11237 research outputs found
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Do the world’s largest companies integrate natural capital risks and opportunities into their operations in a meaningful way?
No full textThe destruction of natural capital is creating significant risks to the economy and society as a whole. Companies are fundamental to dealing with these risks as they impact and depend on nature, suggesting that it should be a material issue for them. This paper uses content analysis to assess how the world’s largest companies disclose these impacts and dependencies on nature. It assesses whether companies consider these issues material to their operations and the degree to which they take actions to address them. It finds that few companies are taking comprehensive action to assess or address their impacts and dependencies, suggesting most do not consider it a material issue, treating it more as a form of impression management. The paper builds a theoretical nature positive journey and concludes that most companies have not yet reached the starting point.</p
Nationwide trends of sadness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among multicultural and monocultural adolescents in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2011-2022
No full textBackground: Researches on the mental health of Korean adolescents during COVID-19 have largely focused on those from monocultural families, but there is limited data on sadness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in multicultural adolescents. Methods: This nationwide serial cross-sectional study included 688,708 adolescents aged 12–18 years who participated in the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey from 2011 to 2022. We compared and analyzed the prevalence of sadness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among multicultural and monocultural adolescents. Multicultural adolescents were defned as those with at least one non-Korean parent. Results: In 2021, the prevalence of sadness among multicultural adolescents was 31.86% [95% confdence interval (CI) 30.00–33.71], suicidal ideation 17.17% (15.74–18.61), and suicide attempts 4.25% (3.51–4.99). Among monocultural adolescents, the prevalence rates were 26.09% (25.50–26.69) for sadness, 12.41% (11.97–12.85) for suicidal ideation, and 1.92% (1.76–2.67) for suicide attempts. Adolescents from multicultural backgrounds were found to have higher rates of sadness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. In the general population, these rates had decreased during the pre-pandemic period but increased after the onset of the pandemic then stabilized from 2020 to 2021. Female gender, smoking, alcohol use, and low school performance emerged as significant risk factors. However, no distinct risk factors specifically linked to suicide attempts were identifed. Joinpoint regression analysis results aligned with the beta slope values in the main findings, reflecting a consistent pattern across both analyses. Conclusions: This study revealed that sadness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts increased during the pandemic, reversing a pre-pandemic decline. Multicultural adolescents faced these issues more than monocultural ones, underlining the need for targeted public health measures to support at-risk adolescents during pandemics.</p
‘Where have I found myself’? Exploring how black social work students navigate identities in school-based practice learning
No full textIn 2020, the social work in schools (SWIS) project was implemented with an initial cohort of fifty-four social work students from an Eastern English university. With the aim of exploring the student experience, we undertook an initial focus group. One unanticipated aspect of these discussions was how black students reflected on their experience of being placed in predominantly white schools, which merited a follow-up focus group to explore this in more depth. Intersectionality underpinned this study as it offered an analytical approach to understand the interconnected identities of black students within the context of schools. Constructivist grounded theory was used to analyse the data, and three categories were identified in understanding experiences of participants: Race and Experiences of Being Placed in Schools; Intersections of Race, Racism, and Acceptance; and Experiences of Learning in Schools. Concepts of belonging, acceptance and racial identity underpin these categories and help us understand black students’ experiences of undertaking SWIS placements. Black students developed their skills, knowledge, self-concept and confidence in schools. Conclusions are drawn highlighting the centrality of harnessing black students’ cultural wealth and knowledge to facilitate positive relationships for learning.</p
The effects of whey protein supplementation on indices of cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
No full textIntroduction: The increasing prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases highlights the urgent need for practical interventions to mitigate their associated public health burden. Whey protein supplementation has emerged as a potential intervention for improving markers of cardiometabolic health. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effect of whey protein ingestion on cardiometabolic profile in adults.Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from inception until June 2024. Eligible RCTs compared the effect of whey protein supplementation compared to placebo or a carbohydrate-based control on markers of cardiometabolic health. Using the random effects inverse-variance model, we estimated the mean difference (MD) in blood pressure, high- and low-density lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index.Results:This meta-analysis included 21 RCTs. Whey protein supplementation had no effect on HDL-cholesterol concentration but did elicit a reduction in LDL-cholesterol in individuals aged Conclusions: Whey protein supplementation may be an effective intervention for reducing LDL and total cholesterol levels, particularly in healthy, overweight/obese adults aged <50 years, with the greatest benefits observed when combined with exercise. Healthy adults also showed a benefit regarding triglyceride levels.</p
The challenges and opportunities related to the therapeutic use of music in psychiatry
No full text1. Music and music therapy in psychiatry. Even though our knowledge about the use of music and music therapy (MT) in psychiatry is increasing, the quality of most published studies is low, and current research often focuses exclusively on the benefits but neglects the potential negative side effects of MT. In this editorial, we explain how to avoid and manage negative side effects of MT in clinical practice and how the scope and the quality of research around the therapeutic use of music in psychiatry can be improved...</p
From posts to perceptions: sentiment and psychological analysis of aesthetic enhancements on social media
