11237 research outputs found
Sort by
The Importance of Incorporating Religious, Cultural and Linguistic Evidence in UK Immigration Procedures: An Analysis of the Semiotic Codes of Asylum Seekers
No full textAsylum seekers who claim asylum in the United Kingdom flee from a diverse range of threats of persecution, particularly in the MENA (Middle East & North African) region. These threats may comprise of war, tribal violence and trafficking to honour-killings, female genital mutilation and witchcraft. Some of these threats may be alien to Western immigration tribunals as they either do not occur in their respective countries or are not understood, particularly because of the intricate religious and cultural nature of the threat in question. For example, a single woman who has had sexual relations outside of marriage would be regarded as having insulted tribal and familial honour in some regions of MENA countries. Here, the word ‘tribe’, which in Arabic is ‘qabilah’, has a distinct historical, cultural and lexical meaning that lawyers, judges and policy-makers may not be aware of; the same may be said of ‘nikah’ (marriage) or ‘Voodoo’ (a type of witchcraft) and many other terminologies. These terminologies are intimately linked to the experiences of immigration applicants and asylum seekers who desire to express their fear of persecution to lawyers, judges and policymakers. Using two real-life case studies involving a Yemeni immigration applicant and Nigerian asylum seeker respectively and my practitioner experience as a country expert having written 140 reports, I will critically explore the value of a primary, semiotic understanding of key religious, cultural and linguistic dimensions in asylum claims (as opposed to secondary source evidence). I argue that the UK’s immigration tribunal system should place more value on how language is embodied within the MENA regions. I do not wish to just highlight this issue but semiotically analyse immigration and asylum procedure, the arguments of the Home Office and tribunals in accepting or rejecting claims and suggest substantive reform by broadening the nature of evidence. Using Peirce’s framework of semiotics, a sign (representamen) is the fundamental entry point to comprehend an object – an object being the referent of a sign. Once we understand a sign and its object, we arrive at the interpretant which is the sense or meaning derived from the object. This triad relationship of sign, object and interpretant constitutes semiois. Here, I argue that analysing the nature of a sign and what it purports to represent can provide us with a theoretical basis by which to reformulate the mechanisms which judges and lawyers use to understand religious, cultural and linguistic evidence in asylum claims. It is through signs that we can arrive at a deeper meaning and the larger picture of the intricate components of an asylum seeker’s claim thereby accessing their semiotic code.</p
The synergy between loneliness and cannabis use on suicidal thoughts and behaviors among young adults in higher education
No full textBackground
Loneliness continues to be a public health crisis, and cannabis use has increased among some young adults following its legalization in certain states. Loneliness and cannabis use each contributes to suicide risk, but no studies have explored their potential synergy. This study aimed to explore the interaction between loneliness and cannabis use among students in higher education.
Methods
We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (2020–2021; N = 101,744) and used multivariable logistic regression models to show the synergy between loneliness and cannabis use on suicidal thoughts and behaviors adjusting for sociodemographic variables and mental health. We calculated the interaction contrast ratio to show the synergy of combined exposures.
Results
While loneliness and cannabis use both increased odds of suicidal thoughts, those who were lonely and used cannabis had the greatest odds, exceeding the sum of these individual effects. The synergy between loneliness and cannabis use on suicide attempt was not statistically significant at a conventional level.
