932 research outputs found
Sort by
Empowering indigenous communities in India through the use of design thinking methods
Get PDFThe project explored how user-led design research methods such as design thinking can be used to engage with, and empower indigenous communities in rural India, with a focus on how to improve their health and well-being. The project was a collaboration with researchers from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in India; villagers from indigenous tribal communities in the Kerala State of India; medical doctors and healthcare workers who work in these rural communities; and experts in eHealth solutions. The design thinking methods used in the project are based on many of the key principles of indigenous research methods, but also put a strong emphasis on how to generate impact by considering solutions that are desirable, feasible and viable. The project included ethnographic field work in three tribal villages in the Wayanad district of Kerala; participatory workshops to help discover and develop new ideas to meet the health needs of the indigenous tribal communities; and reflections by tribal villagers and healthcare workers on the benefits of the project, as well as limitations and on-going challenges. This paper documents the approach taken in the project and the lessons learnt - in particular, how design thinking methods and techniques can be effectively used to engage with indigenous communities in a respectful manner, to ensure equitable partnership, and to enable the mobilization of knowledge to help improve the health and well-being of indigenous communities in India
Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity as a Measure of Cardiovascular Risk in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Two-Year Follow-Up Data from the ARCADE Study
Get PDFBackground and objectives: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD have increased arterial stiffness, which may predict future CV risk. However, the development of arterial stiffness in COPD has not yet been studied prospectively. The Assessment of Risk in Chronic Airways Disease Evaluation (ARCADE) is a longitudinal study of CV risk and other comorbidities in COPD. The aims of this analysis were to explore factors associated with aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) at baseline and to describe the progression of aPWV in patients with COPD and comparators over two years. Materials and methods: At baseline, 520 patients with COPD (confirmed by spirometry) and 150 comparators free from respiratory disease were assessed for body composition, blood pressure, aPWV, noninvasive measures of cardiac output, inflammatory biomarkers, and exercise capacity. This was repeated after two years, and mortality cases and causes were also recorded. Results: At baseline, aPWV was greater in COPD patients 9.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.7–10) versus comparators 8.7 (8.5–9.1) m/s (p < 0.01) after adjustments for age, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate. Mean blood pressure was 98 ± 11 in COPD patients and 95 ± 10 mmHg in comparators at baseline (p = 0.004). After two years, 301 patients and 105 comparators were fully reassessed. The mean (95% CI) aPWV increased similarly in patients 0.44 (0.25–0.63) and comparators 0.46 (0.23–0.69) m/s, without a change in blood pressure. At the two-year follow-up, there were 29 (6%) deaths in COPD patients, with the majority due to respiratory causes, with an overall dropout of 43% of patients with COPD and 30% of comparators. Conclusions: This was the first large longitudinal study of CV risk in COPD patients, and we confirmed greater aPWV in COPD patients than comparators after adjustments for confounding factors. After two years, patients and comparators had a similar increase of almost 0.5 m/s aPWV
Effects of combined resistance training and weightlifting on injury risk factors and resistance training skill of adolescent males
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training with or without weightlifting on risk factors for injury and resistance training skill in circa-peak height velocity boys. Sixty-seven boys (age 12-14 years) from a local secondary school were divided into three groups: combined resistance training (CRT), combined resistance training with weightlifting movements (CRT&WL), or a control group (CON). Experimental groups completed twice-weekly training programs over the course of an academic year. The tuck jump assessment, asymmetry measures for single-leg horizontal jump, isometric mid-thigh pull, and the Star Excursion Balance Test, and resistance training skill were measured pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Only the CRT group significantly improved tuck jump assessment score pre- to post-test (p = 0.006, -20.4%, d = -0.39) but there were no clear effects on asymmetry measures for any group. Both groups significantly improved resistance training skill from pre- to post-test (CRT&WL: p = 0.002, 17.6%, d = 1.00; CRT: p = 0.026, 9.2%, d = 0.53). This study suggests that a school-based CRT program may provide significant improvements in jump landing kinematics, whereas the inclusion of weightlifting movements may provide greater improvements in resistance training skill
Applicability and Appropriateness of Distributed Ledgers Consensus Protocols in Public and Private Sectors: A Systematic Review
Get PDFAdvancement of consensus protocols in recent years has enabled distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) to find its application and value in sectors beyond cryptocurrencies. Here we reviewed 66 known consensus protocols and classified them into philosophical and architectural categories, also providing a visual representation. As a case study, we focus on the public sector and highlighted potential protocols. We have also listed these protocols against basic features and sector preference in a tabular format to facilitate selection. We argue that no protocol is a silver bullet, therefore should be selected carefully, considering the sector requirements and environment
Inclusive/exclusive talent management, responsible leadership and organizational downsizing
Get PDFPurpose:
The purpose of this paper is to focus on three Egyptian public business schools in an attempt to explore the effect of inclusive/exclusive talent management on the organizational downsizing of academics and the mediating role of responsible leadership.
Design/methodology/approach:
A total of 330 academics were contacted and given a set of questionnaires. After three follow-ups, a total of 240 responses were collected with a response rate of 72.73 percent. Multiple regressions were employed to show how much variation in organizational downsizing can be explained by inclusive/exclusive talent management and responsible leadership.
Findings:
The findings highlighted a very weak statistical association between academics’ inclusive talent management and organizational downsizing, whereas a strong statistical association has been discovered between exclusive talent management and organizational downsizing. Statistical analysis showed that responsible leadership has no role in mediating the relationship between inclusive/exclusive talent management of academics and their downsizing.
Research limitations/implications:
The authors have focused on only three Egyptian public business schools, the matter that may limit opportunities to generalize the results of this study to private business schools and other faculties in Egypt. Future research could use a double source method.
