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Measuring student experience in terms of satisfaction is a national measure used by prospective students when considering their higher education choices. Increasingly league tables are used as a means to rank universities with a limited interrogation of the reality of students' experiences. This study explored the question 'What really matters to freshers?' during their transition into higher education through to completion. Students on an academic undergraduate Early Childhood Studies degree (n = 530) over a five-year period completed a Student Experience Evaluation in their first term and this data was correlated with the National Student Survey data collected about their cohorts in the final term of their degree. During the five year period, a number of interventions were undertaken by the academic staff to develop a learning community, based on the values linked to 'being, belonging, and becoming'. The results of this study suggest that three things matter to students about their experience, that is, the academic staff they work with, the nature of their academic study and feeling like they belong. A model is proposed which aims to demonstrate the impact of academic staff, studies and the learning community that develops through social and academic experiences at University.

"Every Child Matters" under New Labour provided a framework for services for young children's care and education. It was pushed aside by the Conservative-led coalition and replaced by "More Great Childcare". The UK as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, therefore has obligations for legislation, policy and curriculum, specifically with regard to children's rights and participation. On the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, in practice there may be different levels of participation employed to engage children's views in the development of policy about them. This project sets out to ask children about what "matters" to them. Ninety finalist Early Childhood Studies students worked as co-researchers in this project. Five themes are discussed highlighting the powerful thoughts and ideas of children. A range of "child-friendly" methods were used to collect data from children including role-play, interviews, drawings and artefacts, and story-telling.

