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Positive psychology: resilience and its role within mental health nursing
No full textThis is the ninth article in a series that explores the meaning of positive psychology and the importance it has on the wellbeing of the mental health workforce. It will focus on positive psychology interventions that help to develop resilience and to consider how the uplifting effect of resilience through contemporary use in the field of mental health nursing can be experienced. This article will explain what the term resilience means and how it is embedded in the practice of positive psychological interventions. Finally, it will emphasise how the application of positive psychological interventions can benefit the individual and the organisation. The practical tasks provided in the boxes throughout the article will help the reader identify what resilience means for them and understand how to further develop its transferability through evidence-based, user-friendly exercises
Living Meta-Analysis: what contribution could the living educational theory research literature make as a resource that informs our meta-analytic inquiries?
No full textA meta-analysis is the analysis of the results of several independent studies and offers an opportunity to combine the outcomes of comparable studies. We define a Living Meta-Analysis as a qualitative meta-analysis with inclusion criteria set to Living-Educational-Theory research, and suggest two scenarios:1. where the researcher proposes to build their own living-educational-theory (let) informed by their meta-analysis of the living-educational-theories of others, and:2. where the researcher does not propose to build a living-educational-theory (let) but the influence of Living Educational Theory (LET) research is still prominent in the study through the life affirming energy of the other.We propose an initial classification of the LET research literature, identify, and explore potential research questions, and methods of implementation of cases (1) and (2). We discuss the limitations, choosing a methodology for your research proposal and the contribution that could be made by Living Meta-Analysis to spreading the global influence of Living Educational Theory research
Review of "Numeracy as Social Practice: Global and Local Perspectives" edited by Keiko Yasukawa, Alan Rogers, Kara Jackson and Brian Street.
No full textYasukawa, K., Rogers, A., Jackson, K. and Street, B. (Eds) (2018) Numeracy as Social Practice: Global and Local Perspectives, Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-28445-6.This edited collection of chapters, part of Routledge’s Rethinking Development series, examines the uses of numeracy in a wide variety of contexts in countries around the world, and the educational approaches which reflect – or in many cases, fail to reflect – those real-life numeracy activities. Educators and researchers with a commitment to social justice and global development will find this book a valuable resource for building a broader vision of what numeracy means
Estimation of fatigue strength of reinforced complete upper denture using a newly designed testing machine: A laboratory research project
No full textIn the present study, an aero pneumatic fatigue testing machine for complete dentures was designed, fabricated, and tested for the evaluation of the fatigue life of reinforced complete upper denture (CUD). On completion and testing, it was observed that the machine has the potential of generating reliable number of cyclic data. The machine’s performance was evaluated using test specimens of identical CUDs that were machined in conformity with standard procedures. The fatigue machine compressed the lower dental arch over the upper denture-specimen in centric occlusion, in the same way that the two masticatory muscles pull the lower jaw over the upper jaw during chewing. The incorporation of glass fibres into the CUD using a sandwich technique quadruples the lifespan of the denture (P = 0.004). The low standard deviation, along with the low coefficient of variation (CV) of the group of unreinforced dentures shows the repeatability of the results and the reliability of the machine. The high standard deviation and coefficient of variation of reinforced dentures was expected, since a high variation of results is usually recorded in fibre reinforcement cases. This research confirmed the view that the crack during denture fracture initiates in the anterior palatal area and propagates to the posterior
Effect of simultaneous impact and heat/fire on carbon fibre-reinforced composites containing nano additives
No full textCarbon fibres, owing to their highest tensile strength and stiffness amongst all fibres used in composite fabrication, are most popular in structural composites. However, out-of-plane impact forces are a major design concern when carbon fibre is used since its impact resistance is lower than that of glass fibre. There is considerable literature available on the impact and post impact behaviour of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites (CFRP). However, there is a gap in literature on the effect of heat/fire on impact damage to CFRPs, especially concerning the nature of particulates released during these conditions. Quite often nanoparticle additives are introduced in the matrix of the CFRP to increase impact resistance and other properties including flame resistance, which could also be released along with other debris, during impact and fire.The aim of this research was to understand the behaviour of carbon fibre/epoxy composites (CFE) containing nano and micro particulate