Conclusion
Synergy exists between loneliness and cannabis use in relation to suicidal thoughts among young adults in higher education. Future research can explore the utility of screening and addressing loneliness and cannabis in tandem for suicide prevention.</p
Global and regional burden of vaccine-associated facial paralysis, 1967–2023: findings from the WHO international pharmacovigilance database
No full textThe scarce and conflicting data on vaccine-associated facial paralysis limit our understanding of vaccine safety on a global scale. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the global burden of vaccine-associated facial paralysis and to identify the extent of its association with individual vaccines, thereby contributing to the development of a more effective vaccination program. We used data on vaccine-associated facial paralysis from 1967 to 2023 (total reports, n = 131 255 418 418) from the World Health Organization International Pharmacovigilance Database. Global reporting counts, reported odds ratios (ROR), and information components (ICs) were computed to elucidate the association between the 16 vaccines and the occurrence of vaccine-associated facial paralysis across 156 countries. We identified 26 197 reports (men, n = 10 507 [40.11%]) of vaccine-associated facial paralysis from 49 537 reports of all-cause facial paralysis. Vaccine-associated facial paralysis has been consistently reported; however, a pronounced increase in reported incidence has emerged after the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is attributable to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Most vaccines were associated with facial paralysis, with differing levels of association, except for tuberculosis vaccines. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines had the highest association with facial paralysis reports (ROR, 28.31 [95% confidence interval, 27.60–29.03]; IC, 3.37 [IC0.25, 3.35]), followed by encephalitis, influenza, hepatitis A, papillomavirus, hepatitis B, typhoid, varicella-zoster, meningococcal, Ad-5 vectored COVID-19, measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, pertussis, polio, and Hemophilus influenza type b, pneumococcal, rotavirus diarrhea, and inactivated whole-virus COVID-19 vaccines. Concerning age- and sex-specific risks, vaccine-associated facial paralysis was more strongly associated with older age groups and males. The serious adverse outcome and death rate of vaccine-associated facial paralysis were extremely low (0.07% and 0.00%, respectively). An increase in vaccine-induced facial paralysis, primarily owing to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, was observed with most vaccines, except tuberculosis vaccines. Given the higher association observed in the older and male groups with vaccine-associated facial paralysis, close monitoring of these demographics when administering vaccines that are significantly associated with adverse reactions is crucial. </p
Retrieval practice ‘in the wild’: Teachers’ reported use of retrieval practice in the classroom
No full textRetrieval practice has been shown to be an effective and efficient way to enhance learning and which has led researchers to call for retrieval practice to be part of teachers' regular repertoire of activities within a classroom. Recent policy changes in England have seen retrieval practice being encouraged and emphasized as a strategy that teachers should use in their practice. However, much of the research to support this has been conducted under controlled studies both in laboratory and classroom settings. Therefore, in the present study, we report on how teachers in England are implementing retrieval practice “in the wild”—in their classrooms outside of a controlled study. Findings indicate that teachers are using retrieval practice regularly in the classroom, even if it is not part of a mandatory school policy, with quizzes and short answer questions being the most reported format used. Additionally, teachers are motivated to use retrieval practice beyond the direct benefit of the testing effect.</p
Are we expecting too much from retrieval practice?
No full textRetrieval practice is an effective method for supporting learning, which has led to researchers calling for its incorporation into teachers’ regular classroom practice. Recent
educational policy shifts in England reflect a growing emphasis on the use of retrieval practice as
a learning strategy by educators. While research is largely from controlled studies in laboratories and classrooms, this article reflects on how teachers in England apply retrieval practice in their everyday teaching environments. Results reveal that teachers are regularly using retrieval practice
in their teaching. However, they report using retrieval practice for outcomes beyond the ‘testing effect’, which raises questions about the role of retrieval practice in classrooms.</p
The cross-domain impact of home stressors on job performance through leisure crafting
No full textPurpose: We explored the mechanism underlying the associations between different home stressors and job performance. We investigated whether challenge and hindrance home stressors are related to leisure crafting and thereby to job performance. We also examined whether key resources amplify the positive association between leisure crafting and job performance.Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a three-wave time lag study to investigate a group of employees (n = 534) in Taiwan. We evaluated challenge/hindrance home stressors and key resources at Time 1, leisure crafting one week later, i.e. at Time 2 and manager-rated job performance an additional three months later, i.e. at Time 3.Findings: Challenge home stressors were associated with improved leisure crafting, thereby benefiting job performance; hindrance home stressors had the opposite effect. Additionally, openness to experience strengthened the positive association between leisure crafting and job performance.Practical implications: Organizations may support employees’ efforts to promote/mitigate challenge/hindrance home stressors. They may also encourage employees to be open to life experiences that can amplify the contributions of leisure crafting to job performance.Originality/value: The questions of whether and how home stressors are related to individuals’ work remain controversial in the literature. We offer new insights into how these stressors can contribute to or impede job performance, thereby extending our knowledge of the role of home stressors in job performance.</p
