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Infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics for predicting commercial categories of virgin olive oils and supporting the panel test
No full textThe aim of this study was to create rapid and sustainable instrumental methods for screening virgin olive oils (VOOs) to support the Panel test. The Panel test is the official sensory method used in EU regulations to determine the commercial category of VOOs. The Panel test is based on a time-consuming and expensive approach, so reducing the number of samples to be analysed is crucial. Spectroscopy offers a potential solution for quickly determining VOOs composition and predicting their quality grade. In this context, three spectroscopic techniques were explored: Near-Infrared (NIR), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR), and Raman spectroscopy. A dataset of 100 VOOs samples, categorized into the three official grades (extra virgin, EVOO, virgin, VOO and lampante, LOO) established in EU, based on the Panel test results, was analysed. An initial analysis of all spectra revealed typical for triacylglycerols molecular vibrations and not good variability between types of samples, indicating low specificity. However, FT-IR data paired with two different Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) models – one differentiating LOO from non-LOO (VOO and EVOO) and another distinguishing LOO from VOO – yielded promising results. Cross-validation indicated successful sample classification with percentages ranging from 81% to 96%, in which LOO vs. no-LOO model showed the highest performance. These findings suggest that FT-IR coupled with chemometric analysis holds promise, particularly for discriminating LOO (inedible) from the higher-quality grade VOO and EVOO categories. Further research efforts are needed to possibly make the herein developed models more robust and potentially extend their application to differentiate all three VOO quality grades.<br/
Burns and Scapens' framework: a 25-year review of insights, challenges, and prospective directions
No full textPurposeBurns and Scapens (2000) (B&S hereafter) offered a well-cited framework conceptualising management accounting change. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of how B&S has been used to inform management accounting research and presents an updated framework as a point of departure for future work.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review method is used to ascertain various contexts and designs of B&S-based research. After an extensive examination of citations, 77 journal articles published are identified, described and analysed.FindingsThe systematic review shows that the B&S framework has been applied in many contexts, yet its main tenets remain unchallenged. Several researchers have suggested additions and amendments, and this paper synthesises these to an updated framework. Similar theoretical advancements were noted, indicating that future contributions should be grounded in comprehensive reviews of literature.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation is that the analysis is limited to journal articles and the results of the review are contingent on the authors’ reading.Originality/valueAn updated framework is a core contribution, serving as a basis for further advances in the understanding of the complexity of management accounting change/stability. In addition, concrete and fruitful areas for future research are presented.<br/
Global strategies to reduce elective surgery waiting times for sustainable health outcomes: a systematic review
No full textLong waiting times for elective surgery reflect not just backlog issues but systemic inefficiencies that disrupt the smooth flow of patients through the surgical care pathway. This systematic review adopts a holistic approach to summarize global policies, strategies, and interventions aimed at reducing elective surgery wait times. A comprehensive electronic search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from December 2019 to January 2020 and updated in April 2022. Eligible studies, published after 2013, focused on waiting lists for major elective surgeries in adults, excluding cancer-related surgeries. Both randomized and non-randomized studies and systematic reviews were included. Study quality was assessed using ROBINS-I, AMSTAR 2, and CASP tools, as appropriate. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019158455) and reported using a PRISMA flow diagram. From 7543 records, 92 articles met the inclusion criteria. Evidence was categorized into seven strategic areas: referral management, patient prioritization, preventing scheduled surgery cancellations, perioperative time management, quality improvement methods for surgical care pathways, and waiting time targets for hospitals. Strategies such as referral management, patient prioritization, and preventing cancellations had the most significant impact on reducing waiting times, while perioperative time management and waiting time targets proved less effective. The review highlights that targeted interventions at different stages of the surgical care pathway yield variable impacts on overall waiting times. While individual measures had limited effects, combining multiple short-term strategies may be more beneficial, particularly for health systems recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic
A qualitative interview study of care home managers’ experiences of medicines optimisation for residents with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textObjectives To explore care home managers’ views and experiences of optimising medicines use for residents with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design, setting and participants A descriptive exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured interviews (conducted via telephone or online videoconferencing platform) with care home managers across Northern Ireland, purposively sampled from care homes that provided care for residents with dementia. Care home managers were asked to describe their experiences of accessing primary healthcare services (such as those provided by general practitioners and community pharmacists), how medicines use by residents with dementia was affected by the pandemic, and what they had learned from their experiences. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.Results Fourteen interviews were conducted between January and July 2022. Four themes, ‘isolation’, ‘burden’, ‘disruption’, and ‘connection and communication’, were identified; isolation was a cross-cutting theme that permeated the other themes. Care home managers described feeling isolated from healthcare professionals, healthcare services and residents’ family members. This isolation placed additional burden on care home staff and residents with dementia by increasing staff workload and negatively affecting residents’ wellbeing. Participants reported that disruption to primary healthcare service provision, particularly services provided by general practices, had significant impact on residents with dementia. Participants described a lack of face-to-face contact with healthcare professionals, and medication review often ceased to take place. The connection and communication between key stakeholders were perceived to be important when optimising medicines for residents with dementia.Conclusions This study has highlighted the challenges and initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medicines optimisation for care home residents with dementia which was characterised by isolation. Further research is needed to determine the extent of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this resident population. In future public health crises, better communication is needed between healthcare professionals and care homes. <br/