additives subjected to simultaneous impact and heat/fire conditions. This required novel laboratory scale testing equipment to be designed and developed with the ability to combine impact and heat/fire conditions testing whilst capturing any released debris/particulates and post-test characterisation of physical and chemical properties of the captured particles, from which the associated health environmental concerns could be established.The design of such novel equipment incorporated a pendulum impactor to create impact whilst the sample was exposed to a radiant cone heater at a particular heat flux for a specified period of time.Moreover, protocols using the bespoke impact and fire equipment for testing samples under different conditions and capturing particulates released, both from the front and back faces, along with those in the effluents were established. Parallel to the development of the set-up, high fibre ratio CFE composites, comparable to aero grade materials, were produced by resin infusion. CFE laminates with incorporated organomodified montmorillonite clays (nanoclays), layered double hydroxide (LDH), graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (NT), were also produced.These samples were then subjected to 19J impact by a hemispherical type impactor as: impact only, impact after 50kW/m² radiant heat exposure at 90s, 120s,180s and 240s and impact during 75kW/m² fire conditions, 20s post ignition. A loss of stiffness as a function of heat exposure time was found to affect the damage type observed for CFE samples. The introduction of nanoparticle additives LDH, NT and GO; reduced impact resistance during impact only and impact at 90s heat exposure, whilst at extended heat exposure duration, past 180s, improved damage resistance owing to increased charring and char reinforcement, especially in samples containing GO.Particulates released during impact only testing were fibres and resin particles. Impacts after 50kW/m² radiant heat exposure at 90s, 120s, 180s and 240s, carbon fibres, decomposed resinous particles and resin coated fibres were released. During fire conditions additional soot particles were released. Quantitative and morphological analyses of captured particles from CFE samples demonstrated that the sizes of decomposed resin particles reduced with increasing time up to impact at 180 or 75kW/m² heat flux. The type, size and shape of particles released from samples containing nano particles were similar to those released from CFE without nanoparticles with the exceptions that there was a significant increase of resin particles released from LDH samples during impact only and particulates captured during fire conditions appeared less decomposed.During impact only and impact during 50kW/m², fibres released regardless of sample composition, were in a size range (diameter 5-7.5µm and length 5-250µm) which can be deposited in the nose and throat region of the respiratory tract. On two separate occasions, fibres were sampled from effluents during impact after 50kW/m² radiant heat exposure at 90s, indicating released fibres could remain airborne. Fibres of reduced diameter and fibril bundles were observed from CFE samples without nanoparticles during fire conditions. Their dimensions (diameters less than 1μm and lengths 5-20µm) were within a range (diameters less than 3μm and lengths between 3-80μm) that could potentially enter the alveoli region of the respiratory tract and resist biological removal mechanisms, making them the greatest concern regarding potential health effects.Many of the released resin particles observed throughout the research from all sample compositions and test conditions, had respirable diameters less than 4µm. Some resin particles were in or close to nanoscale in which they can deposit more effectively in the alveolar region of the respiratory tract. The introduction of heat and the decomposition of the resin particles potentially increased their deposition efficiency compared to impact only.A specific study investigating sub-micron sized particles released in effluent during impact and fire conditions involved combining a Dekati Low Pressure Impactor (DLPI) and a Ecomesure Mini Particle Sampler (MPS) with the bespoke impact and fire equipment. The results from the DLPI showed that up to 75% of the soot and particles released could deposit in the lungs reaching the bronchi region at a minimum, whilst for the MPS 75% of soot agglomerates released from CFE samples could deposit deep in the lung in the bronchioles and alveoli.Finally, an in vitro toxicological study using murine macrophage cell culture media was performed on particles released from CFE and CFE containing GO during impact and fire to finalise the research. The results indicated that GO induced pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress responses when diluted alone or as part of soot agglomerates and fibres of reduced diameter induced a cytotoxic response
Lived experience and the social model of disability: conflicted and inter-dependent ambitions for employment of people with a learning disability and their family carers
