Naturalizing relevance realization: why agency and cognition are fundamentally not computational.

The way organismic agents come to know the world, and the way algorithms solve problems, are fundamentally different. The most sensible course of action for an organism does not simply follow from logical rules of inference. Before it can even use such rules, the organism must tackle the problem of relevance.

The agential perspective: Countermapping the modern synthesis.

We compare and contrast two theoretical perspectives on adaptive evolution-the orthodox Modern Synthesis perspective, and the nascent Agential Perspective. To do so, we develop the idea from Rasmus Grønfeldt Winther of a 'countermap', as a means for comparing the respective ontologies of different scientific perspectives. We conclude that the modern Synthesis perspective achieves an impressively comprehensive view of a universal set of dynamical properties of populations, but at the considerable cost of radically distorting the nature of the biological processes that contribute to evolution.

Bridging the explanatory gaps: What can we learn from a biological agency perspective?

We begin this article by delineating the explanatory gaps left by prevailing gene-focused approaches in our understanding of phenotype determination, inheritance, and the origin of novel traits. We aim not to diminish the value of these approaches but to highlight where their implementation, despite best efforts, has encountered persistent limitations. We then discuss how each of these explanatory gaps can be addressed by expanding research foci to take into account biological agency-the capacity of living systems at various levels to participate in their own development, maintenance, and function by regulating their structures and activities in response to conditions they encounter.

Factors influencing the utilisation of free-standing and alongside midwifery units in England: a qualitative research study.

Objective: To identify factors influencing the provision, utilisation and sustainability of midwifery units (MUs) in England.

Design: Case studies, using individual interviews and focus groups, in six National Health Service (NHS) Trust maternity services in England.

Setting And Participants: NHS maternity services in different geographical areas of England Maternity care staff and service users from six NHS Trusts: two Trusts where more than 20% of all women gave birth in MUs, two Trusts where less than 10% of all women gave birth in MUs and two Trusts without MUs.

Autonomous and dependent-The dichotomy of birth: A feminist analysis of birth plans in Sweden.

Objective: To elicit pregnant women's perceptions of childbirth as expressed in their birth plans, and through a feminist lens analyse their wishes, fears, values, and beliefs about childbirth, as well as their expectations on partner and midwife.

Design: This study used qualitative content analysis, identifying subcategories, categories, and an overall theme in data gathered from women's written birth plans. A feminist theoretical framework underpinned the research.

First-time mothers' expectations of the unknown territory of childbirth: Uncertainties, coping strategies and 'going with the flow'.

Objective: To explore first-time mothers' expectations of labour and birth, coping strategies they adopt during pregnancy towards childbirth and coping strategies they expect to use during labour and birth.

Design: A qualitative Straussian grounded theory methodology was adopted, with data collected through semi-structured interviews in the third trimester of pregnancy. Ethical approval was gained.

Mapping midwifery and obstetric units in England.

Objective: to describe the configuration of midwifery units, both alongside&free-standing, and obstetric units in England.

Design: national survey amongst Heads of Midwifery in English Maternity Services SETTING: National Health Service (NHS) in England PARTICIPANTS: English Maternity Services Measurements descriptive statistics of Alongside Midwifery Units and Free-standing Midwifery Units and Obstetric Units and their annual births/year in English Maternity Services FINDINGS: alongside midwifery units have nearly doubled since 2010 (n = 53-97); free-standing midwifery units have increased slightly (n = 58-61). There has been a significant reduction in maternity services without either an alongside or free-standing midwifery unit (75-32).

Understanding tree growth responses after partial cuttings: A new approach.

Forest ecosystem management heads towards the use of partial cuttings. However, the wide variation in growth response of residual trees remains unexplained, preventing a suitable prediction of forest productivity. The aim of the study was to assess individual growth and identify the driving factors involved in the responses of residual trees.

First-time mothers' choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife's role and perceived safety.

Aim: To explore first-time pregnant women's expectations and factors influencing their choice of birthplace.

Background: Although outcomes and advantages for low-risk childbearing women giving birth in midwifery-led units and home compared with obstetric units have been investigated previously, there is little information on the factors that influence women's choice of place of birth.

Design: A qualitative Straussian grounded theory methodology was adopted.

The kaleidoscopic midwife: A conceptual metaphor illustrating first-time mothers' perspectives of a good midwife during childbirth. A grounded theory study.

Background: The literature review reveals general information about a good midwife from a range of perspectives and what childbearing women generally value in a midwife, but there is a lack of information around mothers' perspectives of what makes a good midwife specifically during labour and birth, and even less in the context of different places of birth.

Aim: To conceptualise first-time mothers' expectations and experiences of a good midwife during childbirth in the context of different birthplaces.

Design: Qualitative Straussian grounded theory methodology.

Midwives, gender equality and feminism.

