Search

Educational institutions have been among the most active social organisations responding to and facilitating processes associated with globalisation. This has primarily been undertaken through the attempts of schools and universities to 'internationalise' their student intake, staffing, curricula, research, and assessment systems. Amongst the many benefits associated with the promotion of 'internationalisation' is that it will provide students with attributes such as global citizenship, skills or competencies that will contribute to improving tolerance, respect and harmony between nations and cultures. Various nations and global agencies actively promote such goals and global citizenship is included in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Positioned as a response to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has developed a metric to compare the 'global competency' of 15-year-old pupils, which was incorporated into the Programme for International Student Assessment 2018. We analyse the rationales for this decision, the conception of 'global competence' adopted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and how these have changed since its inception in 2013. We also explore how it will be measured and how the organisation deals with what it describes as 'the most salient challenge affecting PISA'. We argue: (i) the official conception of 'global competence' finally adopted was strongly influenced by the organisation's quest to position itself as the agency responsible for monitoring progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, and then amended to match what could be easily measured; and (ii) although the organisation presents its global competencies using a humanitarian discourse, it is framed by its economic mission.

Purpose: To date, the literature on perception of affective, pragmatic, and grammatical prosody abilities in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been sparse and contradictory. It is interesting to note that the primary perception of syllable stress within the word structure, which is crucial for all prosody functions, remains relatively unexplored in ASD. Thus, in the current study, we explored syllable stress perception sensitivity and its relationship to speech production abnormalities and communicative ability in adults with ASD. Method: A same-different syllable stress perception task using pairs of identical 4-syllable words was delivered to 42 adults with/without high-functioning ASD, matched for age, to investigate primary speech perception ability in ASD. Speech production and communicative ability in ASD was measured using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (Lord et al., 2000). Results: As predicted, the results showed that adults with ASD were less sensitive in making judgments about syllable stress relative to controls. Also, partial correlations revealed a key association of speech production abnormalities with stress perception sensitivity, rather than communicative ability. Conclusions: Our findings provide empirical evidence for deficits on primary syllable stress perception in ASD and its role on socio-communicative difficulties. This information could facilitate the development of effective interventions for speech and language therapy and social communication.

