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A qualitative study of family members’ perspectives regarding decision-making for nursing home residents’ care
Get PDFReporting method: This study adheres to EQUATOR guidelines for qualitative research using the SRQR Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (O’Brien et al., Citation 2014).Supplementary material: Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2370545 .Purpose:
We explored how family caregivers perceive decision-making regarding the care of nursing home residents.
Methods:
This qualitative study used Flemming’s Gadamerian-based research method. In person semi-structured interviews about decision-making concerning residents’ care were conducted with 13 family members (nine women, four men) of residents of three Norwegian nursing homes.
Findings:
The following themes emerged: Excessive focus on autonomy threatens resident wellbeing and safety. Resident wellbeing is the caregiver’s responsibility. Resident wellbeing serves as a guiding principle.
Conclusions:
The family members of residents and the nursing home caregivers disagreed about the significance of upholding resident autonomy to respect residents’ dignity. The family members held that not all instances where residents refused care reflect autonomy situations as care refusal often does not reflect the resident's true values and standards but rather, stems from barriers that render necessary care actions difficult. In situations where residents refuse essential care or when the refusal does not align with the residents second-order values, the family members suggested that caregivers strive to understand the causes of refusal and seek non-coercive ways to navigate it. Hence, the family members seemed to endorse the use of soft paternalism in nursing homes to safeguard residents’ wellbeing and dignity.This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors
Elicitation using kit bag methods: Exploring embodied practice with female boxers
Get PDFIn this paper, we present a novel qualitative research method that uses a boxer's kit bag and the items contained within, to explore the relationship that participants have with activity-specific material items. These immersive sensory encounters explore the participants’ experiences of interacting with their kit and how their kit contributes to identity formation and their sense of belonging in the boxing gym. This method contributes to the field of material methods and elicitation by using everyday objects to stimulate the expression of embodied experiences. By observing participants interacting with their boxing kit and encouraging reflective attention to how the body responds to each item, we can examine how objects can both promote a sense of belonging in the boxing gym and support the narration of transitions in and out of character. This method could be used to explore other sports, occupations or activities which require activity-specific objects.Economic and Social Research Council (grant number: ES/P000649/1)
Effectiveness of different mixed physical barriers in controlling seawater intrusion in homogeneous and layered coastal aquifers
Get PDFAvailability of data and material: Upon request.Code availability: Upon request.The intrusion of salt water into coastal regions threatens water resources, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. It damages large quantities of fresh water in these regions, and the productivity of the freshwater abstraction wells declines. Management of seawater intrusion (SWI) is therefore needed to improve fresh groundwater in these regions. This study investigated 12 different configurations of mixed physical subsurface barriers (MPBs) to control SWI in homogeneous and heterogeneous layered aquifers. The effectiveness of different MPB locations and configurations was tested, including (i) a barrier wall on the landward side and the subsurface dams on the seaward side, (ii) a barrier wall on the seaward side and a subsurface dam on the landward side, and (iii) the barrier wall was placed above the subsurface dam, both with different permeabilities. All simulations were based on the SEAWAT code. The numerical model was validated against experimental data. The results showed that a permeable cut-off wall above an impermeable subterranean dam (case MPB-3) with different permeabilities resulted in a reduction of the seawater wedge of 91% and 92% for homogeneous and heterogeneous layered aquifers, respectively. When the barrier wall was placed on the land side and the dam on the seaside (case MPB-1), the reduction of the seawater wedge reached 83% and 85% for homogeneous and heterogeneous layered aquifers, respectively. In contrast, when the dam was placed on the land side and the wall on the seaside (case MPB-2), the saltwater wedge was reduced by 73% for both homogeneous and heterogeneous layered aquifers. In addition, a case study was conducted on the Biscayne aquifer, southeast Florida, USA, with homogeneous conditions. Seawater intrusion was reduced by 36% and 44% in case MPB-1, 41% and 38% in case MPB-2, and 43% and 46% in case MPB-3. These seawater intrusion control methods offer numerous benefits, including improving freshwater storage, effectively controlling salinity during droughts, and potentially improving contaminant management.This study did not receive any funding. Ismail Abd-Elaty thanks the Department of Water and Water Structures Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt, for constant support during the study. Alban Kuriqi is grateful for the Foundation for Science and Technology's support through funding UIDB/04625/2020 from the research unit CERIS (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/04625/2020
Experimental Characterization and Phase-Field Damage Modeling of Ductile Fracture in AISI 316L