Introduction: Weight gain in the months/years after diagnosis/treatment of severe enduring mental illness (SMI) is a major predictor of future diabetes, dysmetabolic profile and increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases. There is limited data on the longer-term profile of weight change in people with a history of SMI and how this may differ between individuals. We here report a retrospective study on weight change over the 5 years following an SMI diagnosis in Greater Manchester UK, an ethnically and culturally diverse community, with particular focus on comparing non-affective psychosis (NAP) vs affective psychosis (AP) diagnoses. Methods: We undertook an anonymised search in the Greater Manchester Care Record (GMCR). We reviewed the health records of anyone who had been diagnosed for the first time with first episode psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder (non-affective psychosis = NAP) or affective psychosis (AP). We analysed body mass index (BMI) change in the 5-year period following the first prescription of antipsychotic medication. All individuals had taken an antipsychotic agent for at least 3 months. The 5-year follow-up point was anywhere between 2003 and 2023. Results: We identified 9125 people with the diagnoses above. NAP (n = 5618; 37.3% female) mean age 49.9 years; AP (n = 4131; 60.5% female) mean age 48.7 years. 27.0% of NAP were of non-White ethnicity vs 17.8% of AP individuals. A higher proportion of people diagnosed with NAP were in the highest quintile of social disadvantage 52.4% vs 39.5% for AP. There were no significant differences in baseline BMI profile. In a subsample with HbA1c data (n = 2103), mean HbA1c was higher in NAP at baseline (40.4 mmol/mol in NAP vs 36.7 mmol/mol for AP). At 5-year follow-up, there was similarity in both the overall % of individuals in the obese ≥ 30 kg/m2 category (39.8% NAP vs 39.7% AP), and % progressing from a normal healthy BMI transitioned to obese/overweight BMI (53.6% of NAP vs 55.6% with AP). 43.7% of those NAP with normal BMI remained at a healthy BMI vs 42.7% with AP. At 5-year follow-up for NAP, 83.1% of those with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 stayed in this category vs 81.5% of AP. Conclusion: The results of this real-world longitudinal cohort study suggest that the changes in BMI with treatment of non-affective psychosis vs bipolar disorder are not significantly different, while 43% maintain a healthy weight in the first 5 years following antipsychotic prescription. Key summary: We here report a longitudinal retrospective cohort study on weight change post-SMI diagnosis in Greater Manchester UK, an ethnically and culturally diverse community with particular focus on a history of non-affective psychosis vs affective psychosis disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandatory annual reporting, to improve transparency of working conditions in firms' supply chains, is the favored approach of UK policymakers for reducing modern slavery risks in supply chains. Despite legislation and extensive guidance, annual corporate statements are disappointing, providing little evidence of substantive action. So far though, there has been little primary research of managers' understanding of the phenomenon or their perceived agency in tackling modern slavery. In a qualitative study, employing template analysis, data were drawn from multiple sources, including interviews with 32 managers from three large UK firms in a complex, high‐risk sector (construction). Four focus groups were used to establish credibility of the findings. As managers struggle with how to make sense of where to look, how to look, and what to see, they adopt narrowed perspectives and analogies that inhibit immediate, compelling action. Improved awareness of UK labor supply chain issues has distanced managers further from action relating to global material supply chains. Through analogy with health and safety legislation, which developed over a considerable period, managers justify a wait‐and‐see approach, deferring action. Such convenience framing helps them to avoid issues relating to complexity, control, cost, and (in)visibility. This framing needs to be disrupted for meaningful action to result. Drawing on sensemaking theory relating to paradoxical financial and sustainability objectives, the study suggests how extended legislation and governance may drive more substantive responses that transcend the constraints of business‐case logic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companion animal ownership has been associated with a wide variety of physical and psychological health benefits. The extent to which a person gains any welfare advantages from the animal in their care, however, may be related to a wide variety of factors, one of which is the quality of the human–animal relationship. Thus far, little attention has been devoted to the role of attachment to one's companion animal on psychological wellbeing during a global pandemic, a time when mental health has been shown to be extremely poor. Therefore this study aimed to explore the relationship between the quality of the companion animal–human bond and mental wellbeing during a period of COVID-19-induced national lockdown in the United Kingdom. A purpose-designed online survey that aimed to measure sociodemographic background, companion