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In defence of fear: COVID-19, crises and democracy
Get PDFThe COVID-19 crisis has served, not just to instill fear in the populace, but to highlight the importance of fear as a motivating dynamic in politics. The gradual emergence of political philosophical approaches calling for concern for ‘positive’ emotions may have made sense under non-pandemic conditions. Now, however, describing fear in the face of a deadly pandemic as ‘irrational’ or born of ‘ignorance’ seems ‘irrational’ and ‘ignorant’. In this article, we draw upon the work of John Gray and behavioural science to present a defence of fear. We show how the pandemic has highlighted deficits in the work of four thinkers highly critical of fear: Martha Nussbaum, Zygmunt Bauman, Hannah Arendt and Sarah Ahmed. We argue that, if such approaches are to be of value in anything other than optimal conditions, then they have to acknowledge the fundamental role of fear in helping human beings to pursue fundamental interests
‘It feels like you’re going back to the beginning…’: addressing imposter feelings in early career academics through the creation of communities of practice
Get PDFIn exploring imposter feelings in early career academics, this article examines the impacts of adopting social constructivist pedagogies. It reveals the significance of reflective practice in a Post-Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice programme (PGCAP), supporting professional development in teaching, learning and assessment for new academics in a UK Higher Education context. A qualitative case study approach enabled researchers to gain insight into participants’ experiences; data was collected via semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest that causes for imposter feelings are multi-faceted, encompassing factors including interactions with students, and adjusting to university language, culture and systems. Alongside similar studies internationally, the authors present that employing social constructivist pedagogical tools in a planned programme of professional development for early career academics supports the creation of mutually empowering communities of practice (CoP), so addressing threats to professional identity, providing a horizontal alternative to organisational hierarchical support mechanisms, and enabling the construction of a secure academic identity
Spatializing gossip as chaotic and multiple liminal space
Get PDFHow do we understand gossip as spatialization processes? How can we address such processes through liminal space? In this paper, we challenge the trap of social determinism in understanding gossip and argue that gossip should be conceptualized through the mutual constitution and contestations between social relations and space. We draw on a three-month participant observation case study to explore such interactive processes and relations through the lens of liminal space. This paper contributes to the existing literature on gossip by addressing the overlooked importance of ‘space’ in theorizing and understanding gossip. We emphasize that space acts as a localized context for and an active participant in enabling or constraining social interactions for gossip. In doing so, we explore the theoretical potential and empirical possibility of theory blending of liminal space and gossip that can shed light on future research on unmanaged and marginalized social practices in organizations
Cross‐sectional and confining system unification on peak compressive strength of FRP confined concrete
Get PDFDespite the many axial confinement models already proposed for the determination of the peak compressive strength of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) confined concrete columns, they are, in general, applicable only to concrete columns of circular or square cross-section, with full or partial confinement arrangements. In this study, by proposing a cross-sectional and confining system unification approach, a new model is developed and calibrated based on a large test database. For the generalization of the cross-section and FRP-based confinement arrangement, the concept of confinement efficiency factor with a unified mathematical framework is adopted. By simulating experimental tests and comparing to the predictions of existing confinement models, the developed one demonstrates a very high reliability and suitable for design purposes by balancing the simplicity of the usage and accuracy
Progress of metal organic frameworks-based composites in electromagnetic wave absorption
Get PDFEelectromagnetic pollution has become an increasingly prominent problem and electromagnetic wave absorbing materials have received widespread attention. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) derived materials work as wave absorbing materials having the advantages of simple synthesis process, low production cost, high specific surface area and porosity, good thermal stability, and also have excellent impedance matching and various attenuation mechanisms, which have been widely studied in the field of electromagnetic wave absorption. In here, the classification and preparation methods of MOFs are summarized, their wave absorption mechanisms are analyzed. It also details the current research progress and analyses their advantages and disadvantages from the perspectives of monometallic MOF, multi-metallic MOF and wave absorbing materials derived from MOF compounded with other materials (including carbon materials, MXene and conductive polymers). This article aims to illustrate the application of MOFs and their derived composites in the research of electromagnetic wave absorption, and hopes to offer a reference for the further research based on these promising materials
Defining a threshold above which an adult can be considered to frequently use ambulance services: A retrospective cross-sectional study of emergency calls to an ambulance service in England
Get PDFObjective: There is no empirical definition of adult frequent use of ambulance services. This study aimed to define a threshold, and utilise this to explore characteristics of people frequently using services.
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in a single ambulance service in England. Routinely collected, pseudo-anonymised call- and patient-level data were collected for two months (January and June 2019). Incidents, defined as independent episodes of care, were analysed using a zero-truncated Poisson regression model to determine a suitable frequent-use threshold, with comparisons subsequently made between frequent and non-frequent users.
Results: A total of 101,356 incidents involving 83,994 patients were included in the analysis. Two potentially appropriate thresholds were identified: five incidents per month (A); and six incidents per month (B). Threshold A produced 3137 incidents from 205 patients, with five patients likely false-positive identifications. Threshold B produced 2217 incidents from 95 patients, with no false-positive identifications but 100 false-negatives compared to threshold A. Regardless of threshold, frequent users compared to non-frequent users had relatively reduced service use between 08:00 and 15:00, were younger and were more likely to receive lower-priority responses (all p < 0.001). We identified several chief complaints indicative of increased frequent use, including chest pain, psychiatric/suicide attempt and abdominal pains/problems.