Get PDFData Availability Statement: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.(1) Modeling and characterization of ductile fracture in metals is still a challenging task in the field of computational mechanics. Experimental testing offers specific responses in the form of crack-mouth (CMOD) and crack-tip (CTOD) opening displacement related to applied force or crack growth. The main aim of this paper is to develop a phase-field-based Finite Element Method (FEM) implementation for modeling of ductile fracture in stainless steel. (2) A Phase-Field Damage Model (PFDM) was coupled with von Mises plasticity and a work-densities-based criterion was employed, with a threshold to propose a new relationship between critical fracture energy and critical total strain value. In addition, the threshold value of potential internal energy—which controls damage evolution—is defined from the critical fracture energy. (3) The material properties of AISI 316L steel are determined by a uniaxial tensile test and the Compact Tension (CT) specimen crack growth test. The PFDM model is validated against the experimental results obtained in the fracture toughness characterization test, with the simulation results being within 8% of the experimental measurements. (4) The novel implementation offers the possibility for better control of the ductile behavior of metallic materials and damage initiation, evolution, and propagation.This research was supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, #GRANT No 7475, Prediction of damage evolution in engineering structures—PROMINENT and the Slovenian Research Agency ARIS for the research program P2-0137 Numerical and Experimental analysis of Nonlinear Mechanical Systems
Noise decomposition of dual synchronized propellers in hover
Get PDFPaper no. AIAA 2024-3045, Session: Propeller‚ Rotorcraft and V/STOL Noise IIIThis experimental study investigates the acoustic characteristics of dual propellers in the side-by-side configuration, and addresses the impact of blade tip-to-tip separation distances and relative blade-to-blade phase angles on the tonal noise generation with a specially designed propeller rig. The parametric study of co-rotating and counter-rotating configurations is performed to emphasize the effect and importance of phase synchronization in producing the tonal components, such as the first Blade Pass Frequency (BPF). The linearity of acoustic interference for the side-by-side propellers is investigated through the principle of superimposition. A unique noise decomposition algorithm for various rotation angles is developed to understand the directional behavior of the synchronized propellers. The responses of the first BPF noise radiation as a function of the rotation angle under different combinations of rotating direction and blade-to-blade phase angle have been established
Air Quality Index Prediction Using DNN-Markov Modeling
Get PDFData Availability Statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, M.A., upon reasonable request.Air quality measurements contribute to diverse socio-economic sectors, including the environment and healthcare. Many methods are commonly applied to present air-quality levels, reflecting differing national standards. This study presents an air quality index prediction model, to measure air pollution levels for healthcare applications in congested areas. DNN-Markov modeling techniques are used to predict air quality, based on environmental conditions at peak hours. The developed model presents different approaches for highly accurate prediction of the air quality index for the next hour at a given location, under specific environmental conditions. This system could be used to support planning decisions related to the consequences of air quality. The study was conducted in selected locations in Jordan and England as a comparative model prediction accuracy study using different big-data sets of multivariate time series in traffic-heavy locations. The air quality index was represented using Neuro Fuzzy Logic as a method to contribute in air quality index predictions within blurry (boundary) values. The selected DNN-Markov hybrid model could predict air quality with accuracy of around (RMSE 7.86) for the location in England, and around (RMSE 15.27) for the one in Jordan.The work was supported by the Brunel University London
Investigations into relationships between climate, crop production and migration in Malawi
Get PDFThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonAcross the world, climate change is affecting migration patterns through changes to natural resources and people’s livelihoods. In Malawi, the developing agrarian economy is particularly vulnerable to climate change through changing crop production and food security, which may ultimately drive people to migrate in search of alternative income sources.
Critical examination of literature yielded a conceptual model for ‘climate migration’. This model was then applied to the case study of Malawi and used to inform a set of regression models for a number of system compartments. Models utilised data from Malawi’s periodic Integrated Household Surveys (IHS) to examine associations between various predictor variables and crop production, food security and migration outcomes. By isolating the climate change signal, a negative relationship was also found between crop production and maximum temperature anomaly. Significant relationships were identified between maximum temperature and a small decrease in odds of prolonged hunger. However, studying the years preceding a household survey did not identify any relationship with crop production during survey years, nor did a multi-level crop production model identify any association with a range of climate variables. Sociodemographic predictors were found to be highly significant, including, gender, household wealth and farm size. Modest relationships were identified between migration status and food security metrics. In general, non-migrants were found to experiencing higher food insecurity than migrants though high district variation was uncovered. Prolonged hunger was associated with increased migration odds.
