8383 research outputs found
Sort by
Perception and coping mechanisms of patients with diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ibadan, Nigeria
Get PDFBackground: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ushered in a period of fear and uncertainty, resulting in structural instability across the globe. Vulnerable individuals, such as patients with diabetes mellitus, are predispose to have adverse effects and complications of COVID-19 when infected. We explored the perception of diabetes mellitus patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and their coping mechanisms at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Methods: We employed an exploratory qualitative study design to explore diabetes mellitus patients’ perceptions and coping mechanisms during the COVID-19 pandemic. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit 32 participants (2 health professionals and 30 diabetes mellitus patients). In-depth interviews were used to collect the data from the participants. All the recorded audio data were transcribed verbatim and exported to NVivo software for thematic data analyses. Results: Most diabetes mellitus patients were not fearful of the pandemic but were optimistic that it would not affect their health. Mechanisms such as the usage of herbal medicines and adherence to COVID-19 precautionary measures were noticed among patients. The study also revealed that the hospital’s coping mechanism during the COVID-19 pandemic include prolonged appointments, limiting the number of patients attended per clinic day, and the provision of telehealth service. Patients in our study utilised negative coping mechanisms such as reduced drug dosages, subscriptions to cheaper drug brands, and reliance on religious institutions rather than a clinic for health instructions. Conclusions: The study has shown that diabetes mellitus patients were not fearful of the COVID-19 pandemic. The utilisation of telehealth, encouragement of daily monitoring of sugar levels, provision of avenues for a medication review, and adherence to the safety protocols were coping mechanisms employed by the health system and diabetes mellitus patients. We recommend that the government and other healthcare stakeholders reinforce the resilience of diabetes mellitus patients by alleviating their health burdens during the pandemic. This could be done by subsidizing the prices of drugs, tests, and consultation fees for patients with diabetes mellitus. Also, more efforts should be made to elevate the health system through the reduction in waiting and appointment times in the diabetes clinic and employing more health personnel in the clinic
Does CEO guilt influence the adoption of employee welfare practices?
No full textThis study examines the role of CEOs' guilt in adopting employee welfare practices (EWP). Using the context of privatization that is associated with large-scale layoffs, we argue that witnessing the distress of laid-off workers and their families causes CEOs to experience guilt for not doing enough to alleviate their suffering. The guilt, in turn, drives CEOs to engage in remedial actions of restitution that reflect positively on employee-related practices. We find support for our idea in a sample of newly privatized firms from 31 countries. Our results show that CEOs' guilt positively influences the adoption of EWP among newly privatized firms. This effect is stronger in countries with collectivistic orientation and higher unemployment rates. Our findings suggest CEOs' values and emotions play an important role in business decisions concerning their employees. This perspective challenges the conventional view of business decisions as purely rational and profit-driven, highlighting the importance of ethical and emotional considerations in decision-making
Acute neuromuscular and perceptual responses to U‐18 English Premier League academy football match play
Get PDFWe examined the sensitivity and time‐course of recovery of neuromuscular and perceptual player monitoring measures to U‐18 English Premier League academy football match play. Eighteen players performed maximal posterior chain, hip adductor and abductor isometric strength tests, countermovement jumps (CMJ) and provided self‐report wellbeing scores around eight competitive league home games: 1 day before (MD‐1), pre‐match (MD‐PRE), post‐match (MD‐POST) and two (MD+2) and three (MD+3) days post‐match. A permutational multivariate analysis of variance and post hoc univariate analyses of variance were used to examine match‐induced responses to monitoring variables. Between MD‐1 and MD‐POST, we observed small to moderate reductions to the adductor and abductor peak force and maximal impulse and IPCS peak force; small reductions to CMJ jump height (JH) (flight time), eccentric peak force and eccentric deceleration rate of force development and moderate to large reductions to perceived fatigue, muscle soreness and mood. No match‐induced changes were observed for CMJ flight time: contraction time or eccentric duration. Posterior chain, abductor, CMJ and self‐report measures normalised by MD+3 but adductor peak force remained compromised at MD+3 (ES = small). Posterior chain, adductor and abductor peak isometric force and maximal impulse; CMJ JH, eccentric peak force and eccentric deceleration rate of force development and perceived fatigue, muscle soreness and mood are sensitive to match‐induced fatigue. Since adductor peak force remained compromised at MD+3, it is apparent that players might not achieve complete neuromuscular recovery within 3 days of match play, and that the adductor muscle group might be particularly vulnerable to match‐induced fatigue