animal ownership status, attachment level, and various components of mental wellbeing (depression, loneliness, positive experience, stress) was developed and completed by 249 UK-based adults (146 companion animal owners, 103 non-owners). Analysis revealed no significant relationship between companion animal ownership and any of the mental health outcome measures. Attachment to one's companion animal, however, was found to be a strong predictor of mental wellbeing, with higher bonds of attachment associated with higher levels of depression, loneliness, and lower levels of positive experience. Attachment to one's companion animal was not significantly associated with participants' stress levels. Overall, findings from this study point to emotional vulnerability in people who are highly attached to their companion animal, although limitations must be borne in mind. This is an area worthy of further exploration, particularly considering the pandemic-induced rise in the number of people who have acquired a companion animal and the increment in mental health problems that has been predicted to emerge from COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The true frequency of hospital outbreaks of invasive group B streptococcal (iGBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) disease in infants is unknown. We used whole genome sequencing (WGS) of iGBS isolates collected during a period of enhanced surveillance of infant iGBS disease in the UK and Ireland to determine the number of clustered cases. Methods Potentially linked iGBS cases from infants with early (<7 days of life) or late-onset (7–89 days) disease were identified from WGS data (HiSeq 2500 platform, Illumina) from clinical sterile site isolates collected between 04/2014 and 04/2015. We assessed time and place of cases to determine a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference threshold for clustered cases. Case details were augmented through linkage to national hospital admission data and hospital record review by local microbiologists. Results Analysis of sequences indicated a cutoff of ≤5 SNP differences to define iGBS clusters. Among 410 infant iGBS isolates, we identified 7 clusters (4 genetically identical pairs with 0 SNP differences, 1 pair with 3 SNP differences, 1 cluster of 4 cases with ≤1 SNP differences) of which 4 clusters were uncovered for the first time. The clusters comprised 16 cases, of which 15 were late-onset (of 192 late-onset cases with sequenced isolates) and 1 an early-onset index case. Serial intervals between cases ranged from 0 to 59 (median 12) days. Conclusions Approximately 1 in 12 late-onset infant iGBS cases were part of a hospital cluster. Over half of the clusters were previously undetected, emphasizing the importance of routine submission of iGBS isolates to reference laboratories for cluster identification and genomic confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess whether firms' transparency in supply chain (TISC) statements indicate that substantive action is being taken on modern slavery in UK government supply chains. Design/methodology/approach: The authors analyse 66 of the UK government's strategic suppliers' TISC statements and 20 key documents related to the policy intent of the UK Parliament, 2015 TISC requirements. Qualitative document analysis identifies what suppliers say they are doing and what they are not saying to provide novel insights into how firms employ ambiguity to avoid timely action on modern slavery in their supply chains A set of propositions are developed. Findings: The authors elaborate the concepts of time and change in socially sustainable supply chains and illustrate how firms use ambiguity in TISC statements as a highly strategic form of action to defend the status quo, reduce accountability and delay action for modern slavery within supply chains. The authors identify three ambiguous techniques: defensive reassurance, transfer responsibility and scope reduction that deviate from the policy intention of collaborative action. Social implications: The results illustrates how ambiguity is preventing firms from taking collaborative action to tackle modern slavery in their supply chains. The lack of action as a result of ambiguity protects firms, rather than potential victims of modern slavery. Originality/value: Prior research focuses on technical compliance rather than the content of firms' TISC statements. This qualitative study provides novel insights into the policy-resistant effects of ambiguity and highlights the dynamic and instrumental role of modern slavery reporting. Theoretically, we identify accountability as an essential concept to address the causes of modern slavery in supply chains and for developing collaborative supply chain environments to tackle the issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on Diathermy‐assisted axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast carcinoma risks. Topics include The presence of axillary lymph node metastasis is an essential prognostic factor in breast carcinoma and may guide treatment decisions regarding the use of adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy; Sentinel lymph node biopsy and histological examination is the current standard for detection of axillary lymph node metastasis in invasive breast carcinoma or high grade in situ disease.