These modest findings also challenge popular narratives which may over-assert the current known role of climate change as a driver of migration. Further research is recommended particularly focusing on a range of rainfall data, extreme events and a wider range of agro-climatic variables. More detailed migration data is also called for to better understand these relationships. Variables should be explored as both drivers of migration as well as impeding migration through a ‘trapping effect’.London NERC DTP grant code NE/L002485/
Investment bank reputation and issuance fees: Evidence from asset-backed securities
Get PDFJEL classification: G21; G28.We examine the relationship between investment bank (IB) reputation and fees paid in ABS issuance. We compile an extensive instrument level dataset of over 35,000 ABS issued between 1997 and 2018 in the US and the European market. We find that reputation of IBs is influential in determining the compensation they are paid for their services in ABS issuance. On average, reputable IBs receive 3.74% higher fees in comparison to others. Moreover, our results show IBs’ ability to obtain lower initial yield spreads in ABS issuance. Overall, our findings provide evidence to the arguments that reputable IBs with high market presence offer high-quality services and assurance to the market participants (i.e., certification effect) leading to better deals. In return, they are able to charge higher fees
Verbal Learning and Memory Deficits across Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Insights from an ENIGMA Mega Analysis
Get PDFData Availability Statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article and code used for analysis will be made available by the authors on reasonable request pending appropriate study approvals and data transfer agreements between participating institutions.Supplementary Materials: The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/brainsci14070669/s1, Table S1: Inclusion/exclusion criteria for each data source; Table S2: Deficit in words recalled for each clinical condition relative to matched controls. Refs. [61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100] are cited in the Supplementary Materials.Deficits in memory performance have been linked to a wide range of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. While many studies have assessed the memory impacts of individual conditions, this study considers a broader perspective by evaluating how memory recall is differentially associated with nine common neuropsychiatric conditions using data drawn from 55 international studies, aggregating 15,883 unique participants aged 15–90. The effects of dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder on immediate, short-, and long-delay verbal learning and memory (VLM) scores were estimated relative to matched healthy individuals. Random forest models identified age, years of education, and site as important VLM covariates. A Bayesian harmonization approach was used to isolate and remove site effects. Regression estimated the adjusted association of each clinical group with VLM scores. Memory deficits were strongly associated with dementia and schizophrenia (p 0.05). Differences associated with clinical conditions were larger for longer delayed recall duration items. By comparing VLM across clinical conditions, this study provides a foundation for enhanced diagnostic precision and offers new insights into disease management of comorbid disorders.This research was funded by the Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program Long-Term Impact of Military Relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC), Grant/Award Numbers: W81XWH18PH, TBIRPLIMBIC under Awards Numbers: W81XWH1920067 and W81XWH1320095; US Department of Defense, Grant/Award Number: AZ150145; US Department of Veterans Affairs, Grant/Award Numbers: I01 CX002097, I01 CX002096, I01 HX003155, I01 RX003444, I01 RX003443, I01 RX003442, I01 CX001135, I01 CX001246, I01 RX001774, I01 RX001135, I01 RX002076, I01 RX001880, I01 RX002172, I01 RX002173, I01 RX002171, I01 RX002174, I01 RX002170, 1I01 RX003444; National Institutes of Health (NIH), Grant/Award Number(s): RF1NS115268, RF1NS128961, U01NS086625, U01MH124639, P50MH115846, R01MH113827, R25MH080663, K08MH068540, R01NS100973, R01EB006841, P20GM103472, RO1MH083553, T32MH019535, R01 HD061504, RO1MH083553, R01AG050595, R01AG076838, R01AG060470, R01AG064955, P01AG055367, K23MH095661, R01MH094524, R01MH121246, T32MH019535, R01NS124585, R01NS122827, R61NS120249, R01NS122184, U54EB020403, R01MH116147, R56AG058854, P41EB015922, R01MH111671, P41RR14075, M01RR01066, R01EB006841, R01EB005846, R01 EB000840, RC1MH089257, U24 RR021992, and NCRR 5 month-RR001066 (MGH General Clinical Research Center); National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Grant/Award Number: 1P20RR021938; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Grant/Award Numbers: PI15-00852, PI18-00945, JR19-00024, PI17-00481, PI20-00721; Sara Borrell contract, Grant/Award Number: CD19-00149; German Research Foundation DFG grant FOR2107, Grant/Award Numbers: JA 1890/7-1, JA 1890/7-2, NE2254/1-2, NE2254/2-1, NE2254/3-1, NE2254/4-1, KI588/14-1, KI588/14-2, DA1151/5-1, DA1151/5-2, SFB-TRR58, Projects C09 and Z02; European