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Introduction: Race in CEE migrations
No full textThe region of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is going through extraordinary changes in relation to migration. Millions of people are on the move to, from and within CEE, and these mobility patterns have never been more pronounced. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine mobilised an unprecedented outward migration and, since 2022, forced millions of Ukrainians to seek safety in Central and Western Europe (IOM, 2024). But even before the invasion, the extent of migration from Ukraine, but also from outside Europe, was growing (Duszczyk and Kaczmarczyk, 2022; Styrnol et al.,2023a, 2023b; Magdziarz et al., 2023a, 2023b, 2023c). This included economic migrants seeking to fill labour shortages in CEE and people claiming refuge either in the region or using it as an entry point to reach Western Europe.
In the aftermath of the so-called migration crisis in the Mediterranean and beyond (2014–2016), and most recently at the EU’s eastern borders, violence has become normalised. The Hungarian–Serbian, Lithuanian–Belarussian and Polish–Belarussian borders have become increasingly militarised with
daily pushbacks and a growing number of migrants being injured and dying while stuck at or attempting to cross these borders (Judzińska and Sendyka, 2022; Narkowicz, 2021). Race, racialisation and whiteness are at the centre of these spectacles (Rexhepi, 2018; De Genova, 2013)
Integrating policy, technology, and knowledge: a roadmap to circular manufacturing adoption
Get PDFCircular Manufacturing (CM) is a manufacturing process that employs strategies such as remanufacturing and closed-loop supply chains to improve sustainability (Delpla, Kenné, & Hof, 2022). This process employs circular economic principles. The adoption of CM has been impeded by a lack of financial support, inadequate consumer awareness, and insufficient government support. This review aims to facilitate a broader understanding of the adoption of government policies in implementing circular manufacturing strategies, which will help in advancing our knowledge about how nations compete to create and capture value. To provide a comprehensive and global perspective, the review included 524 studies from the Scopus Database, covering studies between 1990 and May 2024. The review contributes to (a) outlining three thematic clusters of shared scholarly interest, (b) the conceptual framework, and (c) highlighting several areas for future research. Ineffective management and sharing of information are significant challenges that impede organisational knowledge and decision-making administration. The transition to CM is facilitated by identifying essential data and technologies through an integrative review (bibliometric analysis and conceptual framework)
Exploring the use of Virtual Reality to enhance rapid decompression from occupational stress during short wellness breaks for content moderators
Get PDFVirtual reality (VR) has the potential to be a popular stress management tool in workplaces, however its efficacy has yet to be tested on content moderators (CMs). This study used an experimental design where CMs were randomly assigned to either: 1) VR, 2) non-screen activity or 3) control condition for a six-week period. Adherence data regarding a further four-week period was also collected and focus groups were conducted. The results demonstrated no significant differences in trait anxiety or occupational stress between baseline and follow-up for the three conditions. However, consistent with previous studies state-based stress and mood showed improvements after engaging with the activities. Specifically, participants in the VR condition showed reductions in state stress, whilst all conditions showed increases in state mood. The adherence data showed continued use of VR and non-screen activities for some CMs after the six-week experimental period finished and a focus group highlighted the logistical challenge of utilising VR setup within the allotted time. The results suggest VR may be a useful intervention for some types of occupational stress, if used during brief break times, it needs to be embedded within a logistical process that alleviates time pressure
Mitarbeiterbindung in Zeiten einer Krise – Handlungsempfehlungen zur erfolgreichen digital und analog induzierten Mitarbeiterbindung abgeleitet aus einer qualitativen Forschungsstudie am Beispiel mittelständischer Industriebetriebe in Süddeutschland
No full textThis paper analyses how employee retention in small and mid-sized companies works in order to achieve effective success. Employee retention forms part of corporate social sustainability. The sustainable aspect is reflected in the long-term nature of the relationship between employer and employee, focussed on and equally invested in promoting the well-being of the company. Loyal employees increase the innovation and competitive drive of companies. A focus is placed on Covid, circumstances in which companies navigated their business activities under the difficult conditions of a competitive labour market and the influence of crisismanagement. The threefold of employee retention, staff turnover and the Covid crisis are considered individually in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the problem statement forming the theoretical basis of the paper. The comprehensive research evaluating the current state of research and academic discussion shows that employee retention is a pivotal piece of successful business operations. This fact is due to the lack of qualified specialists in the labour market, the high costs and negative effects caused by staff turnover, as well as the abundance of information that all (potential) employees have about corporate benefits or employer reputation. Companies suffer from these factors, which in turn affect their competitiveness. Therefore it is crucial for companies to keep employees from all generations motivated and productive, retaining them long-term and empowering them as brand ambassadors.
