20588 research outputs found
Sort by
I am still concerned about them: Grandmother kinship caregivers and the challenge of abuse by children in their care
Get PDFResearch evidence has shown that adverse occurrences within the kinship caregiving environment, such as the grandparents\u27 experiences of violence and abuse, may introduce new stressors or exacerbate existing aged-related challenges, leading to adverse impacts on grandparent kinship carers. Yet no research has explored the impact of abuse and violence experienced by grandparent kinship caregivers from children in their care. This study involved narrative interviews with 31 grandmother kinship caregivers in Ghana to explore the adverse effects of the abuse they have experienced from children in their care. The study findings revealed the following impacts on grandmothers: (1) high blood pressure, (2) community violence, (3) shame and isolation, (4) low self-esteem and efficacy and (5) anxiety. Abuse incidents motivated by witchcraft accusations were legitimized by other community members, leading to acts of community violence towards the grandmothers. Despite the adverse impacts on their well-being, the grandmothers expressed grave concerns about their grandchildren and were not willing to terminate their caregiving responsibilities due to the cultural norms and obligations underlying kinship care arrangement. The findings suggest the need for the development of targeted family-based and age-appropriate education and training for children in grandparent kinship care on abuse towards grandmothers
Parasite sedimentary DNA reveals fish introduction into a European high-mountain lake by the seventh century
Get PDFHigh-mountain lakes were historically fishless due to natural barriers, but human introductions have led to widespread fish presence. Although particularly intensive during the last decades, historical documents indicate introductions in European high mountains already during the 14th and 15th centuries, but they could have occurred before, provided the intensive land use of the high mountain had started earlier. We used ancient environmental DNA from lake sediments (sedDNA) to investigate this hypothesis. Fish ectoparasites from various clades were identified using the 18S rRNA gene in the sediment record of a deep, high-mountain Pyrenean lake, with Ichthyobodo (Kinetoplastea) being of particular interest due to its consistent occurrence. The study shows a continued presence of fish parasites in the lake since the 7th century, which coincides with the Late-Roman and Visigothic extensive mountain use for sheep pasturing as supported by nearby archeological remains and increased lake primary production evidenced by photosynthetic pigments
Skin-to-skin contact at birth for very preterm infants and symptoms of depression and anxiety in parents during the first year – A secondary outcome of a randomized clinical trial
Get PDFBackground: Mental health issues are common in parents to preterm infants. In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), skin-to-skin contact (SSC) as an avenue for parent-infant closeness may improve parental mental health. Few studies exist regarding its benefits when initiated immediately postbirth. The aim was to determine the effect of SSC for very preterm infants at birth on parents\u27 mental health, by assessing symptoms of depression and anxiety within the first year. Methods: The Immediate Parent-Infant Skin-to-Skin Study was a randomized clinical trial conducted 2018–2021 at three NICUs in Sweden and Norway. Very preterm infants (28–33 weeks of gestation) were allocated to standard incubator care or SSC with either parent, initiated at birth and continued throughout the first 6 h. Symptoms of depression and anxiety in parents were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results: The study included 91 infants (36 twins [40 %]) and 73 mothers and 73 fathers. Infants had a mean gestational age of 31 + 1 weeks and birthweight of 1534 g. Immediate SSC was found to significantly reduce depression symptoms in mothers and anxiety symptoms in fathers at one week after birth and depression and anxiety symptoms in fathers at term-equivalent age of infant. Limitations: Limitations include a small sample size and limited background data on prenatal depression and anxiety. Conclusions: Immediate parent-infant SSC following a very preterm birth may provide a protective effect on parents\u27 mental health and should be supported in the clinical setting, alongside necessary nursing, and medical care
Unravelling the motivations for the environmental harm posed by the unsustainable practices by the apparel industry in Ghana