Union, NextGenerationEU, Grant/Award Numbers: PMP21/00051, PI19/01024; Structural Funds; Seventh Framework Program; H2020 Program under the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking: Project PRISM-2, Grant/Award Number: 101034377; Project AIMS-2-TRIALS, Grant/Award Number: 777394; Horizon Europe; NSF, Grant/Award Number: 2112455; Madrid Regional Government, Grant/Award Number: B2017/BMD-3740 AGES-CM-2; Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation; Research Nova Scotia, Grant/Award Number: RNS-NHIG-2021-1931; NJ Commission on TBI Research Grants, Grant/Award Numbers: CBIR11PJT020, CBIR13IRG026; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo; Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Grant/Award Number: HF F32NS119285; Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Grant/Award Number: 166098; Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, Grant/Award Number: 2232 PRG; Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, University of Otago; Biogen US Investigator-initiated grant; Italian Ministry of Health, Grant/Award Number: RF-2019-12370182 and Ricerca Corrente RC 23; National Institute on Aging; National Health and Medical Research Council, Investigator Grant/Award Number: APP1176426; PA Health Research, Grant/Award Number: 4100077082; La Caixa Foundation, Grant/Award Number: 100010434, fellowship code: LCF/BQ/PR22/11920017; Research Council of Norway, Grant/Award Number: 248238; Health Research Council of New Zealand Sir Charles Hercus Early Career Development, Grant/Award Numbers: 17/039 and 14-440; Health Research Council of New Zealand, Grant/Award Numbers: 20/538 and 14/440; Research and Education Trust Pacific Radiology, Grant/Award Number: MRIJDA; South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, Grant/Award Number: 2018076; Norwegian ExtraFoundation for Health and Rehabilitation, Grant/Award Numbers: 2015/FO5146; South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, Grant/Award Number: 2015044; Stiftelsen K.G. Jebsen, Grant/Award Number: SKGJ MED-02; The Liaison Committee between Central Norway Regional Health Authority (RHA) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Grant/Award Number: 2020/39645; National Health and Medical Research Council, Grant/Award Number: APP1020526; Brain Foundation; Wicking Trust; Collie Trust; Sidney and Fiona Myer Family Foundation; U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), Grant/Award Number: 13129004; Department of Energy, Grant/Award Number: DE-FG02-99ER62764; Mind Research Network; National Association for Research in Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders, Young Investigator Award; Blowitz Ridgeway and Essel Foundations; Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) of the medical faculty of Münster; NOW ZonMw TOP, Grant/Award Number: 91211021; UCLA Easton Clinic for Brain Health; UCLA Brain Injury Research Center; Stan and Patty Silver; Clinical and Translational Research Center, Grant/Award Numbers: UL1RR033176, UL1TR000124; Mount Sinai Institute for NeuroAIDS Disparities; VA Rehab SPIRE; CDMRP PRAP; VA RR&D, Grant/Award Number: IK2RX002922; Veski Fellowship; Femino Foundation grant; Fundación Familia Alonso; Fundación Alicia Koplowitz; CIBERSAM, Madrid Regional Government, Grant/Award Numbers: B2017/BMD-3740 AGES-CM-2, 2019R1C1C1002457, 21-BR-03-01, 2020M3E5D9079910, 21-BR-03-01; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Grant/Award Numbers: NE2254/1-2, NE2254/2-1, NE2254/3-1, NE2254/4-1
The sharing economy reaching its boundaries: What’s Next?
Get PDFPurpose:
The paper explores the evolution of the sharing economy, particularly focusing on the growing regulatory constraints and societal pushback. With platforms like Airbnb and Uber at the forefront, the paper investigates how these businesses, which initially thrived in an unregulated environment, are now facing tighter regulations and changing market conditions. It also examines potential future scenarios and strategic adaptations needed for the sharing economy to sustain its performance amid these emerging challenges.
Design/methodology/approach:
This article is an opinion piece based on secondary data sources. It analyzes the sharing economy's evolution by reviewing regulatory changes, competitive pressures, and societal responses.
Findings:
The sharing economy has reached significant boundaries due to evolving regulatory frameworks and increasing societal pushback. Examples include Barcelona's ban on short-term rentals and the U.S. Department of Labor's reclassification of gig workers. These changes indicate a shift in how these platforms operate, requiring new strategies to adapt to these pressures, such as increased transparency, partnerships with local governments, and environmental sustainability initiatives.
Originality/value:
The paper contributes to the ongoing discussion on the future of the sharing economy by highlighting its current boundary conditions, particularly focusing on regulatory developments and societal concerns. It offers unique insights into potential future adaptations and scenarios for platforms to sustain growth, making it relevant for both academics and practitioners interested in platform strategies and regulatory environments
Data sources:
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