This study explored early years' practitioners' and teachers' attitudes and confidence in delivering the UK Physical Activity guidelines [National Health Service (NHS). (2013). Physical activity guidelines for children and young people. Retrieved July 15, 2015, from www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-young-peopole.aspx] within the curriculum for young children [Department for Education (DfE). (2013). The national curriculum in England. Key stages 1 and 2 framework document. London: Department for Education, Crown; Department for Education (DfE). (2014). Statutory framework for the early years' foundation stage. Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five. London: Department for Education, Crown]. Using an online questionnaire, data were analysed using thematic framework and statistically. Fifty-nine respondents came from early years' settings, including nurseries, pre-schools and primary schools. The findings suggest that there is a lack of confidence in knowing what to do to support and sustain physical activity. Further research is needed to identify if this is a national trend; this is the next steps of our research, as is the development of resources to help support confidence and the delivery of physical activity for young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychosis symptoms (delusions and hallucinations) are multifactorial in origin and, in later life, occur in the context of schizophrenia, delirium, dementia, delusional and schizophrenia-like disorders, mood disorders, and alcohol or substance abuse. The current article provides a clinical overview of very late–onset (after age 60) schizophrenia-like psychosis (VLOSLP), summarizing the literature on treatment options and reflecting on the role of psychiatric–mental health nurses (PMHNs). Increased awareness of the clinical presentation, key features, and evidence-based treatment options will assist PMHNs to confidently recognize this often underdiagnosed disorder and adopt a more assertive role in terms of engagement and follow up. Pragmatic research involving individuals with VLOSLP is required to increase the evidence base for treatment and improve outcomes of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forced to compete with private and public sector providers, charities experience tensions as the quest for a more commercially-oriented position may conflict with their social imperative. Little attention has been given to understanding the experiences of local charities as service providers. This paper captures the reactions of those working on the charity front line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a field-level examination of the adoption of sustainable procurement in social housing. It explores the role of regulation and procurement consortia in sustainable procurement. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a case study of the UK social housing sector and uses an online survey (n=116) of UK Housing Associations. Factor analysis identifies three parsimonious dimensions of sustainable procurement. Attitudinal data are analysed to explore the field-level adoption of sustainable procurement and the role of consortia. Findings – The results delineate sustainable procurement activities into three factors; direction setting, supplier-centric assurance and local socially oriented supply. High yet sup-optimal levels of sustainable procurement activity are revealed. Prevailing attitudes identify positive commitments to sustainable procurement at individual, organisational and sector levels. The value of network collaboration is identified. Tenants as critical stakeholders do not prioritise sustainable procurement creating challenge for inclusivity. Regulators are seen to a have low level of sustainable procurement knowledge and procurement consortia a high perceived knowledge. Research limitations/implications – Results provide insight into the effect of sustainable procurement policy, the role of regulators and network structures and consortia, raising issues around legitimacy, coopetition, stakeholder engagement, performance measurement, and functional/sectoral maturity. Social implications – The identification of the potential exclusion of tenants in sustainability debates is particularly significant to deliver social value. Originality/value – The relative newness of the social housing sector and its quasi-public sector status provides an original contribution to the consortia and sustainable procurement literatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the UK, major IT public procurement projects regularly fail at significant cost to the taxpayer. The prevalence of these failures presents scholars with a challenge; to both understand their genesis and to facilitate learning and prevention. Functional approaches have revealed numerous determinants of failure ranging from procurement specifications to risk escalation, but true and definitive causes remain elusive. However, since failure is not itself an absolute truth, but rather a concept which is reached when support is withdrawn, the survival of a project depends on there being sufficient belief in its legitimacy. We use critical hermeneutic methods and the conceptual lens of legitimacy to reveal powerful legitimating influences that enable and constrain action, but which are not analysed in the retrospective government inquiries that determine lessons learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay focuses on the idea and practice of sovereignty, in particular state sovereignty. It deals with the ways sovereignty has featured in British policy since the 1960s in connection with the EU, Ireland and Northern Ireland, and within Great Britain. It argues that, despite continuing attachment to the old language of sovereignty, the UK has adapted how it ‘does’ sovereignty in connection with the EU and Ireland/Northern Ireland. In addition, while the supremacy of parliament is restated in the UK devolution settlements, it is unlikely that the ‘process’ of devolution of power away from the centre can be reversed. But, it is argued, such changes have taken place in piecemeal fashion and without much of a new language of sovereignty. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article is about policy learning or diffusion in the field of equality and human rights across Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK). It first outlines the axes along which policy learning has taken place, or could do so, and the policies that are the subject of learning. It then discusses internal policy learning in Northern Ireland (NI) on the key issue of public sector duties. Learning is then examined between NI and Ireland; between NI and Great Britain (GB); and between Ireland and GB. These sections involve private and public employers, as well as the public sector duties, and touch on institutional design. In conclusion, it is suggested that it is not only because of the banking, fiscal and economic crises in Ireland and the UK that learning opportunities have been undermined. This case study demonstrates the importance of the contrast between politicians with their “limited attention spans” and the more analytical wider policy community of professionals and interest groups. Power relations between them are a significant factor in degrees of superficiality or profundity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article assesses the impact of brief intervention and referral for smoking cessation on the smoking habits of people with mental health problems in a community residential scheme and in an inpatient rehabilitation unit. It demonstrates that community participants can benefit from the intervention, which is cost effective and should be offered routinely to smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving close and on-going co-ordination between the various stakeholders involved in the product design and process development has been a main issue in complex new product development (CoNPD). Challenges arise in balancing product innovation and process optimisation, particularly when business customers place an order with a requirement featured as open system specification (OSS). This paper examines CoNPD projects in two international engineering companies based in the UK. The aim is to explore the use of specification management, with a particular focus on the project stakeholders that are both internal and external to the companies. Analysis of the data reveals issues associated with how the stakeholders interact to: manage the risks of associated with OSS projects, develop solution-based approaches and deal with the novelty of technology integration. The research findings provide evidence for a make-to-concept specification management process for contracted CoNPD projects. In doing so, the paper makes a contribution towards developing an approach to solution-oriented businesses that is informed by a rich understanding of how project stakeholders work together to manage CoNPD projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article I will briefly describe the Under- graduate Ambassadors Scheme which has been running in the UK since 2002. This scheme provides university departments with a framework for running a module that awards academic credit to undergraduates for developing transferable skills, while working with teachers in local schools. I will explain why I chose to coordinate an Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme module in mathematics in University College Dublin and discuss what is involved in setting-up, running, and assessing such a module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of an evaluative design framework for e-Government projects which complement traditional approaches to commercial information system (IS) evaluation in Great Britain. The Home Connections (HC) and Thurrock Choice Homes (TCH) are e-Government projects supporting the allocation of public social housing, so they are called as choice-based letting (CBL). An initial conceptual framework was based upon an analysis of the concept of public value and consideration of its application to the British public services. The initial evaluative framework was then developed and refined by undertaking an interpretive evaluation study, HC.

