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Waves of extremism: an applied ethnographic analysis of the Bosnia and Herzegovina football terraces
Get PDFThis article offers an overview of a four-month research project, conducted in 2019/2020, which studied extremism in the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) football terraces. This work was funded by the International Organisation for Migration - United Nations and by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The research focused on risk factors and how these may govern the “entry” of BiH youth into extreme hard-core football fans groups (Ultras1) and prolong their involvement in them. The study highlighted the nature of these groups and their activity providing detailed recommendations for BiH policymakers, security agencies, and football federations and clubs who wish to understand and effectively respond to this emergent threat for public security in BiH
Integrated computational analysis reveals HOX genes cluster as oncogenic drivers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Get PDFAlterations in homeobox (HOX) gene expression are involved in the progression of several cancer types including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, regulation of the entire HOX cluster in the pathophysiology of HNSCC is still elusive. By using different comprehensive databases, we have identified the significance of differentially expressed HOX genes (DEHGs) in stage stratification and HPV status in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA)-HNSCC datasets. The genetic and epigenetic alterations, druggable genes, their associated functional pathways and their possible association with cancer hallmarks were identified. We have performed extensive analysis to identify the target genes of DEHGs driving HNSCC. The differentially expressed HOX cluster-embedded microRNAs (DEHMs) in HNSCC and their association with HOX-target genes were evaluated to construct a regulatory network of the HOX cluster in HNSCC. Our analysis identified sixteen DEHGs in HNSCC and determined their importance in stage stratification and HPV infection. We found a total of 55 HNSCC driver genes that were identified as targets of DEHGs. The involvement of DEHGs and their targets in cancer-associated signaling mechanisms have confirmed their role in pathophysiology. Further, we found that their oncogenic nature could be targeted by using the novel and approved anti-neoplastic drugs in HNSCC. Construction of the regulatory network depicted the interaction between DEHGs, DEHMs and their targets genes in HNSCC. Hence, aberrantly expressed HOX cluster genes function in a coordinated manner to drive HNSCC. It could provide a broad perspective to carry out the experimental investigation, to understand the underlying oncogenic mechanism and allow the discovery of new clinical biomarkers for HNSCC
Meeting the mental health needs of a young person with an intellectual disability: a case study
Get PDFYoung people with intellectual disabilities are at greater risk of developing mental health issues. However, their mental health needs are often not recognised and therefore remain untreated. This article discusses a case study concerning a young man whose mental health needs were first noted in adolescence, and describes his experiences of accessing appropriate services and interventions. Community-based services have provided treatment and support, enabling him to continue living with his family. The case study represents one individual’s experiences but highlights issues that are relevant to other young service-users, service providers and professional practitioners
Nondestructive inspection of tree trunks using a dual-polarized ground-penetrating radar system
Get PDFIn recent years, trees in European countries have been increasingly endangered by emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). In the United Kingdom, this has been observed to affect whole woodlands and forests, threatening the existence of some types of trees. Although quarantine measures have been taken to limit the spreading of such diseases, this has not yet been effectively controlled leading to millions of trees affected by EIDs. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has proven effective in identifying critical features on diseased trees for detection of EIDs spread. However, the irregular shape of tree trunks and their complex internal structure represent real challenges for conventional GPR measurements and signal processing methodologies. In this research, a dual-polarised GPR system is used to detect internal decay in tree trunks using novel signal processing methodologies. A polarisation correlation filter based on Bragg Scattering on a 3D Pauli feature vector and an arc-shaped Kirchhoff migration are discussed in detail. The proposed polarisation correlation filter is utilised to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of B-scans due to bark and tree trunk high-loss properties of tree trunks. Meanwhile, an arc-shaped Kirchhoff migration algorithm is performed to counteract the influence of the bark irregularity. The proposed data processing framework is successfully validated with measurements on a real tree trunk, where cross-sections were subsequently cut for comparison purposes. Outcomes from the proposed methodology demonstrate a high consistency with the features observed on the tree trunk cross-sections, indicating the reliability of the proposed detection scheme for assessing tree-decay associated with EIDs
Falls in older ambulatory care patients with cancer in Iran: implications for clinical practice
Get PDFRationale/aim: Falls can have severe consequences particularly for older patients with cancer undergoing ambulatory care. The aim of the study is to identify the predictors of falls in older patients receiving cancer ambulatory care and evaluate accuracy of the final multivariable model in detecting older patients with falls.
