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The psychology of agriculture for sustainable work and careers
No full textThis conceptual paper explores the psychological dimensions of agricultural work. Agriculture is a cornerstone of human civilisation and a critical domain for achieving global sustainability. Multiple sectors in agriculture's diverse value chain face challenges related to climate change, labour shortages, supply chains and transport, production and storage, and technological transformation. Psychology, particularly vocational psychology and career development, offers valuable theoretical and empirical insights and interventions for individuals’ career development and the industry's workforce development. The paper includes examples from a program of research and development pertaining to aspects of agriculture including on-farm labouring work, mechanical and machinery work, technology adoption, and career education. We propose an agenda for advancing psychological theory, research, and practice for better understanding and enhancing career development in and for agriculture
Sexual and reproductive health interventions for women exposed to intimate partner violence: A scoping review.
No full textBackground: Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) have a higher likelihood of experiencing detrimental physical, psychological and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. However, a gap remains in published literature on SRH interventions available to women experiencing IPV.
Methods: A scoping review was undertaken to examine: What is the nature of sexual and reproductive healthcare interventions provided to women experiencing IPV? Five databases (APA PsycInfo, CINAHL Complete, Informit, PubMed and Scopus) were searched on 9 October 2023 for peer-reviewed systematic reviews or primary research published from 1 January 2004-present. The search was repeated on 11 June 2025 to ensure recency of studies. Two researchers independently screened studies at title and abstract, and full-text levels. The two searches yielded a total of 10,844 studies, of which nine were included in the review.
Results: Due to the heterogenous nature of the studies, thematic analysis was undertaken with four themes being identified: Outcomes of interventions; Positive impact of personalised and patient-centred care; Professionals' knowledge, education and training as a facilitator; and Barriers to effective IPV intervention implementation in healthcare. SRH interventions available to women who experienced IPV can empower survivors, improve access to care, and enhance service quality.
Conclusions: Evidence-based models of care that are intersectional, trauma-informed and integrated into SRH and IPV services are critical to ensure future work supports women of differing backgrounds who have experienced IPV. Future research should include evaluating effectiveness of interventions, identifying and addressing systemic barriers, and supporting underrepresented groups.
Keywords: intersectionality; interventions; intimate partner violence; sexual and reproductive health; trauma-informed care; violence against women; women’s health
You can't be what you can't read: Website accessibility for people with disability in Australian community radio.
No full textCommunity radio in Australia is built on the volunteering of community members, including by people from marginalised communities. An accessible website is a necessary condition for recruitment in volunteer organisations; however, digital accessibility presents challenges to increasing inclusion of people with disability. Inaccessible websites impact the rights of people with disability to information and participation under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (2006). People who have vision-impairments, are colourblind, or have other disabilities can have difficulty if websites do not conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, an international measure of accessibility. Enhancing inclusion via accessible websites is a step towards greater participation and volunteering of people with disability in this important community sector. Using a critical disability lens, this research asks, “How accessible are community radio websites in Australia?” using a convenience sample of websites of members of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
Role of Ventilation and Spatial Designs in Airborne Disease Transmission Within Residential Aged-Care Facilities
No full textThe global aging population, particularly those aged 60 and above, is increasingly vulnerable to communicable diseases. Building ventilation (BV) plays a key role in residential aged-care (RAC) facilities, where COVID-19 has had a significant impact. This study systematically reviews the published literature to examine the influence of BV systems (BVSs) on airborne disease (COVID-19) transmission in RACs and recommends strategies to protect vulnerable residents. Using the PRISMA framework, articles published in the last decade were sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Bibliometric analyses revealed key research clusters on risk factors, transmission, facilities and services, and gender-based and retrospective studies. Australia, the USA, Africa, and the UK have made the most scholarly contributions to this field. Three main research areas emerged: BVS functionality, ventilation’s role in COVID-19 transmission, and spatial building design for effective airflow. Findings reveal that inadequate ventilation and poor indoor air quality are major contributors to disease spread, further influenced by ventilation rate, airflow, temperature, humidity, and air distribution. A hybrid ventilation design that integrates natural and mechanical systems with technologies such as HEPA filters, UVGI, and HVAC is recommended in the current study. In addition, building form and layout should incorporate spatial, engineering, administrative, and hierarchical controls in line with sustainable ventilation design guidelines. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge on the roles of ventilation and design in infection control. It offers practical recommendations for architects, RAC managers, government agencies, and policymakers involved in designing and managing RACs to reduce the risk of communicable disease transmission
Good Evening, Europe: The Politics of the European Imaginary at the Eurovision Song Contest
No full textEffects of particle size on properties of engineering muck-based geopolymers: Optimization through sieving treatment