Background The annual number of homicide convictions in England and Wales is increasing. Previous studies have highlighted the aetiological role of alcohol and drugs in homicide. Aims To examine rates of alcohol and drug misuse and dependence in people convicted of homicide; the role of alcohol and drugs in the offence; the social and clinical characteristics of alcohol- and drug-related homicides; and the social and clinical characteristics of patients with dual diagnosis who commit homicide. Methods A national clinical survey based on a 3-year (1996–9) consecutive sample of people convicted of homicide in England and Wales. Information on rates of alcohol and drug misuse/dependence, the role of alcohol and drugs in the offence and social and clinical characteristics of perpetrators were collected from psychiatric reports prepared for the court in homicide convictions. Detailed clinical information was gathered from questionnaires completed by mental health teams for those in contact with mental health services. Results Of the 1594 homicide perpetrators, more than one-third (42%) occurred in people with a history of alcohol misuse or dependence and 40% in people with a history of drug misuse or dependence. Alcohol or drug misuse played a contributory role in two-fifths of homicides. Alcohol played a major role in 52 (6%) and a minor role in 364 (39%) homicides. Drugs played a major role in six (1%) and a minor role in 138 (14%) homicides. Forty-two homicides (17%) were committed by patients with severe mental illness and substance misuse. Alcohol- and drug-related homicides were generally associated with male perpetrators who had a history of violence, personality disorders, mental health service contact and with stranger victims. Conclusions Substance misuse contributes to the majority of homicides in England and Wales. A public health approach to homicide would highlight alcohol and drugs before severe mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a debate about The Current and Future Directions of the political relations between the UK, USA and Europe held in March 2005 for the Academy of the Social Sciences. A panel of four social science practitioners and academics, chaired by Philip Davies, addressed the question of the real nature of these relations and their written comments are presented with a commentary by Davies. Dumbrell explored the way that ‘both the US-UK “Special Relationship” and the entire Atlantic alliance were struggling to come to terms with the removal of the cold war, “common fate” glue, much less the Great Rift over Iraq’. Meehan drew attention to ‘a flurry of efforts on both sides of the Atlantic to repair the relationship between the EU and the US and, hence, the UK's relationship with European partners’, concluding that ‘the good intentions to understand common real interests and act upon them through common Enlightenment values may yet pave the road to hell’. In revising her analysis for publication she moderated her earlier scepticism ‘about the strength of good intentions on both sides not to allow such continuing differences to stand in the way of the co-operative pursuit of real interests’. Hames argued that Britain should be more relaxed about its relations ‘rather than hands being wrung about whether we are insufficiently “pro-European” or not close enough to becoming the 51st state of the United States, those interested in maintaining or extending British power should ask themselves what we need to do to keep our present privileged position’. Williams made the case for a more sophisticated understanding of the domestic political dynamics of the USA by those on the European side of the Atlantic, and for a greater recognition ‘that the political achievement of the European Union is a staggering one’. In all, the debate acknowledged the ‘grinding reality of realpolitik’ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information on suicide by psychiatric patients from ethnic minority groups is scarce.Aims: To establish the number of patients from ethnic minorities who kill themselves; to describe their suicide methods, and their social and clinical characteristics.Method: A national clinical survey was based on a 4-year sample of suicides in England and Wales. Detailed data were collected on those who had been in contact with mental health services in the year before death.Results: In total 282 patients from ethnic minorities died by suicide--6% of all patient suicides. The most common method of suicide was hanging; violent methods were more common than in White patient suicides. Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis. Ethnic minority patients were more likely to have been unemployed than White patients and to have had a history of violence and recent non-compliance. In around half, this was the first episode of self-harm. Black Caribbean patients had the highest rates of schizophrenia (74%), unemployment, living alone, previous violence and drug misuse.Conclusions: In order to reduce the number of suicides by ethnic minority patients, services should address the complex health and social needs of people with severe mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective communication between oncologists and patients with cancer is of paramount importance. The Chemotherapy Patient Monitor (CPM) is a novel tool designed to assist doctor–patient communication regarding patient concerns and side-effects. Initially, the CPM was assessed in a primary evaluation study of its use during consultations with 26 patients with advanced colorectal cancer (one consultation without, followed by two with, the CPM per patient). This led to a further dissemination/audit of 34 patients attending oncology centres in the UK, who had completed the survey prior to three consultations. The CPM contains a checklist of common side-effects of chemotherapy regimens used in advanced colorectal cancer, and other common concerns of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The CPM records the presence of side-effects/concerns, the distress caused, whether patients wish to discuss them further, and actions taken as a result. Questionnaires explored the views of patients and oncologists in the UK and Spain regarding the effectiveness of consultations during a baseline visit conducted without the CPM, and then with the CPM in subsequent visits. These data were then complemented by the dissemination/audit study of the CPM across nine centres in the UK. All patients understood the CPM. The CPM was rated as useful by oncologists in 83% of consultations, and did not lengthen 82% of visits. Patients felt it had improved the visit in 95% of cases. Responses from patients (100%) and oncologists (84%) indicated willingness to use the CPM for at least some consultations in the future. The results of the dissemination/audit study supported these conclusions. We conclude that the CPM appears to be a useful new tool for improving patient–doctor communication during cancer consultations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the sex equality policy which was created by the European Community (EC) and improvements in the legal status of women in Britain. Criticism against EC policies; Main legal developments in relation to British women's rights; Insight into EC's policy on sex equality; How EC has affected the enforcement of equality legislation; Impact of legislation.