IoT-MFaceNet: Internet-of-Things-Based Face Recognition Using MobileNetV2 and FaceNet Deep-Learning Implementations on a Raspberry Pi-400
Get PDFIoT applications revolutionize industries by enhancing operations, enabling data-driven decisions, and fostering innovation. This study explores the growing potential of IoT-based facial recognition for mobile devices, a technology rapidly advancing within the interconnected IoT landscape. The investigation proposes a framework called IoT-MFaceNet (Internet-of-Things-based face recognition using MobileNetV2 and FaceNet deep-learning) utilizing pre-existing deep-learning methods, employing the MobileNetV2 and FaceNet algorithms on both ImageNet and FaceNet databases. Additionally, an in-house database is compiled, capturing data from 50 individuals via a web camera and 10 subjects through a smartphone camera. Pre-processing of the in-house database involves face detection using OpenCV’s Haar Cascade, Dlib’s CNN Face Detector, and Mediapipe’s Face. The resulting system demonstrates high accuracy in real-time and operates efficiently on low-powered devices like the Raspberry Pi 400. The evaluation involves the use of the multilayer perceptron (MLP) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers. The system primarily functions as a closed set identification system within a computer engineering department at the College of Engineering, Mustansiriyah University, Iraq, allowing access exclusively to department staff for the department rapporteur room. The proposed system undergoes successful testing, achieving a maximum accuracy rate of 99.976%
Moving Beyond the Impasse: Importation, Deprivation, and Difference in Prisons
Get PDFThis theoretical article uses an intersectionality lens to show that, together, the importation and deprivation models can act as an important theoretical tool for understanding the lives of incarcerated people who deviate from the expected population of young, white, able-bodied, hearing males. We use examples from the lives of incarcerated d/Deaf people and incarcerated women to introduce a pain-difference continuum, where the extent to which someone differs from what is ‘expected' in prison correlates with the types of pains/deprivations they experience. We acknowledge the impact of imported oppression and coin the term “imported coping,” where people utilize pre-existing strategies to navigate prison's pains
Psychological Type and Temperament Profile of Anglican Clergy Serving in the Episcopal Church (USA)
Get PDFThe present study drew on data provided by 179 clergymen and 226 clergywomen to discuss the psychological type and temperaments profile of stipendiary parochial clergy serving in The Episcopal Church (USA) and to set this profile alongside 591 clergymen and 486 clergywomen serving in the Church of England. The data indicated a similar profile for Anglican clergy on both sides of the Atlantic, with preferences for introversion, intuition, feeling and judging. In terms of temperament, in the USA 41% of clergymen were SJ, 38% NF, 17% NT and 4% SP; 43% of clergywomen were NF, 41% SJ, 13% NT and 2% SP
Generative AI in digital marketing for SME's in London: capabilities, limitations and future implications
No full textThis research investigates the evolving landscape of digital marketing for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in
London, with a specific focus on the capabilities and limitations of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). As SMEs increasingly embrace digital channels, understanding the potential impact of Generative AI is essential for devising effective marketing strategies. Key findings from this study shed light on the innovative content creation, personalized customer experiences and efficiency gains offered by Generative AI. However, ethical considerations, data privacy concerns, and the necessity for human oversight emerge as significant limitations. In the current practices of the SME sector in London, a discernible trend towards digital marketing tools is observed, with a strong emphasis on social media, email campaigns, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies. Despite a rising adoption of AI, SMEs encounter challenges such as limited budgets, skill