No full textEngineering muck (EM), a common solid waste containing clay minerals, offers significant potential for resource utilization in building materials. The particle size of raw materials can significantly affect the performance of geopolymers. To improve the performance of the EM-based geopolymers, this study conducted sieving treatment and comparatively analyzed the influence mechanism of different particle sizes on the geopolymerization and its products. The particle sizes were categorized as LPS (1.18–2 mm), MPS (0.075–1.18 mm), and SPS (<0.075 mm). Experimental results revealed that EM soil particles of all three sizes contained clay minerals with varying compositions. As particle size decreased, the quartz content reduced while the clay mineral content increased. Upon calcination, LPS and MPS showed limited reactivity with alkaline solutions, resulting in geopolymers with surface cracks and large pores. In contrast, calcined SPS, due to its higher clay mineral content, achieved the highest amorphous phase content (90.61 %) and surface area (14.591 m²/g), enhancing its reactivity with alkaline solutions. This produced a dense microstructure with abundant geopolymer gel, yielding a 28-day compressive strength of 48 MPa, which was 8.9 times and 2.8 times higher than GP-L and GP-M, respectively. Additionally, compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), the EM-based geopolymers reduced CO₂ emissions by 60 %-69 % and energy consumption by 18 %-36 %, thereby reducing the environmental impact. This study provides a simple method for the optimization of EM as a raw material for geopolymers
Comprehensive investigation on the water mist inhibition efficacy towards battery thermal runaway and its smoke hazard via regulating the releasing settings
No full textWater mist (WM) with superior cooling capabilities is utilized to suppress thermal runaway (TR) and its propagation (TRP) of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, its suppression effectiveness is influenced by various parameter settings, including activation time, release duration, release height, etc. Based on this, this work investigates the influence of the above parameter settings on the suppression of TR by WM. Specifically, releasing WM before irreversible TR occurs can effectively prevent the onset of TR. Additionally, the optimal duration of releasing WM is determined via fitting WM’s suppression and utilization efficiency. The results show that the optimal duration is approximately 3/4 of the TR duration, characterized with high suppression efficiency, high WM utilization, and low short-circuiting risk of the battery. Moreover, an equivalent experiment is designed to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of WM in suppressing TRP. Through calculating the internal energy change of the aluminum block, it is verified that releasing WM with the optimal duration can prevent TRP between battery packs. Concurrently, the suppression mechanism of WM on TRP is revealed. Moreover, the impact of WM on the smoke hazards from battery TR is assessed using the Fractional Effective Dose (FED) and Fractional Effective Concentration (FEC) models. This work can inspire the construction of a superior firefighting system, ensuring the process safety of LIBs in practical engineering
Personhood and Community: African Philosophical Perspectives
No full textThe interplay between personhood and community anchors philosophical enquiry into the essence of identity and selfhood, interrogating how societal frameworks both shape and are shaped by individuals. Despite advancements in these philosophical discourses, the notions of personhood and community remain underexplored in the African philosophical worldviews. As a starting point, this paper sought to remedy the underrepresentation of African philosophical views on personhood and community in global philosophical discourse. Rooted in the works of John Mbiti, Ifeanyi Menkiti, Kwame Gyekye and Kwasi Wiredu, African philosophical traditions emphasise that personhood is cultivated through ethical engagement, social participation and adherence to cultural norms. Mbiti posits that personhood is not inherent at birth, requiring rites of passage and active integration into communal life for its realisation, encapsulated in his axiom, ‘I am because we are’. Menkiti extends this, framing personhood as an ‘ontological progression’ towards moral maturity, where communal norms and responsibilities shape one's identity. Gyekye, while acknowledging an inherent baseline of personhood, argues it is augmented through communal practices, critiquing exclusionary views that deny moral status to children. Wiredu introduces a dialectical model, where personhood is socially conferred through language, ethics and reciprocity, yet remains vulnerable to loss through moral failure, necessitating communal restoration. Collectively, these thinkers reject Cartesian dualism, advocating an approach that highlights interconnectedness and relational autonomy, holism, dynamism, communal identity, ethical mediation and communal healing practices. Divergences emerge between Mbiti and Menkiti's emphasis on earned personhood and Gyekye and Wiredu's recognition of inherent moral worth, reflecting nuanced debates within African communitarianism. These perspectives carry profound implications for healthcare, urging a shift from biomedical individualism to practices honouring cultural, spiritual and communal dimensions. In an era of global diversity, these thoughts offer a transformative framework for holistic, dignified healthcare, where healing transcends physical treatment
A case series of group videoconference-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy with morning light therapy in adolescents with delayed sleep timing
No full textObjectives
This case series examined the feasibility and preliminary effects of group-based, videoconference-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) combined with morning light therapy (LT) in adolescents with delayed sleep timing.
Method
Five females aged 14–16 years (M = 15.0, SD = 0.7) completed clinician-administered screening interviews, and baseline and post-treatment assessments, including circadian phase measurement, and validated measures of chronotype, bedtime procrastination, pre-sleep arousal, daytime sleepiness, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Actigraphy was used for the duration of the study. The intervention included six weekly CBT sessions and short-wavelength wearable LT assigned for 1 hr daily following an advancing wake time schedule.
Results
One participant showed a 94-min circadian phase advance; others showed minimal phase advance, no change, or phase delays (n = 2). All participants reported earlier chronotype by post-treatment. Three advanced either sleep onset or wake time, with one showing both. Two showed increased total sleep time, primarily due to delayed wake time. Other objective sleep outcomes are presented. Bedtime procrastination, pre-sleep arousal, daytime sleepiness, depression, and quality of life improved, with modest reductions in anxiety. Challenges included napping, ADHD and anxiety comorbidity, scheduling barriers (homework, extracurricular activities, screen use), and resistance to earlier bedtimes.
Conclusions
Results suggest heterogeneous circadian and sleep responses but consistent behavioral improvements. Extended LT duration, motivational enhancement, executive function or time management strategies, and behavioral economics-informed interventions may improve engagement and treatment efficacy