Background. Ischaemia with nonobstructive coronary arteries is most commonly caused by coronary microvascular dysfunction but remains difficult to diagnose without invasive testing. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) can be quantified noninvasively on stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) or positron emission tomography but neither is routinely used in clinical practice due to practical and technical constraints. Quantification of coronary sinus (CS) flow may represent a simpler method for CMR MBF quantification. 4D flow CMR offers comprehensive intracardiac and transvalvular flow quantification. However, it is feasibility to quantify MBF remains unknown. Methods. Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and healthy volunteers underwent CMR. The CS contours were traced from the 2-chamber view. A reformatted phase contrast plane was generated through the CS, and flow was quantified using 4D flow CMR over the cardiac cycle and normalised for myocardial mass. MBF and resistance (MyoR) was determined in ten healthy volunteers, ten patients with myocardial infarction (MI) without microvascular obstruction (MVO), and ten with known MVO. Results. MBF was quantified in all 30 subjects. MBF was highest in healthy controls (123.8 ± 48.4 mL/min), significantly lower in those with MI (85.7 ± 30.5 mL/min), and even lower in those with MI and MVO (67.9 ± 29.2 mL/min/) (P < 0.01 for both differences). Compared with healthy controls, MyoR was higher in those with MI and even higher in those with MI and MVO (0.79 (±0.35) versus 1.10 (±0.50) versus 1.50 (±0.69), P = 0.02). Conclusions. MBF and MyoR can be quantified from 4D flow CMR. Resting MBF was reduced in patients with MI and MVO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As nurses, midwives and allied health professionals deliver the majority of direct patient care, they are well placed to lead research and generate evidence to inform practice. Aims: To consider how best to implement the findings of The Whitehouse Report, to reflect on the development of a nursing, midwifery and allied health professions research and evaluation service at a UK NHS foundation trust, and to understand the mechanisms that contribute to change. Methods: Using the principles of change theory we developed four theories of change, underpinned by a logic model, to consider the sequence of events and the expected results. The impact of the new service on workforce capacity and capability and the mechanisms of change were considered retrospectively over a two-year period between 2019 and 2021. Surveys, interviews, field notes and data regarding a number of projects were collected and reviewed. Results: Research, quality improvement and service evaluation activity have increased across all nursing, midwifery and allied health professions at our hospital trust. Six underpinning core values and seven practical mechanisms to implement these values were identified as successful drivers of change for the service. Discussion: The intentional development of a network of teams, individuals and patients was fundamental to building capacity, capability and confidence among staff. Enablers to the increase in research activity included using role modeling, inspiration and perseverance to make visible the value of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in leading research-based care. Preconceived ideas of who 'should' do research challenged the positive culture of critical inquiry for the benefit of patients, service improvements and celebration of existing work. Strategies to support research activities across the professions require vision, time, infrastructure and buy-in at micro, meso and macro levels, as well as a sustained effort from those directly involved. Conclusions: It would be beneficial to encourage bespoke approaches to help staff translate ideas into practice-based projects as part of capacity, capability and confidence building for research across the clinical workforce. Audit, quality improvement and evaluation activities can lead directly to an increase in research engagement, involvement and leadership among nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, as well as supporting recruitment and retention. Future research could explore whether this approach would be replicable and effective in other healthcare organisations or systems. Implications for practice: • Shared values are essential to forge progress in research activities led by nurses, midwives and allied health professionals • The use of audit, quality improvement and service evaluation approaches are effective in increasing research activity within organisations • A number of approaches to growing the capacity, capability and confidence of staff should be considered within the organisational context. One approach does not fit all • Research-active organisations have better outcomes for patients, whether or not the patients are part of a trial. Increasing the capacity and capability of staff means more research is likely to be undertaken through a nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals lens [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in research examining the role of personal values in mental health. This study aims to investigate the relationship between value priorities and both depression and anxiety while exploring whether valued living is a better predictor of these variables compared to value priorities in a youth sample. A total of 335 young people aged 16–25 (M age = 17.92, SD = 2.59) from the United Kingdom completed measures assessing value priorities, valued living, depression, and anxiety, alongside demographic information. Values with both growth and personal focus orientations (i.e., Openness-to-Change) had stronger associations with depression and anxiety. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that valued living predicted depression and anxiety over value priorities, explaining more variance in depression compared to anxiety. Value priorities explained additional variance over valued living only for anxiety, but not for depression. The findings indicate the importance from a public health and clinical perspective of enabling people to identify their values and facilitating them to live in a manner that is consistent with those values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement of adverse effects of psychological therapy is inconsistent due to ambiguity about the concept. The perspective of people undertaking psychological therapy (that is, experts by experience) has largely been overlooked. This study will investigate whether there is consensus between the opinions of professionals and experts by experience. The Delphi method was used. In Round 1 thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative responses. Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests were used to examine group differences in Rounds 2 and 3. The study protocol was prospectively registered, reference osf.io/f9wp7. Fifty‐one professionals and 51 experts by experience generated 147 potential adverse effects in Round 1, across 9 themes; including 'therapy amplifies problem', 'emotional lability' and 'sense of self'. Each item was rated for overall consensus in Rounds 2 (n = 62) and 3 (n = 63). Thirty‐eight items were rated as essential, very important or important to include on a list of potential adverse effects. A further 12 items were rated as important by the expert by experience group only. Professionals were more conservative in their ratings. There appeared to be consensus between professionals and experts by experience on what to include in a list of adverse effects of psychological therapy (the EDAPT), including novel adverse effects which have not been previously considered. Further research is required to understand which adverse effects are necessary, unnecessary, or indeed harmful to psychotherapy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of logical reasoning was found to be absent in United Kingdom secondary education economic syllabi and curriculum materials. It is suggested that the inclusion of logical reasoning would be conducive to achieving some of the aims of economics education. Examples of how this topic can be incorporated are provided. (Author/RM)

The Hynes pharyngoplasty is the second most often performed procedure for velopharyngeal insufficiency in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A crucial step of the procedure is reliable fixation of the flaps onto the posterior pharynx wall. We prefer to fix the flaps to the prevertebral fascia. By using a manually straightened needle and a skin hook, in our hands, placement of this stitch can be made easier and faster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Comparative Education research, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), and educational reform policy, focusing on Great Britain. Topics addressed include connections between a country's economic and educational performance, and he expresses concerns regarding linking policies and pupil performance data.

This paper examines 90 UK police officers’ perceptions of characteristics of interviews with suspects of rape and murder involving child and adult victims. Officers rated their beliefs about how stressful they would find such interviews, the importance of confessions, their likely emotional involvement and how much empathy they would show towards the suspect. Murder cases were reported to be more stressful than rape, and confessions were deemed to be less important for respondents compared to ‘other’ officers. Officers reported that they would become more emotionally involved in cases involving children, and they would show more empathy in murder cases than rape cases. Officers were unable to provide clear and unambiguous definitions of ‘empathy’ or ‘sympathy’. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Peatlands are important global terrestrial carbon stores as well as sources of regional potable water supply. Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in surface waters have increased across Europe and parts of North America in the past decades, resulting in increased water treatment problems and cost. However, it is unclear how climate change may impact DOC in peatland-derived potable water. Here we use a physically based hydrological model (PERSiST) and a biogeochemical organic carbon model (INCA-C) to predict discharge and DOC concentration in nine hotspots of peatland-derived potable water use in the UK under a range of 21st-Century climate and sulphate-deposition scenarios. These catchments supply 72 % of all peat-derived water consumed in the UK, and 57 % of the global total. The annual average and seasonal variability of DOC concentrations are likely to increase while the mean discharges are likely to decrease under all future scenarios. The large increases (by as much as a factor of 1.6) in DOC concentration in the 2090s over the baseline period are projected in the autumn and winter, a time when DOC concentrations are already high in the baseline datasets. However, the total DOC flux is largely insensitive to future climate change because the projected increase in DOC concentration is mostly counterbalanced by the projected decrease in discharge. To fulfil regulations on DOC concentrations in water supplies for all nine study catchments in the 2090s, at least £1.5 billion of the capital investment for new treatment plants will be required. Thus, more efficient water treatment technology and responsible stewardship of peatlands will be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author reflects on the reviewing and the differences between New Zealand and Great Britain. He mentions that there has been several publications marking the centenary of World War I that has been reviewed extensively, and mentions British book reviewing culture which include literary qualities and public discussions regarding war. He further highlights several aspects of New Zealand critical culture.