Method: A retrospective study was conducted on 300 older patients aged 60 years and above that were referred for ambulatory care in three oncology clinics based at hospitals in Tehran.
Participants completed a questionnaire comprising demographic, history of falls, and cancer-related factors. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors associated with falls.
Results: 35.3% of the older patients with cancer had experienced a fall in the six months following the start of their ambulatory care. The most important predictors of falls include the fourth stage of cancer (odds ratio (OR): 6.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.20-13.08, P <0.001), fear of falling (OR: 5.64, 95%CI: 2.58-12.33, P<0.001), use of hearing (OR: 2.38, 95%CI: 1.07-5.29, P = 0.033) and visual aids (OR: 2.36, 95%CI: 1.12-5.01, P = 0.025), and the number of visits to the doctor (OR: 1.10, 95%CI: 1.01-1.21, P = 0.035).
Conclusions: The results indicate that a reduction in falls is possible by introducing strategies to improving care for older patients in advanced stage of cancer, eliminating the causes of fear of falling, examining and improving vision and hearing, and identifying and addressing the underlying causes of visits to the doctor
The private healthcare insurance sector: a victim of fraud
Get PDFRegardless of the jurisdiction research has repeatedly highlighted that the ‘public’ see the insurance sector as an acceptable business to defraud. This article builds on this work but is different in that we draw on primary research, of which there is little, into the private healthcare insurance sector as a victim of fraud. We start by highlighting the types and volumes of fraud that the insurance sector encounters. This is followed with an examination of policing private insurance fraud in a neo-liberal context where individuals and organisations are responsible for risks. Then, we consider if the private healthcare insurance sector is precipitating and participating in its own victimisation. The methods used in this research to secure data are then explained. Finally we analyse how the key elements of the data might point to the private healthcare insurance sector potentially precipitating and participating in its own victimisation
An experimental investigation of the effect of negative mood on the deployment of as-many-as-can checking stop rules and compulsions
Get PDFThe present study examined the causal effect of negative mood on the deployment of as-many-as-can (AMAC) checking stop rules and compulsions. Participants underwent a negative or positive mood induction and subsequently completed self-report measures of AMAC checking stop rules and compulsions. The negative mood group scored significantly higher on both measures. As hypothesised, the direct causal effect of negative mood on compulsions was fully mediated by AMAC stop rules, with negative mood having a significant indirect effect on compulsions through AMAC stop rules. However, an alternative mediation model also showed that the direct causal effect of negative mood on AMAC stop rules was fully mediated by compulsions, with negative mood having a significant indirect effect on AMAC stop rules through compulsions. The implications of these findings for the understanding of the relationships between negative mood, AMAC stop rules and clinically relevant perseverative behaviours is discussed
Sustainability, the fourth pillar of project portfolio management – a holistic approach
Get PDFBusiness leaders recognise that accomplishing tasks through projects allows them to maximise benefits by objectively addressing their organisational constraints, capacities and capabilities. They also acknowledge that sustainability is becoming an essential ingredient for long term economic success. There does, however, remain the key question, what exactly is sustainability and how best to integrate it into the organisational practices, particularly the project environment. This paper pursues the premise that sustainability is strategic and distinct from functional and tactical project management processes. Integrating the principles of sustainability into project management should, therefore, deliver limited outcomes or lack a comprehensive solution that is flexible and adaptable to different business models, functions and situations. Project portfolio management (PPM) on the other hand has a much wider application and perspective. It bridges project management with the overall organisational strategy, goals and objectives. Not only is PPM strategic but it is a continuous process, unfettered by the limitations of individual projects or programmes. This research, therefore, proposes a conceptual framework that incorporates the principles of sustainability in PPM that is unrestricted by industry, allows prudence in resource management, stakeholder management, and validates transparency and accountability. This implies that PPM should extend beyond its current confines of selection and management of the project portfolio to include processes leading to corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting and influences development of best practices which can then be recycled into improving project management and delivering sustainable outcomes
