11237 research outputs found
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Facing down the accuser: an autoethnographic deconstruction of LGB shaming in the Church of England
No full textThis thesis sets out to answer the question “How is toxic shame constructed for LGB Christians in the Church of England?” Research indicates that institutional, faith-based shaming is an abuse of power. The aim of my research is to expose shaming narratives and practices in the Church of England, taking up Pattison’s call to critically re-examine and accordingly modify theological ideas that contribute to shame. In my research I utilise a shame nexus proposed by Creed et al., (2014) to expose the systemic and episodic shaming narratives and practices which both construct and maintain felt shame. I wanted to identify how shame takes hold and how it might be deconstructed. There is an absence in the literature of the lived experience of toxic, faith-based shame, particularly concerning the depleting and psychologically harmful nature of this type of shame, which can lead a person to doubt themselves as moral beings and rupture their sense of belonging to a faith community.My research engages in critical conversation between the person-centred tradition (Rogers, 1959; 1980; 2001a; 2001b), particularly ideas of the actualizing tendency and unconditional positive regard, and the Christian notion of recapitulation as a less shame-inducing theological anthropology. The research also utilises Gendlin’s (1961; 1964; 1969;1996; 2003) focusing techniques as a vehicle for autoethnographic writing and inquiry. My research reveals how the present experiencing of past shaming events has helped to disempower and reconfigure shame. Researching shame through focusing methods has deepened my spiritual practice, thereby demonstrating the relevance of person-centred practice for practical theology.Through the methodological approach of focusing-oriented autoethnography and the theological method of critical conversation, my research found that negative theological anthropology is a key contributor to the construction of toxic shame for LGB Christians. I concluded from this that the reframing of theological anthropology in positive terms was a powerful means by which shame might be deconstructed and disempowered for LGB Christians.</p
Building a Pathway to Participation: understanding the barriers to health research participation for refugees and asylum seekers - a project report
No full textThis consultation programme sought to understand the barriers faced by refugees and asylum to participating in health research, and in parallel, the barriers encountered by health professionals in aiming to engage with these groups. Project activities and proposed solutions were co-designed throughout with people with lived experience. Refugee and asylum seeker involvement in health research is significantly limited by negative experiences of accessing health services together with lack of understanding of the NHS system. These key factors are exacerbated by experiences of trauma, little trust in the state and authority figures, difficult asylum processes and scarce community / peer support. Our findings revealed that refugees and asylum seekers are disadvantaged in multiple respects which feed into the absence of opportunity and capacity to engage with health research. The ability of health and social care professionals to engage with refugee and asylum seekers effectively is curtailed by their view that they do not possess sufficient understanding of these populations, that there is limited opportunity for long-term relationships with support organisations, concerns over gaining informed consent and lack of appropriate support for research participants. Despite the widespread desire to include refugees and asylum seekers in health research, the barriers encountered are such that the logistical and practical issues described by health professionals have so far been significant obstacles to their inclusion. This work highlights the complex nature of the barriers to involving refugees and asylum seekers in health research. Collective dialogue facilitated as part of this process between researchers and refugees and asylum seekers has identified workable solutions to positively tackle the identified barriers. The co-designed solutions and recommendations for future action aim to ensure that this hitherto marginalised group within health research will have future opportunities for meaningful engagement and active participation.</p
AI, Algorithmic discrimination & population bias
No full textDecision-making responsibilities once entrusted to humans are now often delegated to automated systems. This may improve efficiency, but algorithmic discrimination is on the rise, leading to global concerns about fairness, equality and justice. fThis complex area is complicated further by the diverse approaches taken by jurisdictions around the world. There is an urgent need for universally accepted definitions and frameworks.</p
The waking of the English blandscape
No full textRecent years have seen a surge of interest in Weird England. Robert Macfarlane’s article ‘The Eeriness of the English Countryside’ and Edward Parnell’s memoir ‘Ghostland’ are warrens of inviting rabbit-holes for those chasing the elusive strangeness of ordinary places. This creative essay considers the need for a re-enchanting of the everyday landscapes of south-east England.</p
Exploring our professional role and existential identity as social work academics in challenging racism and mental health stigma.
