had to be an ‘altering’ or ‘redefining’ of socio-political structures and that, for this to happen, we needed to unlock ‘the creative power of rebel consciousness’ buried deep within our own stories. In bringing these ideas into the present, the thesis draws on Paul Gilroy’s (2005) suggestion that the idea of ‘multiculturalism’ should be revived by ‘conviviality’, which, he says, better reflects the complex issues of diversity and difference in present urban societies. The creative life writing workshops in the salon/barbershop created a space for putting conviviality into practice: by redirecting participants’ attention to their feelings and emotions, the workshops enabled them to recognize and negotiate difference and multiplicity rather than conforming to fixed hegemonic ideals. Skipworth Street’s Bonfire Night explores key concepts informing and emerging from my research that I either explored consciously in my own creative writing or that arose spontaneously through it. I was able to challenge my own tacit assumptions and life held narratives, as unconscious material emerged that enabled me to look at myself, as well as my research, from a broader perspective. This study offers new perspectives to emancipatory processes located in the use of creative life writing for personal development as well as to socio-political discourses of identity. It has practical applications for schools and youth and community groups, as well as adult education

Significant variations in nutritional supplementation amongst neonates in the United Kingdom

AIM: To ascertain United Kingdom adherence to European society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition guidance (ESPGHAN). METHODS: A national cross sectional questionnaire study of neonatal units across England was completed between January and March 2014. All 174 units in the country were attempted to be contacted to complete a telephone survey. This included all level 1, 2 and 3 units. They were initially contacted by phone and asking any senior member of the team about their current practice and procedures. The first ten telephone interviews were completed with two researchers present to ensure consistency of approach. If no response was received or no details were available, one further attempt was made to contact the unit. The results were recorded in a proforma and then collated and entered into a spreadsheet for analysis. Comparison to United Kingdom adherence to ESPGHAN guidance was completed. RESULTS: Response rate was 53%. There was variation in use of all supplements. The survey collected data from 91 neonatal units (53% response rate). It was found that 10% of neonatal units had no fixed policy on supplements. The protocols regarding supplementation involved predominantly folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin D and iron, with much variation in doses and regimens. The criteria for prescribing supplements was largely based on age (47%) with only 7% using a weight targets to initiate supplements. Summary data regarding the appropriateness of each nutritional supplement for a variety of different weights are presented, as well as comparison to ESPGHAN guidance which suggests issues with both underdoing of Breast Fed infants and overdosing of infants on several artificial formulas which already contain significant amounts of these nutritional elements. CONCLUSION: There is significant heterogeneity in neonatal policies when prescribing supplements to neonates. National policies which take international guidance into account are recommended

Emirati women’s experiences of consanguineous marriage: A qualitative exploration of attitudes, health challenges, and coping styles

Consanguineous marriage is associated with increased risk of congenital physical disabilities, as well as behavioural and mental health problems among consanguineous offspring. Furthermore, mental health problems have been highlighted as being prevalent among women involved in consanguineous marriages. Despite this, there has been limited research exploring the lived experiences of consanguineous marriage among women living in the United Arab Emirates, where up to 39% of all marriages are consanguineous. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of Emirati women involved in a consanguineous marriage in order to improve understanding of the experiential challenges faced by such individuals. Six Emirati women involved in a consanguineous marriage attended a focus group, and a thematic analysis of the interview transcript was subsequently undertaken. Five master themes emerged from the dataset: (i) Reasons for Marrying Consanguineously, (ii) Awareness and Fear of Hereditary Diseases, (iii) Emotional and Psychological Challenges, (iv) Coping Mechanisms, and (v) Confidence in Consanguineous Marriages. The master themes indicated a high level of family and parental influence as well as a cultural/traditional paradigm as being key causes for entering into a consanguineous marriage. Emotional and mental health challenges arouse due to the fear of genetic problems among offspring as well as difficulties coming to terms with consanguineous marriage dynamics. Self-help coping strategies were identified such as participants turning to religion in times of need, while shunning professional psychological help. Despite these challenges, participants generally retained confidence in the consanguineous marriage process. Findings shed light on the personal and health challenges experienced by Emirati women involved in consanguineous marriages, and highlight the need for further research to better understand the support needs of this population group.N/

Significant variations in nutritional supplementation amongst neonates in the UK

Aim Nutritional supplementation in neonates is common in neonatal unit. This study set out to ascertain UK adherence to ESPGHAN guidance. Methods A national cross sectional questionnaire study of neonatal units across England was completed between January and March 2014. All 174 units in the country were attempted to be contacted to complete a telephone survey. This included all level 1,2 and 3 units. They were initially contacted by phone and asking any senior member of the team about their current practice and procedures. The first ten telephone interviews were completed with two researchers present to ensure consistency of approach. If no response was received or no details were available, one further attempt was made to contact the unit. The results were recorded in a proforma and then collated and entered into a spreadsheet for analysis. Comparison to ESPGHAN guidance was completed. Results Response rate was 53%. There was variation in use of all supplements. The survey collected data from 91 neonatal units (53% response rate). It was found that 10% of neonatal units had no fixed policy on supplements. The protocols regarding supplementation involved predominantly folic acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin D and iron, with much variation in doses and regimens. The criteria for prescribing supplements was largely based on age (47%) with only 7% using a weight targets to initiate supplements. Summary data regarding the appropriateness of each nutritional supplement for a variety of different weights are presented, as well as comparison to ESPGHAN guidance which suggests issues with both underdoing of Breast Fed infants and overdosing of infants on several artificial formulas which already contain significant amounts of these nutritional elements. Conclusions There is significant heterogeneity in neonatal policies when prescribing supplements to neonates. National policies which take international guidance into account are recommended

Pre-Arrival Blended Learning Approach to Smooth Transition to University

No abstract available

Defining the Costs of an Outbreak of Karnal Bunt of Wheat

In determining the economic impact of a possible outbreak of the quarantinable wheat disease Karnal Bunt, an examination was made of the detailed components of the costs involved. The costs were classified as: (a) Direct costs (yield and quality losses); (b) Reaction costs (export bans, quality down-grading, seed industry costs); and (c) Control costs (quarantine zones, fungicides, spore destruction). The relative importance of each of these cost components is measured for a hypothetical outbreak of Karnal Bunt in the European Union, as a means of ensuring that the policy responses to such an outbreak are appropriate considering the costs involved.disease, quarantine, cost, wheat, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries,

Pre-Arrival Blended Learning Approach to Smooth Transition to University

No abstract available

Pre-Arrival Blended Learning Approach to Smooth Transition to University

No abstract available

Tackling unemployment, supporting business and developing careers

The issue of unemployment remains high on the political agenda. However, there is evidence that employers can be wary of employing people who are out of work. Employer practice is key, both in terms of providing employment opportunities to job seekers, and in providing space for low-skilled people to develop their skills and cement their attachment to the labour market. This report discusses the role of career guidance in mediating between job seekers and employers to allow both to achieve their objectives.The issue of unemployment remains high on the political agenda. However, there is evidence that employers can be wary of employing people who are out of work. Employer practice is key, both in terms of providing employment opportunities to job seekers, and in providing space for low-skilled people to develop their skills and cement their attachment to the labour market. This report discusses the role of career guidance in mediating between job seekers and employers to allow both to achieve their objectives