Gender inequality and the harmful effects of patriarchy are sustaining the wide spread oppression of women across the world and this is also having an impact on maternity services with unacceptable rates of maternal mortality, the continued under investment in the midwifery profession and the limiting of women's place of birth options. However alongside these effects, the current zeitgeist is affirming an alignment of feminism and gender equality such that both have a high profile in public discourse. This presents a once in a generation opportunity for midwives to self-declare as feminists and commit to righting the wrongs of this most pernicious form of discrimination.

A 6-Year-Long Manipulation with Soil Warming and Canopy Nitrogen Additions does not Affect Xylem Phenology and Cell Production of Mature Black Spruce.

The predicted climate warming and increased atmospheric inorganic nitrogen deposition are expected to have dramatic impacts on plant growth. However, the extent of these effects and their interactions remains unclear for boreal forest trees. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of increased soil temperature and nitrogen (N) depositions on stem intra-annual growth of two mature stands of black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.

Evolving understanding and treatment of labour dystocia.

The objective of the review is to critically review the diagnosis and management of dystocia in the first stage of labour. We conducted a narrative review of research since 1998. Eight studies were identified, four about the onset and duration of active phase of the first stage of labour, one on the diagnosis of dystocia, and three focused on the treatment of dystocia.

Effecting change in midwives' waterbirth practice behaviours on labour ward: an action research study.

Introduction: the use of water immersion for labour and birth has been shown to be beneficial for women in normal labour (Cluett et al, 2009). It was decided to use problem solving coordinator workshops to change in the way waterbirth practice was promoted and organised on labour ward. Findings from the first Action Research phase (Russell, 2011) led to the development of a waterbirth questionnaire to measure midwives' personal knowledge of waterbirth practice, waterbirth self-efficacy, social support and frequency of hydrotherapy and waterbirth practice.

Midwives' beliefs and concerns about telephone conversations with women in early labour.

Objective: to explore midwives' concerns, experiences and perceptions of the purpose of telephone contacts with women in early labour.

Design: a qualitative design based on interpretive phenomenology.

Setting: two Maternity Units in the Midlands of England.

Realities, difficulties, and outcomes for mothers choosing to breastfeed: primigravid mothers experiences in the early postpartum period (6-8 weeks).

Objective: to develop an understanding of primiparous women's experiences and challenges of breast feeding in the early postpartum period at two BFI accredited hospitals in the East Midlands in the UK that has lower rates of sustained breast feeding.

Design And Setting: a hermeneutic or interpretive phenomenology study was conducted across two hospitals in the East Midlands, UK.

Data Collection: 22 primigravid women completed a daily written diary maintained for six weeks post birth.

Critical realism: an important theoretical perspective for midwifery research.

Background: there is a dearth of papers in midwifery journals exploring the philosophical underpinnings of various research methods. However, explaining and justifying particular ontological and epistemological positions gives coherence and credibility to chosen research methods.

Objectives: to explore and explain the philosophical underpinning of critical realism and argue for it to be more widely adopted by midwifery researchers, using the exemplar of dystocia research.

Alternative versus conventional institutional settings for birth.

Background: Alternative institutional settings have been established for the care of pregnant women who prefer little or no medical intervention. The settings may offer care throughout pregnancy and birth, or only during labour; they may be part of hospitals or freestanding entities. Specially designed labour rooms include bedroom-like rooms, ambient rooms, and Snoezelen rooms.

A metasynthesis of midwife-led care.

The purpose of this metasynthesis is to describe and interpret qualitative research relating to midwife-led care to see if it sheds light on why low-risk women experience fewer birth interventions within this model of care. Eleven articles were included in the review. Three themes emerged: (a) relationally mediated benefits for women that resulted in increased agency and empathic care; (b) the problematic interface of midwife-led units with host maternity units, stemming from a clash of models and culture; and (c) greater agency for midwives within midwife-led models of care though bounded by the relationship with the host maternity unit.

Mechanism and purpose: A case for natural teleology.

This paper develops a naturalised account of teleological explanation. Any such account must be consistent with the completeness of mechanism. The account I offer of teleological explanation is adapted from a prominent approach to the understanding of causal-mechanistic explanations.

Two neo-Darwinisms.

There are two extant theories of evolution, each of which deserves the honourific "neo-Darwinism": Modern Synthesis Replicator theory and a theory I shall call Developmental Darwinism. The principal difference concerns the canonical unit of biological organization. Modern Synthesis replicator theory explains the process of evolution by appeal to the activities of genes or replicators.

Alternative versus conventional institutional settings for birth.

Background: Alternative institutional settings have been established for the care of pregnant women who prefer and require little or no medical intervention. The settings may offer care throughout pregnancy and birth, or only during labour; they may be part of hospitals or freestanding entities. Specially designed labour rooms include bedroom-like rooms, ambient rooms, and Snoezelen rooms.