No full textSocial work is underpinned by values of anti-oppressive practice and social justice. Our professional standards require social workers to consider their personal and professional development. Thus, this article combines a reflection on both our professional role as academics and our existential identity as social workers in challenging racism and mental health stigma. To progress equality of opportunity, we argue it is necessary to understand first what we mean by an ‘integrated society’ before we can secondly challenge diverse forms of oppression. We conclude, by positing that a community free of interpersonal, institutional and structural oppression, may only be possible within a virtual world.</p
Factors that influence meeting the recommended weekly physical activity target among older people with physical multimorbidity: evidence from six low- and middle-income countries
No full textBackground: There is a scarcity of studies on the association between physical multimorbidity and lower levels of physical activity among older adults from low- and middle-income countries, while the potential mediating variables in this association are largely unknown.Methods: Cross-sectional, community-based, nationally representative data from the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health were analyzed. Data on 11 chronic physical conditions were collected. Scoring <150 minutes of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity per week was considered low physical activity. Multivariable logistic regression and mediation analysis were done to assess associations and quality of life measures which might influence these associations.Results: Data on 14,585 people aged ≥65 years were analyzed (mean [SD] age 72.6 (11.5) y, maximum age 114 y; 55.0% women). After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with no chronic conditions, ≥3 conditions were associated with a significant 1.59 to 2.42 times higher odds for low physical activity. Finally, mobility mediated the largest proportion of the association between ≥3 chronic physical conditions and low physical activity (mediated percentage 50.7%), followed by activities of daily living disability (30.7%), cognition (24.0%), affect (23.6%), and pain/discomfort (22.0%).Conclusions: Physical multimorbidity was associated with higher odds for low physical activity among older adults residing in low- and middle-income countries. Mobility, disability, cognition, affect, and pain/discomfort explained the largest proportion of this association. Given the universal benefits of regular and sustained participation in physical activity, it would be prudent to implement interventions among older people with physical multimorbidity to increase levels of physical activity. Future studies should assess the impact of addressing the identified potential mediators among people with multimorbidity on physical activity levels.</p
The Girardi C. EMOTIV Inc. case before the Supreme Court of Chile: a step forward in the protection of human neurorights? (Original in Spanish: El caso Girardi C. EMOTIV Inc. ante la Corte Suprema de Chile: ¿un paso adelante en la protección de los neuroderechos humanos?)
No full textThe advance of neurotechnologies has transformed and innovated the panorama scientific and technological, providing promising improvements and advances in the understanding sion of the human brain and its eventual application in multiple aspects of life everyday. From brain-machine interfaces to brain stimulation devices
deep rebral, neurotechnologies have spread beyond the borders of
science fiction, proposing medical, cognitive and human enhancement applications. Despite the relevance of this exponential technological development, in order to improve the quality of life of people, such outlines important questions, especially regarding the protection and guarantee of human rights.
