6277 research outputs found
Sort by
She Said, She Said: Screening Women’s Stories of Sexual Violence in the #MeToo Era
No full textWhen investigative journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey broke the Harvey Weinstein story in the New York Times in October 2017, two of the seven women named in the article agreed to go on record; the rest “declined to comment” or said they were unable to. The article exposed decades of harassment, abuse and violence to which the now-incarcerated Hollywood producer subjected female employees, describing the silencing of assistants, executives and actors with confidentiality clauses and non-disclosure agreements. Women sharing and telling stories of sexual violence is fundamental to the MeToo movement, both the viral #MeToo social media campaign that spotlighted Hollywood and the grassroots originator founded by Tarana Burke in 2006 with its specific focus on giving voice to Black, queer, trans, disabled communities and communities of color. Yet to speak out and share stories of sexual violence in the #MeToo era is a double-edged sword: to speak out is only the beginning. This chapter examines the telling of women’s stories of sexual violence in film in the #MeToo era, specifically film representations that spotlight Hollywood. What does it mean to screen women’s stories of sexual violence in the #MeToo era? I explore this question by drawing on three films released in the #MeToo era that feature women telling their stories of sexual violence: Women Talking (Sarah Polley, 2022), Untouchable: The Rise and Fall of Harvey Weinstein (Ursula Macfarlane, 2019), and She Said (Maria Schrader, 2022). The films invite us to consider how women’s stories of sexual violence are represented, the choices that are made in screening women’s stories of sexual violence and the implications of those choices. The three films employ creative choices that disrupt, provoke, challenge the viewer and invite us to pause, reflect and respond. These moments and choices, I argue, are moments of performance/activism that contribute to the wider cultural reckoning regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment in Hollywood and beyond
Global state of the art of teaching life cycle assessment in higher education
Get PDFPurposeGlobally, there is an increased demand for education on life cycle assessment (LCA). In response, there has been an increase in course availability, but also a lack of clarity on the comprehensiveness of these offerings and the resulting student competencies.MethodsA global survey was conducted to obtain empirical evidence on teaching LCA. The survey explored the availability of LCA courses globally and the depth of the teaching, including expected core competencies and related teaching and learning workloads. A purposive sampling strategy was adopted wherein eligible participants were approached by the researchers.Results and discussionAccording to the survey, annually, over 10,000 students participate in more than 200 LCA courses. The results reflected the interdisciplinary nature of LCA with courses being taught across different disciplines, including engineering, chemical sciences, and economics. Estimated workload demands for achieving different competency levels were significantly lower than those estimated by an expert panel before. This may be attributed in part to respondents not accounting for the full workload beyond classroom interactions. Nonetheless, workload demands increased with competency levels.Conclusions and recommendationsThe results emphasize the need for a common understanding of LCA teaching with regard to content, literacy levels, and competencies to avoid false expectations of the labor and research markets in terms of available expertise. Therefore, LCA curriculum development and program planning remain significant challenges and essential tasks for the global LCA community
Precariousness and vulnerability: Seafarers in the COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the world and work in particular, but its effects on the labor market were not evenly distributed. Seafarers, who are essential workers engaging in international maritime transport, encountered exacerbated challenges to labor conditions at sea during the pandemic. Notably, the inability to conduct crew changes violated their right to rest, increasing the risk of fatigue-related safety accidents at sea. Additionally, the precarious nature of maritime employment relationships delayed seafarers waiting to enlist on the vessels, creating extended financial hardship ashore. Socio-legal analysis revealed how the pandemic, related public health measures and precarious employment heightened the vulnerability of seafarers during the pandemic. Applying the Pressure, Disorganization and Regulatory Failure model and supported by qualitative data collected through a policy review, media coverage analysis and semi-structured interviews, we identified how seafarers’ health and safety rights were significantly compromised during the pandemic. Even though various initiatives were raised by international governmental and non-governmental organizations to address the “humanitarian crisis” at sea, maritime labor regulatory failures were not effectively addressed throughout the multiple waves of the pandemic
Application of fuzzy cellular automata to optimize a vessel route considering the forecasted hydrometeorological conditions
Get PDFThe object of research is the processes of planning the minimum operating costs of a vessel with minimal risk to it and its cargo, considering the forecasted hydrometeorological conditions. The aim is to increase the fuel efficiency of a vessel’s passage, considering the forecast of weather conditions when forming an optimal safe route in the e-Navigation system. To achieve the research goal, conventional cellular automata and the mathematical apparatus of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic were used in the process of decision-making and assessment of the impact of weather conditions on traffic efficiency. The devised approach makes it possible to synthesize an optimal route for the vessel, which ensures minimum fuel consumption and has minimal risk for the vessel and cargo while considering variable hydrometeorological conditions along the route. Minimization of operating costs is achieved through the ability of cellular automata to describe the complex behavior of objects, considering local rules. Automata are a computing system in discrete spaces. Data uncertainty has led to the need to use a fuzzy system, the effectiveness of which depends on the quality and accuracy of rules. Fuzzy automata, by combining fuzzy logic and automata theory, made it possible to process continuous steps and model the inherent uncertainty. To determine the state of cells of a fuzzy cellular automaton and the transition function between them, a system of productive rules and membership functions was used. It is the consistency of the system of productive rules when using fuzzy logic to build a cellular automaton that enables the construction of a quasi-global optimal routing method in comparison with conventional methods for calculating the ship’s route
Brandcasting Pixar: Corporate allegory as corporate strategy in the war for the Disney succession
No full textCircular economy advances with artificial intelligence and digital twin: Multiple-case study of Chinese industries in agriculture