No full textIntroduction: Social media platforms significantly influence public perception and individual behaviour, particularly regarding aesthetic enhancements. Instagram, TikTok, Douyin, Kuaishou, X, Sina Weibo, and VK showcase content related to various aesthetic procedures, shaping societal norms around beauty and self-image. Despite the prevalence of this content, understanding its psychological impact and societal attitudes remains underexplore.Methods: We analysed over 14.9 million social media posts related to aesthetic enhancements from seven platforms, collected between January 2019 and January 2024. Data collection utilized platform-specific APIs and web scraping, focusing on relevant keywords and hashtags. Posts were cleaned, normalized, and translated. Sentiment analysis used VADER and machine learning models (logistic regression, SVM, random forest, and BERT). Psychological factors were identified using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) and Bayesian modelling.Results: Initial VADER analysis categorized sentiments as 45% positive, 30% neutral, and 25% negative, with an 85% accuracy. The BERT-based model improved accuracy to 92%. Positive sentiments peaked during Summer, neutral sentiments were highest in April, and negative sentiments remained stable. Psychological analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between self-esteem and positive sentiments, while societal pressure was negatively correlated. Younger users and females exhibited significant variations in sentiment and psychological factors.Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of aesthetic enhancement discourse on social media, revealing seasonal and demographic sentiment variations and profound psychological impacts. These insights are crucial for practitioners in the aesthetic industry and mental health professionals to tailor strategies and support mechanisms. The study emphasizes the need for responsible messaging and realistic beauty representations to mitigate negative psychological effects.</p
Learning from success in the supervision process
No full textSupervision forms an essential component of professional social work practice. It supports the development of the capacity and skills of both students as emerging practitioners and of more experienced social workers. Reflection is a key part of supervision because social work practice is constantly evolving due to rapid change in society. Supervision provides social work practitioners and students with an opportunity to speak openly and honestly about their work, and the everyday feelings and emotions they face whilst in practice. This enables both improvement in practice and prevents the buildup of stress. In this article, we explore different methods of supervision utilised in social work and highlight implementation in Slovenia and England. We developed our own framework of supervision drawing on our knowledge of research from Slovenia and England; moreover, we engaged in informal discussion with colleagues in England, and a more formal process with supervisors in Slovenia, to inform the development of this model. This article thus reports the conceptual findings of a study and introduces our own model of reflective supervision, which is founded on the premise that we learn better from good experiences than from mistakes. We believe that through the proposed format of appreciative practice, we can move from deficit-based practice to strengths-focused practice. </p
The Last Words of Albion
No full textBeneath Hadrian’s Wall’s ancient shadow, The Last Words of Albion weaves a captivating journey through Britain’s history with the elegance of haiku. More than poetry, it’s a portal to a past filled with valour and strife, illustrating our evolution. From lush forests to the industrial revolution’s grime, it merges historical gravitas with the ethereal dreams that define us, bridging from Moreland to Metropolis.This narrative isn’t just read; it’s an exploration of Britain’s rich history, urging readers to connect with the island’s soulful legacy. Its blend of striking watercolours and resonant verses offers a unique engagement with history, appealing to both youngsters and adults alike, and transforming heritage into an interactive saga.At its core, the book voices a crucial ecological message, spotlighting our bond with the planet amid the spectre of climate change. Highlighting pivotal moments like the Great Fire and World War II, it challenges readers to ponder our collective future. The Last Words of Albion invites you to not only witness Britain’s splendour but also to contribute to the narrative of our shared home, urging a conscious stride towards safeguarding our environment for posterity.</p
Introduction: the future of teaching gender and development
No full textGender and development (GAD), as an interdisciplinary field of study, has existed since the 1950s. Within the discipline, there have been many theoretical shifts, beginning with Women in Development – an approach to contesting existing theories of economic development as having identical impact on men and women (Boserup 1970; Reeves and Baden 2000) – shifting to Women and Development – which arose out of seeking to understand women’s issues through the lens of dependency theory and the argument that women should be actively involved in development projects (Lourdes2014). Many also note the significance of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 as an event which marked a significant turning point for the global agenda for gender equality. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted unanimously by 189 countries, provided an agenda for women’s empowerment.</p
416_SR1938. The presence of memory in the perceptual experience
No full textThe text will take the reader through the historical and theoretical contexts embedded in the art project 416_SR1938 Places of Memory, conceived in response to the “Memory Pole, San Rossore 1938”. This was developed with the aim to combine the different temporalities involved in processes of memorisation, recollection and fruition the artist has investigated for some 20 years (Cologni 2004, 2009, 2011), here specifically activated through perceptual dynamics involving the role of light and shadows with passing of time (Kanizsa 1955, Geiger & Hishikawa 2009, Vicario 2015). Working on a non-static and un-monumental public art project, is to be connected to other influences for the artist, including the context of ‘ambienti’ (environments, Fontana 1949, Vigo 1964, Clark 1968, Irwin 1973) in previous works and projects (Cologni 1994, 1997, 2013) grounded in experiential, phenomenological, pragmatist approaches, which allow the viewers to have a fully embodied experience of art (James 1890, Merleau-Ponty 62, 68, Parry 2010). 416_SR1938 developed in collaboration with the Jewish Community in Pisa, and inevitably reopens deep wounds, by referring to 416 members of the Jewish community present in Pisa at in 1938, when the racial laws were introduced by Mussolini. The project aims to also act as a fulcrum for dialogue, to indicate shared paths of activation of communicative memory (Assman 2015). The piece on the external facade, extends to the city through a series of interventions (walkshops) still in development, to recall the community in their places, where they lived, worked and raised their children. The place-memory relationship can be institutionalized, as in the case of memorials, and through architecture, but it is often in seemingly anonymous places, experienced through the quotidian bodily actions that the individual's memory grid is built (Paul Connerton 2009). Through the memories that these places evoke, the individual can tame the surrounding world, but also re-emerges as a figure from the background of history.</p
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