This article is about the simultaneous effects on Northern Ireland of European integration; both ameliorating constitutional controversies and becoming part of the fundamental conflict. There is common ground about NI's material interests and their political representation in Brussels through Westminster. But policy which requires crossborder co-operation can be seen by unionists as 'creeping' Irish unification. NI is not uniquein containing both regional advocates of better policy-making within existing states and those who see the EU as an opportunity for a different political status. Concessions to some cross-border co-operation have been made in recent initiatives from various political quarters. Thus, the conclusion is that there is scope for participants of different persuasions to concentrate upon improving defects internal to the UK and upon the appropriate composition and functions of ad hoc cross-border authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the recent Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) document on female appointments to public bodies in Great Britain. It is one of the latest in a long series of research reports. It is of interest for three reasons. First, it is one of the products of an approach to implementation of the Sex Discrimination Act (1975) that has been widely criticised. Secondly, its contents record the dismally few inroads made by women into public life since the Act, despite some, albeit small, improvements in the extent to which they are becoming qualified in new fields. Thirdly, its subject matter, public appointments, is itself part of the explanation for decisions about priorities within the EOC.

Objectives: The objective was to describe a case of bilateral cochlear implantation in a 59-year-old man with hearing and visual impairment due to Refsum's disease. Method: A retrospective case review was performed. Results: After cochlear implantation, the patient demonstrated much improved audiometric performance and reported improved sound localization. Conclusions: Bilateral cochlear implantation is an important strategy in the improvement of hearing and quality of life in individuals with Refsum's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood victimization elevates the average risk of developing functional impairment in adulthood. However, not all victimized children demonstrate poor outcomes. Although research has described factors that confer vulnerability or resilience, it is unknown if this knowledge can be translated to accurately identify the most vulnerable victimized children. To build and internally validate a risk calculator to identify those victimized children who are most at risk of functional impairment at age 18 years. We utilized data from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a nationally-representative birth cohort of 2232 UK children born in 1994–95. Victimization exposure was assessed repeatedly between ages 5 and 12 years along with a range of individual-, family- and community-level predictors. Functional outcomes were assessed at age 18 years. We developed and evaluated a prediction model for psychosocial disadvantage and economic disadvantage using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regularized regression with nested 10-fold cross-validation. The model predicting psychosocial disadvantage following childhood victimization retained 12 of 22 predictors, had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.65, and was well-calibrated within the range of 40–70% predicted risk. The model predicting economic disadvantage retained 10 of 22 predictors, achieved excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.80), and a high degree of calibration. Prediction modelling techniques can be applied to estimate individual risk for poor functional outcomes in young adulthood following childhood victimization. Such risk prediction tools could potentially assist practitioners to target interventions, which is particularly useful in a context of scarce resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author criticizes the proposal to cut the budget for community health care services in Great Britain. She comments that the efforts of the government to stop commissioning the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) courses and the poor financial performance of the primary care trusts (PCT) have resulted to the decline of training places for both health visitors and school nurses. She notes that public health should not be compromised for the sake of cost cutting.