Using mechanistic knowledge to appraise contemporary approaches to the rehabilitation of upper limb function following stroke
No full textIt is a paradox of neurological rehabilitation that, in an era in which preclinical models have produced significant advances in our mechanistic understanding of neural plasticity, there is inadequate support for many therapies recommended for use in clinical practice. When the goal is to estimate the probability that a specific form of therapy will have a positive clinical effect, the integration of mechanistic knowledge (concerning ‘the structure or way of working of the parts in a natural system’) may improve the quality of inference. This is illustrated by analysis of three contemporary approaches to the rehabilitation of lateralized dysfunction affecting people living with stroke: constraint-induced movement therapy; mental practice; and mirror therapy. Damage to ‘cross-road’ regions of the structural (white matter) brain connectome generates deficits that span multiple domains (motor, language, attention and verbal/spatial memory). The structural integrity of these regions determines not only the initial functional status, but also the response to therapy. As structural disconnection constrains the recovery of functional capability, ‘disconnectome’ modelling provides a basis for personalized prognosis and precision rehabilitation. It is now feasible to refer a lesion delineated using a standard clinical scan to a (dis)connectivity atlas derived from the brains of other stroke survivors. As the individual disconnection pattern thus obtained suggests the functional domains most likely be compromised, a therapeutic regimen can be tailored accordingly. Stroke is a complex disorder that burdens individuals with distinct constellations of brain damage. Mechanistic knowledge is indispensable when seeking to ameliorate the behavioural impairments to which such damage gives rise
The comparative inclusion and acceptance of LGBT+ people in the UK construction industry
No full textThe Equality Act of 2010 forbids discrimination based on gender and sexual identity; however, many lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary and people with gender expressions outside traditional norms (LGBT+) working in the UK construction industry experience hostility in the workplace. There has been a lack of research that focuses on LGBT+ professionals in construction, so this study investigates the topic and looks at how acceptance varies across different groups under the LGBT+ umbrella. The research uses thematic analysis to probe in depth the experience of 11 LGBT+ interviewees working in the UK construction sector. The study finds that majority of the LGBT+ employees have experienced some prejudice, each group in a unique way. Bisexual, trans and nonbinary people experience more discrimination than Lesbian and Gay people. Acceptance depends on workplace context. The respondents perceive construction sites more linked to harassment, discrimination and inappropriate comments toward the LGBT+ community than office environments. The visibility of senior LGBT+ employees and leadership of both LGBT+ and non-LGBT+ senior management are important for inclusion in organisations and for supporting junior LGBT+ employees. This study contributes to understanding of LGBT+ acceptance and raises issues that need to be addressed in the industry, challenging heteronormative culture
Bidding behaviour in experimental auctions under risk and uncertainty
No full textThis paper explores bidding behaviour under risk and uncertainty using the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak mechanism (BDM) and second price auction (SPA). It investigates whether values elicited via the two mechanisms are consistent and whether bidding behaviour can be influenced by differences in the number and type of sources of risk and uncertainty that people face when exposed to the two mechanisms. In our experiment, subjects are exposed to non-monetary lotteries where they bid for a high-quality seafood product, but there is a chance (known or unknown) that they receive a lower quality seafood product instead. Results indicate that bidding behaviour can be influenced by the number and type of sources of risk and uncertainty that subjects face and subjects’ bidding behaviour is only consistent with standard theories of decision making under risk and uncertainty when they bid on a risky product in the SPA. Despite this, BDM and SPA elicit equal values under risk and uncertainty in this study.</p
A qualitative study of perceptions and acceptability of unguided internet cognitive behavior therapy for grieving adolescents
No full textGrief is a common experience in adolescence. Evidence-based therapies are not readily accessible for grieving young people. Unguided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for grief in adolescents has recently been investigated in a pilot randomized controlled trial. Research is required to determine acceptability as this unguided internet intervention incorporates exposure and imagery transformation techniques that are typically delivered by therapists. The aim of this study was to understand, through qualitative content analysis, adolescents’ views about the acceptability of unguided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for grief. Nine adolescents (M age = 16.44 years, SD = 1.13, age range 14–18 years, 55.6% female, 44.4% male) engaged in a post-intervention interview, or provided written responses to the interview questions, after trial participation. Most participants reported exposure and imagery transformation as acceptable. The findings provide initial support in a small sample of adolescents of the acceptability of unguided internet cognitive behavior therapy for grief. Grief and loss are commonly experienced by youth; 90% of adolescents have experienced bereavement of a family member or friend (Ens & Bond, 2005). Grief is a broad term that covers a wide range of responses to losses including bereavement, parental divorce, relationship break-up, and death of a pet (Breen et al., 2023). Grief in adolescence is associated with an elevated risk of developing psychological disorders including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and prolonged grief disorder (Guzzo & Gobbi, 2023). Parental loss in adolescence through death or divorce is a risk factor for depression (Guzzo & Gobbi, 2023). Data showing that both death and non-death losses are associated with a range of psychological symptoms in youth indicate the need for an accessible intervention for grief.</p