Practical implications:
By preparing a set of academic competences, business schools will be able to classify their academic staff into talented and non-talented, and accordingly they can initiate their tailored downsizing strategies. Furthermore, undertaking a responsible strategy of downsizing, which includes and is not limited to justifying the need to decrease academic staff numbers to guarantee post-redundancy care practices for laid-off academics may alleviate many of the negative psychological, societal and economic consequences of downsizing.
Originality/value:
This paper contributes by filling a gap in HR management and higher education literature, in which empirical studies on the relationship between talent management and academics’ organizational downsizing have been limited until now. This may create better research opportunities for cross-disciplinary papers that should be done by HR, higher education and leadership scholars
Brief, Aerobic-surge Exercises for Effective Weight Loss: a Randomized, Controlled Trial
Get PDFBackground: Obesity is a growing disease and a consistently effective protocol is needed to reduce this epidemic. The purpose of this study was to determine if a frequent, brief (2-minute) high intensity aerobic exercise (≥75% max HR) was effective in reducing subjects’ weight (BMI) and girth sizes.
Methods: A randomized, controlled trial lasting 60 days was conducted at three sites and forty-six subjects completed this study (mean age 39 ± 8 and BMI 32 ±2). The Experimental group was shown how to make movements such as riding a stationary bicycle or lifting dumbbells into an ‘Aerobic-surge’ exercise at or above 75% of calculated maximum heart rate. Control subjects were simply told to “exercise more.” No dietary changes were made for either group. The dependent variables were changes in weight and ‘body summation’ of 10 girth measurements. A 2x2 ANOVA was used to calculate differences. A post-hoc analysis of changes in BMI was also calculated.
Results: There was a significant difference between groups (P<0.0001). The mean change of the groups were as follows: Experimental (N=23) mean reductions = -18.lbs and -18.7” vs. Control (N=23) mean changes = +1.3.lbs and +1.3.”
Conclusion: The repeated, brief (2-minute) aerobic-surge exercise protocol, performed 4.2 times/day was effective in reducing subjects’ weight and body circumferences. Isolated tests of body composition showed that change were primarily in body fat. This could be a tool in reducing the obesity epidemic. The Aerobic-surge exercise was effective without a dietary changes.
Retrospectively Registered Trial: ISRCTN 17326333
Why the Terms Unisex and Gender Neutral are not Fit for Purpose in Contemporary Clothing and Fashion Design
Get PDFNo abstract available
Defining Physical Literacy for Application in Australia: A Modified Delphi Method
Get PDFPurpose.
The development of a physical literacy definition and standards framework suitable for implementation in Australia.
Method.
Modified Delphi methodology.
Results
. Consensus was established on four defining statements:
Core – Physical literacy is lifelong holistic learning acquired and applied in movement and physical activity contexts;
Composition – Physical literacy reflects ongoing changes integrating physical, psychological, cognitive and social capabilities;
Importance – Physical literacy is vital in helping us lead healthy and fulfilling lives through movement and physical activity;
Aspiration – A physically literate person is able to draw on their integrated physical, psychological, cognitive, and social capacities to support health promoting and fulfilling movement and physical activity, relative to their situation and context, throughout the lifespan. The standards framework addressed four learning domains (physical, psychological, cognitive, and social), spanning five learning configurations/levels.
Conclusion.
The development of a bespoke program for a new context has important implications for both existing and future program
The relationship between occupational demands and well-being of performing artists: A systematic review
Get PDFBackground: Performing artists are exposed to a range of occupational demands from organisational, interpersonal and intrapersonal sources, which may impact their well-being. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate and synthesise the literature where researchers have considered the relationship between occupational demands and well-being in performing artists. Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted including professional and student performing artists. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods study designs were eligible for inclusion in the review. A total of 14 databases were searched from their inception through to October 2017, including MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus. Critical appraisal was conducted using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool and results presented as a narrative synthesis. Results: A total of 20 studies were included in the review, comprising of quantitative (n=7), qualitative (n=9) and mixed-methods (n=4) study designs. Several frameworks of occupational stress and well-being were explored in relation to the results. Organisational, social and emotional demands were associated with lower well-being. Conversely, music-making, performance activities and social support were reported to be resources and were related to higher well-being. Conclusion: This systematic review highlights the need for researchers in this field to adopt methodologically robust study designs, which are informed by appropriate theoretical frameworks. The paucity of high quality and theoretically informed research in this area is a hindrance to the development of evidence-based interventions for this population
Understanding and improving the care pathway for children with autism
Get PDFPurpose: To describe current care pathways for children with autism including enablers and barriers, as experienced by health professionals, education professionals, and families in South Wales, UK.
Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods approach using focus group discussions, creative writing workshops and visualisation using rich pictures.
Findings: The experiences of the care pathways differed significantly across the three groups. Health professionals described the most rigidly-structured pathways, with clear entry points and outcomes. Education professionals and parents described more complex and confusing pathways, with parents assuming the responsibility of coordinating the health and education activity in a bid to link the two independent pathways. All three groups identified enablers, although these differed across the groups. The barriers were more consistent across the groups (e.g. poor communication, missing information, lack of transparency, limited post diagnosis services and access to services based on diagnosis rather than need).
Practical implications: This research could inform the design of new services which are premised on multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working to ensure children with ASD receive joined up services and support.
Originality/value: Although this study did not represent all professional groups or all experiences of autism, we examined three different perspectives of the ASD pathway. In addition, we triangulated high-level process maps with rich pictures and creative writing exercises, which allowed us to identify specific recommendations to improve integration and reduce duplication and gaps in provision