Get PDFThe apparel industry in Ghana has increasingly come under scrutiny for its environmental footprint, particularly in the wake of rising concerns about ecological degradation. This study critically examines the motivations behind unsustainable practices within the industry, exploring how economic, cultural, and structural factors contribute to environmental harm. Using Routine Activity Theory (RAT) as a guiding framework, the research identifies key drivers of ecological damage, including the dominance of profit-driven decisions, market demand for fast apparel, limited awareness of sustainable practices, and challenges in accessing eco-friendly materials. Additionally, the study investigates how the apparel industry\u27s operations exploit natural resources and fragile ecosystems, making them vulnerable to degradation. The research adopts a qualitative approach, employing semi-structured interviews with 25 purposively selected apparel designers in Ghana to gain in-depth insights into their experiences and sustainability challenges. Despite existing sustainability efforts, gaps in enforcement, policy inconsistencies, and greenwashing continue to hinder meaningful progress. The study highlights the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight, increased industry awareness, and economically viable sustainability strategies. By bridging criminological and environmental perspectives, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of ecological harm in Ghana’s apparel sector and provide a foundation for actionable interventions
When nurses worry: A concept analysis of intuition in clinical deterioration
Get PDFBackground: Nurse worry is a criterion often included in early warning systems tools and used to escalate care when other clinical markers do not indicate deterioration. What it means to worry, however, is not always clear. Aims: To generate a concept analysis of nurse worry in relation to clinical deterioration. Design: Rodgers\u27s evolutionary method was used. Method: A review was first conducted in April 2024, searching the Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Pubmed, EmCare, and Embase databases. A total of 22 articles were subjected to analysis of the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of nurse worry in the context of clinical deterioration. The processes of nurse worry were subsequently mapped and conceptualised, leading to a descriptive statement of nurse worry. Results: Worry captures a nurse\u27s sense of knowing the patient and is embodied via assessing, sensing, recognising, and processing information, cues, and patterns. Conclusion: Nurse worry is a complex process, impacted by external and internal factors. Implications for the profession or patient care: Assured practice, driven by validation of a nurse\u27s worry, leads to proactive care of the deteriorating patient, whereas apprehensive practice, driven by fear and trepidation, leads to reactive care of the deteriorating patient. Impact: Nurse worry is a criterion often included in early warning systems tools and used to escalate care when other clinical markers do not indicate clinical deterioration. What it means to worry, however, is not always clear. From the concept analysis, a descriptive statement of nurse worry emerged. Worry captures a nurse\u27s sense of knowing the patient and is embodied via assessing, sensing, recognising, and processing information, cues, and patterns. Implications for the Profession or Patient Care: This research has implications for nurses, policymakers, and organisations, as nurse worry is an important element in detecting clinical deterioration. Nurse worry must be organisationally supported. Reporting Methods: PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-SCR). Patient or Public Contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution
Managing human sources: Identification and management of motivation
Get PDFHuman Source management is a critical function of intelligence and evidence collection by law enforcement and intelligence agencies across the world. Understanding the motivations of Human Sources is key to gaining high intelligence yields. Yet research which explores Human Source motivation, from a handler’s perspective, is limited. Even more limited is research which considers how motivation is identified and managed by law enforcement agencies across the course of a Human Source’s engagement with an agency. This research explores the experiences and perceptions of Human Source handlers from two Australian law enforcement agencies via semi-structured interviews (N = 17). Handlers highlighted the critical importance of identifying and understanding Human Source motivation. Handlers described a motivational cycle and deployed numerous strategies such as a conversational ‘life story’ approach and rapport building to elicit, assess and manage Human Source motivation over time. Factors such as life events resulted in changes to Human Source motivation requiring reassessment and management by the handler. Findings highlighted the importance of continuous assessment of Human Source motivation, intrusive supervision and psychological-based training to develop Human Source management expertise
Political brand transgression: An expanded stimuli-organism-response (SOR) framework perspective
Get PDFThis study examines political brand transgression (BT) using the Stimuli-Organism-Response (SOR) framework. It explores how voters and opponents perceive political BT and respond through anti-brand behaviors. Understanding these dynamics is essential for political entities to manage their brand and sustain voter support. Employing a qualitative case study with netnographic practices, this research analyzes perceived political BT by Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party, particularly regarding migration policies and unmet domestic promises. It identifies key stimuli—expectation disconfirmation and relationship norm violations—that trigger perceptions of transgression. The findings highlight core belief misalignments and performance failures as common drivers of political BT, leading to voter disappointment, switching intentions, and opposition-led criticisms, word-of-mouth damage, and efforts to unseat the party. This study extends the SOR framework by outlining the stimuli, process, and outcomes of political BT while identifying factors that moderate post-transgression behavior. Practically, it offers insights for political brand owners on maintaining self-consistency, assessing their governance capabilities, and curbing excessive zeal among supporters. By bridging brand management and political branding, this research provides a novel perspective on how political entities can navigate transgressions and maintain brand integrity, ultimately strengthening electoral resilience