Conclusions: We suggest a threshold of five incidents per month, with recognition that a small number of patients may be incorrectly identified as using ambulance services frequently. The rationale for this choice is discussed. This threshold may be applicable in wider UK settings and could be used for the routine automated identification of people using ambulance services frequently. The identified characteristics can help inform interventions. Future research should examine applicability of this threshold in other UK ambulance services and countries where patterns and determinants of frequent ambulance use may differ
Situational analysis for informing the global strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce
Get PDFBackground: Occupational Therapists are needed for meeting the health, rehabilitation, and occupational needs of the population worldwide, but there is no strategy for strengthening the occupational therapy workforce against a backdrop of an insufficient and inequitable supply worldwide.
Objective: To perform a situational assessment of occupational therapy workforce development and research toward informing a global human resources strategy for the occupational therapy workforce strengthening.
Method: A multi-methods design incorporating Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis based on scoping review findings, workforce development frameworks, and expert feedback.
Results: Strengths included identified workforce research trends, gaps, and findings. Weaknesses included a shortage of workforce research, lack of uniform and readily available workforce datasets, absence of workforce research programs, over-reliance on descriptive and non-experimental research, lack of research on workforce topics (e.g., diversity), and lack of labor market or economic analyses. Opportunities are the availability of guidance and tools for strengthening the health and rehabilitation workforce worldwide, and increased membership from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the World Federation funding of occupational therapy workforce research, the lack of occupational therapists data on international datasets and studies, suboptimal educational capacity in LMICs, lack of professional regulation and uniform workforce data collection in many contexts, and a perceived lower priority
of this health workforce focused on health and wellbeing rather than medical outcomes.
Conclusion: This SWOT analysis identifies strengths and opportunities to be seized and weaknesses and threats to be addressed by development of a strategy for the global strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce
Culturally and linguistically diverse registered nurses' experiences of integration into nursing workforce – A qualitative descriptive study
Get PDFBackground
The nursing shortage is a global and ongoing phenomenon that is expected to worsen. In many countries, imbalances in the nursing workforce will require international recruitment and plans to increase domestic and international nursing graduates. Nurses from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have been reported to experience challenges while integrating into the workforce.
Aim
To describe culturally and linguistically diverse registered nurses' experiences of their integration into the Finnish nursing workforce.
Methods
The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design. Data were collected during the spring of 2021 from 24 culturally and linguistically diverse registered nurses working in various healthcare settings in Finland. Data were analyzed using content analysis, which resulted in 596 open codes, 21 sub-categories, and 8 categories.
Results
According to the performed analysis, culturally and linguistically diverse nurses in Finland face cultural, ethnic and linguistic challenges. Organizational acceptance and acknowledgement of culturally and linguistically diverse nurses' competence can help decrease the practice of deskilling and the perception that foreign nurses have purely opportunistic goals. Cultural and language learning support, tailored orientation programs, and mentorship are the most common organizational strategies for supporting integration and competence development. The role of the nurse manager and organizational strategies were also identified as essential components of smooth integration, work wellbeing and retention.
Conclusions
Finnish healthcare organizations need to implement strategies that support culturally and linguistically diverse nurses' integration into the workforce. Nurse managers are important leaders that can foster culturally and linguistically diverse nurses' competence development, ensure the efficient use of their specialized skills, promote work wellbeing, and improve nurse retention
Morphology controllable urchin-shaped bimetallic nickel-cobalt oxide/carbon composites with enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption performance
Get PDFThe microscopic morphology of electromagnetic wave absorbers influences the multiple reflections of electromagnetic waves and impedance matching, determining the absorption properties. Herein, the urchin-shaped bimetallic nickel-cobalt oxide/carbon (NiCo2O4/C) composites are prepared via a hydrothermal route, whose absorption properties are investigated by different morphologies regulated by changing calcination temperature. A minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of -75.26 dB is achieved at a matching thickness of 1.5 mm, and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 8.96 GHz is achieved at 2 mm. Multi-advantages of the synthesized NiCo2O4/C composites contribute to satisfactory absorption properties. First, the interweaving of the needle-like structures increases the opportunities for scattering and multiple reflections of incident electromagnetic waves, and builds up a conductive network to facilitate the enhancement of conductive losses. Second, the carbon component in the NiCo2O4/C composites enhances the interfacial polarization and reduces the density of the absorber. Besides, generous oxygen vacancy defects are introduced into the NiCo2O4/C composites, which induces defect polarization and dipole polarization. In summary, the ternary coordination of components, defects and morphology led to outstanding electromagnetic wave absorption, which lightened the path for improving the electromagnetic wave absorption property and enriching the family of NiCo2O4 absorbers with excellent performance
Learning to manage as learning to fail: the lessons of running
Get PDFManagement learning aims to ensure managerial success and while failure is acknowledged, learners are encouraged to adopt a growth mindset and to bounce-back from failure. However, the complexity of contemporary managerial work and the degradation of the managerial labour process mean that managers increasingly experience failures. Managers therefore need to learn not merely from failure but to learn to tolerate failure, that is, to fail-well. The paper differentiates types of failures and focusses on intractable failures that leave managers feeling inadequate and that corrode their sense-of-self. Therefore, an affective and embodied identity-based understanding of managerial failure is developed and an empirical case-study of managers who engage in the most popular managerial sporting activity, running, is used to theorise the process of learning to fail-well. The mixed methods empirical study using artefact elicitation participant data and autoethnographic authorial data is detailed and suggestions for more reflexive managerial education are advanced