Background: Health and care staff have limited opportunities to design, deliver and lead critical enquiry activities., Aims: To explore barriers and enablers of building capacity, capability and confidence of these practitioners who wish to undertake critical enquiry activity., Methods: A realist conceptual framework including the development of middle range theory allowed analysis of the scholarship process and outcomes. Data were collected through snap surveys, interviews (face to face and online) and project output (posters)., Results: Nine scholars completed the programme and all participated in the study. They all experienced an increase in capacity, capability and confidence in critical enquiry activity. Six overarching themes arose from analysis of the interviews and snap survey data: value; expertise; attitudes; meaningful, responsive support; brain space; and skill and knowledge acquisition., Discussion: A combined focus on people and project while staff remained embedded in their work area was key for the growth of skills and knowledge and creating impact from projects. Guilt at having dedicated time to take part in the programme was a self-imposed barrier to building capacity and capability. Social capital (gained from bringing together individuals from different groups with shared values) facilitated bonding, which increased psychological safety and helped enable capability and confidence., Conclusion: The combination of theory and practice embedded in a real-world context led to positive outcomes for staff, patients, carers and the facilitation team as real-life changes were made in clinical environments.

Introduction: Traditionally, wards in acute care hospitals consist predominately of multioccupancy bays with some single rooms. There is an increasing global trend towards a higher proportion of single rooms in hospitals, with the UK National Health Service (NHS) advocating for single-room provision in all new hospital builds. There is limited evidence on the impact of a ward environment incorporating mostly single and some multioccupancy bays on patient care and organisational outcomes., Methods and Analyses: This study will assess the impact of a newly designed 28-bedded ward environment, with 20 single rooms and two four-bedded bays, on patient and staff experiences and outcomes in an acute NHS Trust in East England. The study is divided into two work packages (WP)-WP1 is a quantitative data extraction of routinely collected patient and staff data while WP2 is a mixed-methods process evaluation consisting of one-to-one, in-depth, semistructured interviews with staff, qualitative observations of work processes on the ward and a quantitative data evaluation of routinely collected process evaluation data from patients and staff., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval was obtained from the UK Health Research Authority (IRAS ID: 334395). Study findings will be shared with key stakeholders, published in peer-reviewed high-impact journals and presented at relevant conferences., Competing Interests: Competing interests: This study is funded by James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and some members of the research team namely ES, HA, HH, JC and PM are Trust employees with whom Staffordshire University team collaborated to facilitate data collection and access. The authors declare that they have no other competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: When possible, a single-stent technique to treat coronary bifurcation disease is preferable. However, when 2 stents are required, there is scope to improve on existing techniques. The crush technique has already been improved with the introduction of double-kissing (DK) and minicrush. We sought to refine and simplify the minicrush technique, retaining its advantages while avoiding its disadvantages, by developing a DK nanocrush technique., Methods: The DK nanocrush method allows complete lesion coverage of a bifurcation lesion without excessive metal layers. This is achieved by positioning the side branch (SB) stent with minimal protrusion into the main branch (MB), implantation of the SB stent with an undeployed balloon in the MB, immediate kissing-balloon inflation with formation of a minimal neocarina, stenting the MB, recrossing the proximal part of the SB without crossing a double metal layer, and final kissing. We demonstrate this technique with benchtop implantation, microscopic computed tomographic reconstruction, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling, and clinically with the use of angiographic and intravascular imaging., Results: The DK nanocrush was practically feasible and resulted in full ostial coverage. CFD analysis demonstrated minimally disturbed blood flow. The technique was successfully utilised in 9 patients with bifurcation lesions with excellent angiographic outcomes and no adverse events over 12 months., Conclusions: The DK nanocrush technique may represent the ultimate refinement of the original crush technique with a number of practical and theoretical advantages. It remains to be tested against other bifurcation techniques in prospective trials., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Hynes pharyngoplasty is the second most often performed procedure for velopharyngeal insufficiency in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A crucial step of the procedure is reliable fixation of the flaps onto the posterior pharynx wall. We prefer to fix the flaps to the prevertebral fascia. By using a manually straightened needle and a skin hook, in our hands, placement of this stitch can be made easier and faster.