</p
The Effects of Prescribed Physical and Cognitive Exercise on Life Satisfaction and Mood States MinDSets II.pdf
No full textDown Syndrome (DS) is characterised by a duplication of chromosome-21 and is linked to co-occurring physical and mental health conditions, including low self-efficacy and disturbed mood states. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an eight-week prescribed physical and/or cognitive training intervention on measures of mood disturbance, life satisfaction and self-efficacy in a population of adults with DS. Eighty-three participants (age 27.1 ± 8.0 years) recruited across five continents volunteered. Participants were assigned using matched-groups based upon performance in a modified six-minute walk test to either an exercise (EXE) 3 × 30 min of walking/jogging per week, cognitive training (COG) 6 × 20 min per week, combined group (COM) and control (CON) who did not complete any intervention. Profile of Mood States (POMS) were assessed using a five-point scale across 65 categories pre- and post-study as well as upon completion of each week of the intervention. In addition, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and self-efficacy using the Generalised Self-Efficacy scale (GSE) were recorded before and after the intervention. GSE increased for all participants by 1.9 ± 5.2 (p = 0.002) pre- to post-intervention, while POMS showed significant changes for the whole group from pre- to post-intervention for tension (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001) and for anger (p < 0.001). In addition, significant correlations were observed between SWLS and ΔTMD, Δtension, Δanger, and Δfatigue (p < 0.05) for EXE. Both COG and EXE provide a framework for empowering enhancements in life satisfaction, self-efficacy and mood states fostering improvements in quality of life.</p
Differences in the effectiveness of leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma compared with leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of rotator cuff surgery: an umbrella review of meta-analyses
No full textBackground: An umbrella review of meta-analyses was conducted to evaluate the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in arthroscopic surgeries of rotator cuff injury. The effectiveness of leukocyte-poor PRP and leukocyte-rich PRP in the treatment of rotator cuff surgery was also compared.
Methods: Web of Science, Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to May 2024. Literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction were performed according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Jadad decision algorithm was used to ascertain which meta-analysis represented the best evidence.
Results: A total of 11 meta-analyses with evidence level ranging from level 1 to 2 were included in this umbrella review. Leukocyte-poor PRP was effective in reducing rotator cuff retear rates, alleviating pain, and increasing Constant scores compared with non-PRP treatments. However, it did not show improvement on the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and the Simple Shoulder Test (SST) compared with the non-PRP treatment group. Meanwhile, the leukocyte-rich PRP group improved the SST but showed no different results when compared with the non-PRP treatment group.
Conclusion: Compared with no use of PRP, leukocyte-poor PRP was able to alleviate postoperative pain, reduce the retear rate, and improve the postoperative Constant score. Leukocyte-rich PRP could effectively enhance postoperative SST outcomes, leading to improvement of patient satisfaction and quality of life. Future researches should prioritize long-term follow-up studies and evaluate the durability of these results.</p
Mechano-thermochemical preparation of nanostructured (FeCoNiCr/Mn)3O4 high and medium entropy oxides: Structural, microstructural, magnetic and Li-ion storage characterization
No full textMechano-thermochemical synthesis of (FeCoNiCrMn)3O4 high-entropy oxide (HEO) and (FeCoNiCr)3O4 medium-entropy oxide (MEO), and their structural, microstructural, magnetic, surface and electrochemical characteristics are investigated. Ball milling substantially reduces crystalline sizes of oxide precursors, causing their partial solid-state dissolution, driving the rapid formation of HEO and MEO during the subsequent thermal treatment. Nanostructured HEO prepared at 900 °C (HEO-900) comprises single-phase octahedral crystals mostly within the range 60–80 nm, while MEO-900 crystals (80–120 nm) exhibit a greater degree of agglomeration. The contribution of oxygen vacancies to total surface oxygen in MEO-900 (20.6 %) is lower than that of HEO-900 (27.6 %). HEO-900 exhibits a superior reversible Li-ion storage capacity of 1050.6 mAh/g after 300 cycles at 100 mA/g, outperforming MEO-900. However, at the higher current density of 500 mA/g, MEO-900 shows superior performance, with a reversible capacity of 432.2 mAh/g (70.3 % retention) after 750 cycles. The charge transfer resistance of fresh HEO-900 (359.0 Ω) is greater than that of MEO-900 (241.4 Ω), and the average Li-ion diffusion coefficient in HEO-900 (10-13.3 cm2 s−1) is lower than that on MEO-900 at (10-13.1 cm2 s−1) due to the greater structural complexity of the former. Full cells incorporating HEO-900 and MEO-900 anodes with LiFePO4 cathode demonstrate an energy density of 296.4 and 274.6 Wh kg−1, respectively. The saturation magnetization of HEO-900 and MEO-900 is significantly high at 33.98 and 33.80 emu/g, respectively, enabling the easy magnetic recovery of electrodes made from these compounds in spent LIBs.</p
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