gaps, and the dynamic nature of digital technologies. Challenges within the SME sector is identified, underscoring the demand for tailored and cost-effective AI solutions. The study accentuates the importance of human creativity and emotional intelligence in marketing, areas where AI may encounter limitations. The use of AI in digital marketing is portrayed as a dual-edged sword providing automation benefits while demanding a delicate equilibrium to maintain authenticity and customer trust. As the SME sector in London navigates the digital marketing landscape, the future lies in responsible integration of Generative AI. Striking a balance between AI automation and human touch emerges as a pivotal strategy. The research emphasizes the cautious adoption of AI by SMEs, ensuring alignment with ethical standards and regulatory frameworks. While AI presents unprecedented opportunities, a nuanced approach is imperative to surmount challenges and unleash the full potential of digital marketing for SMEs in London
Intimate partner violence and childhood health outcomes in 37 sub-Saharan African countries: an analysis of demographic health survey data from 2011 to 2022
Get PDFBackground
Understanding the contribution of intimate partner violence (IPV) to childhood health outcomes (eg, morbidity and mortality) is crucial for improving child survival in sub-Saharan Africa. This comprehensive study aimed to explore the associations between maternal exposure to physical, sexual, or emotional violence and adverse childhood health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods
We analysed Demographic Health Survey datasets from 37 sub-Saharan African countries from 2011 to 2022. A generalised linear mixed model was used to examine the associations between maternal physical violence, sexual violence, or emotional violence, and early childhood health outcomes (eg, acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea, undernutrition, and child mortality). A random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) for adverse childhood health outcomes. The odds of undernutrition and mortality were 55% and 58% higher among children younger than 5 years born to mothers who were exposed to physical and sexual violence, respectively.
Findings
238 060 children younger than 5 years were included. Children whose mothers experienced physical violence (adjusted OR 1·33, 95% CI 1·29–1·42), sexual violence (1·47, 1·34–1·62), emotional violence (1·39, 1·32–1·47), or a combination of emotional and sexual violence (1·64, 1·20–2·22), or a combination of all the three forms of violence (1·88, 1·62–2·18) were associated with an increased odds of developing diarrhoeal disease. Similarly, children whose mothers experienced physical violence (1·43, 1·28–1·59), sexual violence (1·47, 1·34–1·62), emotional violence (1·39, 1·32–1·47), or a combination of emotional and sexual violence (1·48, 1·16–1·89), or a combination of all three forms of violence (1·66, 1·47–1·88) were positively associated with symptoms of acute respiratory infection.
Interpretation
We found a strong link between maternal exposure to IPV and health outcomes for children younger than 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa, with minor variations across countries. To address childhood morbidity and mortality attributed to IPV, interventions need to be tailored for specific countries. Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Comoros, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Uganda should be priority nations
Teacher education, agency and knowledge: Conditions of epistemic (in)justice in teacher education
No full textIn this chapter, we link a Lacanian reading of agency to Fricker's notion of epistemic injustice to explore constraints and opportunities regarding the development of professional knowledge in English teacher education contexts. Drawing on Lacan's theory of four discourses, we examine examples of current issues in teacher education from the perspective of trainee teachers and teacher educators as knowing subjects. We consider how the knowing subject is positioned in four discoursal contexts aimed at developing teachers’ professional knowledge: discourses centring teacher education around national education policy; evaluative discourses involving England's Early Career Framework; discourses drawing on a shadow economy of online profession-led knowledge; and discourses involved in not knowing and uncertainty in teaching practicum. For each example, we articulate the symbolic order in which the knowing subject is implicated and the conditions of epistemic justice/injustice produced in the development of teacher knowledge. Finally, we consider what may be learned by bringing together a philosophical theory of knowledge and a psychoanalytic theory of discoursal agency, arguing for wider opportunities in England's teacher education programmes where subliminal and sublime forms of agency can take root and flourish