Simplification of continuous intracoronary thermodilution
No full textBackground: Continuous intracoronary thermodilution with saline allows for the accurate measurement of volumetric blood flow (Q) and absolute microvascular resistance (Rμ). However, this requires repositioning of the temperature sensor by the operator to measure the entry temperature of the saline infusate, denoted as Ti.Aims: We evaluated whether Ti could be predicted based on known parameters without compromising the accuracy of calculated Q. This would significantly simplify the technique and render it completely operator independent.Methods: In a derivation cohort of 371 patients with Q measured both at rest and during hyperaemia, multivariate linear regression was used to derive an equation for the prediction of Ti. Agreement between standard Q (calculated with measured Ti) and simplified Q (calculated with predicted Ti) was assessed in a validation cohort of 120 patients that underwent repeat Q measurements. The accuracy of simplified Q was assessed in a second validation cohort of 23 patients with [15O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET)-derived Q measurements.Results: Simplified Q exhibited strong agreement with standard Q (r=0.94, confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-0.95; intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 0.94, CI: 0.92-0.95; both pConclusions: Predicting Ti resulted in an excellent agreement with measured Ti for the assessment of coronary blood flow. It significantly simplifies continuous intracoronary thermodilution and renders absolute coronary flow measurements completely operator independent.</p
Multicenter Normative Data for Mesopic Microperimetry
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this study was to provide a large, multi-center normative dataset for the Macular Integrity Assessment (MAIA) microperimeter and compare the goodness-of-fit and prediction interval calibration-error for a panel of hill-of-vision models.Methods: Microperimetry examinations of healthy eyes from five independent study groups and one previously available dataset were included (1137 tests from 531 eyes of 432 participants [223 women and 209 men]). Linear mixed models (LMMs) were fitted to the data to obtain interpretable hill-of-vision models. A panel of regression models to predict normative data was compared using cross-validation with site-wise splits. The mean absolute error (MAE) and miscalibration area (area between the calibration curve and the ideal diagonal) were evaluated as the performance measures.Results: Based on the parameters “participant age,” “eccentricity from the fovea,” “overlap with the central fixation target,” and “eccentricity along the four principal meridians,” a Bayesian mixed model had the lowest MAE (2.13 decibel [dB]; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9–2.36 dB) and miscalibration area (0.13; 95% CI = 0.07–0.19). However, a parsimonious linear model provided a comparable MAE (2.17 dB; 95% CI = 1.93–2.4 dB) and a similar miscalibration area (0.14; 95% CI = 0.08–0.2).Conclusions: Normal variations in visual sensitivity on mesopic microperimetry can be effectively explained by a linear model that includes age and eccentricity. The dataset and a code vignette are provided for estimating normative values across a large range of retinal locations, applicable to customized testing patterns.</p
Law and Comics/Graphic Justice
No full textThis chapter examines the development of law, comics and graphic justice as a distinct area of scholarly activity within the context of law and humanities study. The core focus of this chapter’s discussion is the Anglo-American conception of law and comics studies, particularly that situated within the UK, North America and Australia. In these areas socio-legal studies, and law and humanities scholarship incorporating comics study has firmly established itself since the 1990s.
This is not to ignore the existence of other, wider
forms of comics studies which consider law and graphic justice, and, indeed, even within this chapter’s discussion it is worth noting that law and comics and particularly ‘graphic justice’ scholars examine Japanese popular culture and manga comics. However, this
chapter’s focus is on the Anglo-American and Global North field of law, comics and graphic justice study rather than a specific analysis of the texts and mechanisms contained within the discipline’s academic focus and in Anglo-American and Global North comics production.
This chapter argues that comics scholarship has pedagogical importance such as bringing to life ideas such as the rule of law and the separation of powers that can springboard students into deeper understandings of these important concepts as well as providing for an expansion of research approaches and methodologies that enhance and broaden legal scholarship.
Participatory Research Fund Project: Preparing for Assistance Dog Retirement.
No full textPresentation outlining a best practice case study hat was part of the Preparing for Assistance Dog Retirement project undertakeb by the ARU OneWelfare Research Group, presented at the 2024 Let's Shape Research Together Conference at ARU Cambridge </p
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