The author comments on the plan of the National Health Service (NHS) in Great Britain to improve financial management in the health service and the impact of this plan on hospitals and primary care trusts. She discusses the views of British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the state of health service in the country. A report from the Commons health select committee stated that mismanagement at all levels of the NHS in England has led to a multimillion pound deficit in 2006.

The author talks about the deficits of the National Health Service (NHS) of Great Britain. She reflects on the factors that have possibly contributed to the continuing deficit experienced by NHS, including the changes in the way the administration of Prime Minister Tony Blair handled the finances. She offers suggestions on improving the function of NHS.

The article reflects on restoring trust between the people and politicians in Great Britain. This came after the survey made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life revealed that one in four people trust politicians to tell the truth. Aside from this, political in-fighting has been observed between the Blairites headed by Tony Blair and the Brownites headed by Gordon Brown, which has caused a divisive split within the Labour Party for more than a decade.

The article comments on the advertisement about the privatization of primary care trusts (PCT) in Great Britain. Although the advertisement was immediately withdrawn and National Health Secretary (NHS) Patricia Hewitt denied the issue, there are still fears that the outsourcing of PCT services would be a step towards privatization. This is typical of the government, which has pursued health policies without proper consultation with stakeholders and the parliament. It undermines the efforts of NHS workers to provide more effect PCT service.

Examines the impact of the speed of health policy reform in Great Britain. Examples of service cuts and patient impacts; Contribution of nurses to the National Health Service; Indications that nurse prescribing is working.

Comments on the state of the nursing profession in Great Britain as of May 2006. Reason behind the efforts of universities to reduce the number of places for nursing students; Challenge facing post registration students; Impact of low pay and freeze recruitment for both students and qualified nurses on the nation's health service.