No full text1.1 Background Only 5.9% of working adults with a learning disability are in paid employment and their family-carers are similarly likely to be unemployed, as they continue to take on an extended caring and advocacy role as the welfare state retreats. Despite social policy efforts to stimulate employment for people with a learning disability, there has been little or no progress. Changes in the language of welfare benefit departments seek to use the words once heralded as success for the Disability rights activists and proponents of the social model: such as Inclusion, independence and citizenship. A new definition of the social model of disability utilising Hannah Arendt needs to redefine the “private” sphere of the lived experience of people with a learning disability to allow for a better understanding of the inter-dependencies that exist between people with a learning disability, their family carers and a wider support network.1.2 Materials and Methods Empirical data were collected in a mixed methods study while undertaking a consultation on the future of day services for people with a learning disability in a Local Authority in the north of England, UK.1.3 Results The results reveal high levels of inter-dependence between people with a learning disability and their carers, combined with the continued financial struggle as a lived experience of caring. The study found that barriers in providing care and support restrict the rights of people with a learning disability and their carers to secure employment.1.4 Conclusions There is a need to reconceptualise the social model of disability to more closely resonate with the lived experiences of people with a learning disability and their carers. A newly revised theoretical approach should incorporate the "private" sphere of live acknowledging the inter-dependent, co-produced relationships, between people with a learning disability and their carers to support and enable employment for both people with a learning disability and their carers under the Care Act 2014 (Department of Health, 2014)
Positive youth development through sport : investigating the impact of key social agents and life skills transfer
No full textWith youth sport considered a unique environment for promoting positive youth development (PYD), this thesis endeavoured to investigate PYD through sport more closely.Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the programme of research involved five studies aimed to synthesise the current quantitative PYD through sport literature, investigate the motivational climate created by coaches, parents, and peers and their relationship to life skills development, the transfer of life skills to other life domains, and acquiring the views of current youth sport coaches.Study 1 systematically reviewed the quantitative PYD through sport literature. After identifying and screening articles, 57 studies were retained for analysis. This analysis generated a number of key findings, including the lack of papers measuring life skills transfer, a fundamental element of PYD through sport. Other important findings included a high number of articles adopting a cross-sectional research design, most research taking place in North America, and a total of 100 different measures being used to assess PYD through sport variables. This review assesses the reasons for these findings, and other findings, and offers recommendations for future research. The information gathered from this review provided the information and impetus for the wider programme of research.Study 2 investigated the relationships between the coach, parent, and peer motivational climates (mastery and ego) and participants’ life skills development (teamwork, goal setting, social skills, emotional skills, problem solving and decision making, leadership, time management, and interpersonal communication). Data from 308 youth sport participants suggested that a peer-created mastery-climate was key, making the largest positive contribution to all eight life skills and total life skills. Coaches and parents also contributed positively to some life skills and total life skills. A parent-created ego-climate had the greatest negative influence on life skills development; whereas, a coach-created ego-climate contributed also made a negative contribution. Contrary to expectations, a peer-created ego-climate contributed positively to three life skills and total life skills.Next, studies 3 and 4 were conducted to develop and provided initial validity and reliability evidence for a new scale that assesses life skills transfer from sport to other life domains. Study 3 involved a review of the literature investigating life skills transfer and resulted in the development of 88 initial items representing six key transfer areas: school/ education, home/ family, community, social settings, employment, and other life domains. During this study, the content validity of the items was endorsed by 10 experts and a pilot study conducted with 72 participants provided further validity evidence for the scale and an assessment of its use in practice. Study 4 included data from 321 youth sport participants and refined the scale further using the results of factor analysis and descriptive statistics. Collectively, these studies provided initial evidence for the validity and reliability of the Life Skills Scale for Sport – Transfer Scale (LSSS-TS), a measure which can be used by researchers and practitioners to assess participants’ perceived life skills transfer from sport to other domains.Overall, the findings from this programme of research suggest that more quantitative analysis is required to assess key PYD outcomes through sport with the requirement for more valid and reliable measures. Contributing to the research literature, this thesis also demonstrated that a mastery-climate emanating from coaches, parents, and peers combined help to develop participants’ life skills development through sport with peers deemed to be the most important contributor to this development. A major contribution to the research literature is the development of a valid and reliable measure of life skills transfer. This allows for future research to assess life skills transfer in more detail. Finally, this thesis contributes to the research literature as it provides greater in-depth information of how UK coaches understand the antecedents and consequences of PYD through sport