Performance in multi-joint force-plate assessments in male and female Crossfit® athletes
Get PDFBackground: CrossFit® aims to be equitable between both males and female athletes, supporting equal representation and equal prize money at international events. However, to date, limited information is known on CrossFit® athletes’ performance in the countermovement jump (CMJ), countermovement rebound jump (CMR-J), and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) when assessed using force plates, and if there are any differences between sexes. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to observe whether any sex-based differences and relationships exist between performance within these assessments. Methods: A total of CrossFit athletes (43 male = 32.8 ± 9.0 years; height 1.78 ± 0.06 m; mass = 92.4 ± 10.6 kg; and 31 female = 31.0 ± 7.6 years, height = 1.64 ± 0.05 m; mass = 68.8 ± 6.0 kg) completed three trials of CMJ, CMR-J and IMTP using portable dual-system force-plate sampling at 1000 Hz. Results: Moderate–large relationships were observed between CMJ, CMR-J and IMTP outcome measures (r = 0.396–0.809, p \u3c 0.001). Males demonstrated small to moderately greater performance outcomes than females for CMJ height (males = 0.35 ± 0.08 m; females 0.30 ± 0.06 m, d = 0.73), CMR-J height (males = 0.32 ± 0.08 m; females = 0.30 ± 0.06 m, d = 0.39) and IMTP peak net force (males = 30.62 ± 10.01 N·kg−1; females = 27.49 ± 6.44 N·kg−1, d = 0.29). Conclusions: Maximal relative strength in CrossFit® athletes should be seen as imperative in both male and female athletes due to the meaningful relationship in ballistic and plyometric ability. Moreover, previous relationships with CrossFit® performance and the injury risk reduction benefits of improving strength provide further support. The descriptive data presented could be used by CrossFit® coaches to assess and compare the current performance of their own athletes in a battery of tests examining CMJ, CMR-J and IMTP, while also facilitating decisions upon prescription within training and competition
Pre-amplification of cell-free DNA: Balancing amplification errors with enhanced sensitivity
Get PDFCirculating tumour DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for personalised oncology. However, its clinical utility is limited by detection sensitivity, particularly in early-stage disease. T-Oligo Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (TOP-PCR) is a commercial amplification approach utilising an efficient “half-adapter” ligation design and a single-primer-based PCR strategy. This study evaluated the clinical value and application of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) pre-amplification. cfDNA amplification with TOP-PCR preserved DNA size profiles and resulted in a 22 bp size increase due to the half-adaptor ligation. Gene target amplification rates varied, showing lower efficiency for the GC-rich TERT promoter amplicon and higher efficiency for the BRAF and TP53 amplicons. Optimised pre-amplification (20 ng cfDNA input and 5–7 cycles of PCR) enhanced ctDNA detection sensitivity and expanded sample availability for the detection of multiple tumour-informed mutations. Importantly, PCR errors emerged in pre-amplified cfDNA samples, underscoring the necessity for negative controls and the establishment of stringent mutation positivity thresholds
Strength and Conditioning Society (SCS) 7th Annual Meeting, Murcia, Spain, 2024
Get PDFOn behalf of the Strength and Conditioning Society (SCS), we are pleased to present the abstracts submitted for the SCS 7th Annual Meeting. The event was held at the Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM) headquarters in Murcia, Spain, on 9–11 October 2024, and comprised several invited sessions by international and national speakers on a variety of topics related to biochemistry and exercise physiology, strength and conditioning practices and their application to health, injury prevention, and sports performance. These included strength training in high-performance sports, sport science and training–competition load management in elite environments, biochemistry and exercise physiology and prescription, nutrition and biomechanics, among others. The conference also included practical workshops by renowned academics and practitioners on eccentric training, change of direction ability, and strength and power training in professional team sports, combat sports, and ergospirometry and exercise prescription in specific populations. Finally, the event disseminated up-to-date strength and conditioning research by providing practitioners and researchers with the opportunity to present their most recent findings. All abstracts presented at the SCS 7th Annual Meeting can be found in this Conference Report