Get PDFThe population growth is drastically surging in demand for food and water and uplifting consumption and waste resulting in overburden of society and the environment. Urgent actions are required to address these emerging global issues. Therefore, adopting a circular economy (CE) is essential to sustain the consumption rate and accommodate the ever-increasing demand. Moreover, the CE practices accelerate the progress on sustainable development. From this perspective, digital technologies are playing driving roles in the successful implementations of CE practices and achievements of the United Nations’ (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs). Among various emerging digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin ((DT) are the promising ones. This paper aims to understand and explore how both technologies facilitate the CE transitions and attain SDGs in the agriculture domain. To this end, we provide insights into the concepts of CE, AI, and DT with preliminary and current research status. This research evaluates the contributions of global organizations for CE transitions. We elaborate on the significant contributions of AI and DT in the transition towards CE and identify some challenges that hinder the adoption of these technologies. Besides expanding knowledge, concise multiple case studies are also presented as evidence to depict how companies in China are deploying these technologies to digitize various operations and create solutions for waste management, sustainable resource consumption, renewal energy, water conservation, etc. Findings reveal that these companies successfully attain many SDGs of 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17. This paper enormously contributes to the emerging research domain of integrating CE, AI, DT, and agriculture
Doctors’ and nurses’ eating practices during shift work: findings from a qualitative study
No full textDoctors’ and nurses’ (DNs) wellbeing in the National Health Service is important for safe healthcare for those in need. However, their demanding duties, including irregular shift work, can significantly impact their health. Unfortunately, irregular working patterns are associated with higher sickness rates and stress among healthcare professionals due to the inherent challenges of the work(,). For example, shift work disrupts sleep and impairs cognitive function and performance, leading to poorer physiological and cardiovascular health(), workforce shortages and difficulties adapting to a consistently demanding workload, which can impact patient care delivery(). Despite the importance of workplace health and nutrition for DNs, our understanding of their dietary practices during shift work remains limited. Therefore, gaining insights into DNs’ eating habits during shifts is imperative to supporting their health. Our research aimed to understand DNs’ eating practices during their work, including the types of food consumed throughout the day.Online semi-structured interviews (n=16) were conducted with a convenience sample of current practising medical doctors (n=11) and nurses (n=5) in England. This provided an opportunity to compare and contrast the research data between DNs on workplace nutrition. All participants did shift work, encompassing varied working patterns, including day and night shifts, short and long days and weekends. Following Braun and Clarke’s() approach, an inductive thematic analysis presented the findings.Results elucidate six areas of DNs’ eating practices and dietary intake: before and during shifts, on long shifts, after shifts, during night shifts, and on non-working days. Our data suggests that DNs prioritise their clinical responsibilities over their dietary intake at work. Consequently, they often miss eating opportunities and consume caffeine to stay alert during their shifts. Furthermore, DNs viewed night shifts as involving less healthy food choices. While participants expressed their intention to eat healthily during their shifts, their clinical responsibilities made maintaining regular and nutritious dietary practices throughout the day challenging. Nevertheless, DNs value their meal after a shift as the most important, as this could be the only meal they eat throughout the day.Our results suggest that DNs’ eating practices and dietary intake are sub-optimal to recommended dietary guidelines. It also suggests that eating practices are varied, individualised and not applicable to all, considering the many environmental and occupational factors contributing to DNs’ nutritional behaviours. Therefore, dietary workplace interventions are recommended to improve DNs’ dietary behaviours at work. Future research should explore DNs’ eating practices through follow-up interviews at various time points. This approach will provide valuable insights into DNs’ dietary and nutritional behaviours during shift work, helping to uncover additional barriers and challenges beyond DNs’ daily experiences
Hands-on assessment in a hands-off world: strategic implementation of inclusive assessment in an online environment
No full textHamstring muscle-tendon geometric adaptations to resistance training using the hip extension and Nordic hamstring exercises
Get PDFTargeted resistance training stimulates hamstring muscle hypertrophy, but its effect on tendon-aponeurosis geometry is unknown. This study examined changes in hamstring muscle, free tendon, and aponeurosis geometry following a 10?week Nordic or hip extension exercise intervention. Thirty recreationally active males were randomly allocated (n?=?10 per group) to a Nordic, hip extension, or control group. Magnetic resonance imaging of both thighs was acquired pre- and post-intervention. Changes in free tendon and aponeurosis volume for each hamstring muscle, biceps femoris long head (BFlh) aponeurosis interface area and muscle volume-to-interface area ratio were compared between groups. Regional changes in muscle CSA were examined via statistical parametric mapping. The change in semimembranosus free tendon volume was greater for the Nordic than control group (mean difference?=?0.06?cm3, 95% CI?=?0.02?0.11?cm3). No significant between-group differences existed for other hamstring free tendons or aponeuroses. There were no between-group differences in change in BFlh interface area. Change in BFlh muscle volume-to-interface area ratio was greater in the hip extension than Nordic (mean difference?=?0.10, 95% CI?=?0.007?0.19, p?=?0.03) and control (mean difference?=?0.12, 95% CI?=?0.03?0.22, p?=?0.009) groups. Change in muscle CSA following training was greatest in the mid-portion of semitendinosus for both intervention groups, and the mid-portion of BFlh for the hip extension group. There was limited evidence for tendon-aponeurosis hypertrophy after 10?weeks of training with the Nordic or hip extension exercises. For the BFlh, neither intervention altered the interface area although hip extension training stimulated an increase in the muscle volume-to-interface area ratio, which may have implications for localized tissue strains. Alternative muscle-tendon loading strategies appear necessary to stimulate hamstring tendon adaptations
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Solent University Research Portal? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!