Risk in the aviation context : investigating risk perception and risk communication from a behaviour based approach
No full textSafety is an essential part of aviation. Risk assessment is considered subjective, while the operational context necessitates conformity and a unilateral approach. Eventually, the results assess individual risk perception and risk communication and are not being planned proactively. Additionally, due to the diversity of organisations and cultures, there is further fragmentation of what is recognised as risk behaviour, what should be communicated, and what is hazardous. Considering risk perception and communication within the daily practice is seen as essential to explain the behaviours during an adverse event. Safety analysis and investigation methods (SAIMs) have the goal to suggest ways to achieve acceptable system outcomes and avoid unfavourable consequences on humans, equipment, facilities, and the environment. However, there is no widely common and accepted framework engulfing safety recommendations and proactive safety management such as a behavioural intervention to enhance risk perception and risk communication and minimise danger. Risk perception and communication have been underrepresented in studies regarding their complexity in aviation practice. They have not been explicitly addressed for their role in incidents/accidents, resulting in ambiguous proactive safety suggestions and planning. Based on the premise that risk behaviour results from inappropriate risk perception and risk communication, this thesis supports that a behaviour-based intervention can enhance risk perception and communication.This thesis aimed to generate a holistic intervention plan to modify risk behaviour on the assumption that risk perception and communication are the basic factors. The hypotheses included that specific factors can be associated with risk perception and communication leading to risk behaviour, which may be influenced to enhance the latter. Also, a complete integrated intervention model can be generated and fused with a Strategic Communications approach, which makes it usable by most aviation air-carrier organisations. The objectives are to determine two sets of risk perception and communication factors, which lead to risk behaviour and then generate an integrated model applicable in the aviation context. This thesis followed the pragmatism paradigm and adopted a fixed multiphase mixed methods approach, investigating SAIMs, safety events reports, two groups of Subject-Matter-Experts, and the wider aviation workforce. The resulting behaviour based model consolidates the role of risk perception and communication factors as moderators of antecedent behaviour while holistically envisaging the aviation work environment. Contribution to theory and practice within the aviation safety context is provided, as well as future research for additional applications of the mode
The role of customer intelligence in developing markets: a case study on IT organisations developing emerging markets of the Middle East in the B-to-B context
No full textDue to the changing in the way that technology is used, marketers will have to deal with changes in customers’ behaviours and expectations, in ever more complicated market settings, across both developed and emerging economies. Realising the potential of the Emerging Markets (EM) requires insightful customer knowledge and market information.This research examines the role of Customer Intelligence (CI) in EM for IT multinational corporations in the Middle East region in a Business to Business (B2B) context, thereby bridging knowledge gaps in literature and practice. The knowledge gained is used here to develop a conceptual framework to reflect the impact of CI on developing existing markets and opening new markets in the ME / B2B world.This research followed a qualitative approach and data were collected through semi structured interviews addressing the key areas identified in existing literature and prevalidated by experts in the field. The researcher conducted interviews at two sites in the region, Dubai in United Arab Emirates and Amman in Jordan. Thirty-five elite interviews were conducted with purposively selected leaders, directors, and managers with the average of 20.8 years of experience in the field, working for 32 international organisations based in the ME including all the industry leaders. A total of interview 1140 minutes ensued, with an average of 32.5 minutes per interview. Thematic analysis using NVivo software resulted in 1678 codes, interpreted inductively to yield eight main themes and 46 influential factors that enclosed 150 variables.The main findings of this research revealed that CI and DT are mutually interactive and have a reciprocal relationship with a changing business model, that encompasses characteristics of emerging markets, marketing activities, partner eco-systems, customer segmentation with the use and the value of marketing systems and tools. However, there were indications that many firms, due to lack of CI strategy and investment, fail to reap the benefits of using CI for market coverage. A conceptual framework and model for identifying market potential and the role of CI was developed and validated by elite practitioners. This “Chandelier Model” is presented as a tool to enable practitioners to make more effective use of CI to enhance the development of emerging marke