Comments on the changes being faced by the primary care sector in Great Britain. Actions taken by the government of Great Britain to assist the sector; Suggestion that the government should not ignore the financial pressure facing primary care trusts (PCT); Difficulties being experienced by grass roots health professionals.

Focuses on the white paper "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction in Community Services," released by the British government. Change in the way community health services are delivered; Criticism gave by some nurse leaders on the white paper; Role of community nurses in the delivery of care.

Focuses on the 2005 Annual Employment Survey carried out by the Royal College of Nursing, which found that majority of nurses in Great Britain are positive about their jobs and nursing as a career. Reason for the planned reduction in community nurse jobs; Concern raised by nurse unions that experienced specialist nurses and modern matrons could be targeted by the proposed reforms in primary care trusts; Commitment of the British Labour Government to the public health agenda.

Focuses on the issues raised by the changes in the National Health Service organisations to primary care staff in Great Britain. Opportunities offered by the changes to entrepreneurial nurses; Implication of the changes to community based services.

Comments on the difficulties facing foreign nurses to gain employment in Great Britain as of 2005. Alternatives open to foreign nurses while waiting for their work registration; Comments of the author on the potential of Great Britain in the nursing profession; Emphasis on the quality of practice placements to ensure equality across the board.

Comments on the general election in Great Britain in May 2005. Priorities of elected Prime Minister Tony Blair for his third term in office; Indication of the Liberal Democratic Party's election successes, according to party leader Charles Kennedy; Views of Blair on election.

Discusses the pledges of several British political parties for the health care sector in conjunction with the national election in 2005. Expansion of recruitment and retention of medical personnel; Career development of nurses; Increase in investment at the British National Health Service.

The article provides information on the six-point pledge of Great Britain's Labour Party in preparation for the next general election. The Party has pledged low inflation and mortgages as low as possible, with more people off benefit and into work, and a rise in minimum wage and more help for first time buyers. It has also pledged to shorten National Health Service waiting lists, and that no one has to wait more than 18 weeks for hospital treatment.

The article weighs the possible effects of the proposals to change civil service pensions on National Health Service staff in Great Britain. The British government is proposing to change the retirement age from 60 to 65 from 2006 for new civil servants and from April 2013 for existing workers. Also, the government wants to reduce the benefits for people who retire early. The proposals may lead civil servants to be paying more for their pensions or they may see their pension halved.

Microwave pyrolysis has become an attractive form of processing technology to generate bio-oil, bio-char and syngas from different biomass feedstocks. In this study, microwave pyrolysis was performed on the UK native seaweed Laminaria digitata and its extract residue from a bio-refinery process. Pyrolysis of these two feedstocks was successfully achieved without the requirement of microwave susceptors, as pelletizing the biomass was sufficient to allow microwave pyrolysis to occur. It was found that average energy requirements as low as 1.84–2.83 kJ g−1 were required to pyrolyse 55–70% of both feedstocks and bio-oil yields of 5–8% and 10–14% for native and extraction residue L. digitata were produced, respectively. Maximum microwave pyrolysis processing times were in the order of 200 s. The bio-oil generated from both feedstocks contained no phenolic based compounds, but a greater number of nitrogen-containing compounds and compounds derived from macroalgal polysaccharides. Yields of certain compounds differed in bio-oils generated from the two L. digitata feedstocks, however it was observed that specific energy did not have a direct influence on bio-oil compound yield. Furthermore, the identification of a particular nitrogen-containing compound L-Proline, 1-methyl-5-oxo-, methylester is thought to be a unique product of microwave pyrolysis when carbon-based additives are avoided. Image 1 • Microwave pyrolysis of Laminaria digitata and its extraction residue were investigated. • Microwave pyrolysis was achieved without use of microwave susceptors. • Energy requirements of 1.84–2.83 kJ g−1 pyrolysed 55–70% of both feedstocks. • Maximum pyrolysis processing time of 200 s required. • Bio-oils contained no phenolic compounds but an abundance of nitrogen based compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]