As part of a qualitative study, interviews were conducted with employees and managers of peripherally located mid-sized industrial companies in order to dissect the explorative topic. Research showed that a crisis has considerable influence on business processes, in particular on internal communication and the adaptation of working models, which are important elements of employee retention. A customised approach to these elements is therefore of great importance - both on a digital and analogue level.
Furthermore, a Delphi discussion was conducted with local specialised professors, which expanded upon the discussion and interpretation of the research results of the empirical study. The paper concludes with strategic and operational recommendations for the successful design of digital and analogue employee retention measures, which have a long-term impact on the company's success and can therefore serve as guiding principles
Early neurological deterioration in minor stroke caused by small artery occlusion: incidence, risk factors and treatment impact
Get PDFIntroduction
Early neurological deterioration (END) is a forecast factor in poor outcomes in minor strokes. END's prevalence and forecast factors in minor strokes caused by small artery occlusion (SAO) are still unclear.
Patients and Method
We retrospectively analyzed 451 patients with minor stroke (NIHSS ≤ 5) caused by SAO hospitalized within an initial 24 h at BachMai Hospital's stroke center. END was defined as conditions with an elevated two or more NIHSS points within an initial 72 h. The primary outcome included the determination of the END incidence. The secondary outcome identified forecast factors for END through multivariate logistic regression analyses, and therapeutic impacts of antiplatelet and thrombolytic treatments.
Results
END occurred in 9.5 % (43/451) of patients (62.7 % male, mean age 63.8 ± 11.8 years). Independent forecast included admission SBP ≥ 150 mmHg (OR = 1.99; 95 % CI: 1.01 - 3.94; p = 0.048), diabetes history (OR = 0.58; 95 % CI: 1.05 - 4.33; p = 0.036), admission blood glucose ≥ 14mmol/L (OR = 2.99; 95 % CI: 1.05 - 8.54; p = 0.04), and internal capsule infarction (OR = 2.23; 95 % CI: 1.01 - 4.92; p = 0.048). The patients group admitted within 4.5 h, DAPT has significantly lower END risk compared to SAPT (OR = 0.079; 95 % CI: 0.007 - 0.939; p = 0.04) and altepase (OR = 0.013; 95 % CI: 0.01 - 0.12; p < 0.01). END risk was similar between SAPT and alteplase (p = 0.074).
Discussion and Conclusion
END is a 9.5 % incidence in minor acute ischemic stroke due to SAO. Independent forecasts are admission SBP and blood glucose, diabetes history, and internal capsule infarction. The DAPT group has significantly lower END risk than the SAPT and alteplase groups
Associations between physical performance and golf shot data: a pilot study of touring professional female players
No full textThis study examined the relationship between a comprehensive physical testing battery and golf shot data in touring professional female golfers. Nineteen players (age: 31.00 ± 5.64 years; height: 170.84 ± 7.24 cm; body mass: 67.74 ± 9.16 kg; wingspan: 127.37 ± 14.21 cm) volunteered to take part in the study. Each player completed a dynamic warm up, prior to engaging in a 90-minute testing session which gathered information on both physical capacity and golf shot data, all of which was collected at a single Ladies European Tour event. Golf shot data included: clubhead speed (CHS), ball speed, carry distance and smash factor, using a Trackman 4 launch monitor. Physical testing included: anthropometry data, seated thoracic rotation, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), isometric bench press, countermovement jump (CMJ), and seated medicine ball throws for distance. Pearsons r correlations showed the CMJ to have the strongest and most consistent associations with golf shot performance (r = 0.51-0.60). Additionally, force at 100 ms during the IMTP also demonstrated large associations with carry distance (r = 0.59), further highlighting the significance of rapid force production in the lower body. Collectively, the findings demonstrate the importance of lower body ballistic force production for female golfers, providing important information for practitioners regarding the relevant physical capacities for testing and training
The role of different types of knowledge and expertise in explaining recognition justice in flood defence and flood risk prevention
Get PDFFlood risks worldwide are rising and it is increasingly recognised that the impacts of floods are not neutral. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics determine people's capacity to deal with flood events. These differences in social vulnerability to floods need to be considered in flood risk management (FRM) to prevent the most vulnerable groups from being disproportionately impacted. However, due to a diversification of FRM strategies and the involvement of various policy domains, the experts working on FRM are no longer a homogeneous group. Where FRM was previously dominated by engineers, now various experts are involved that have different disciplinary backgrounds, knowledge bases and approaches to FRM. As a result, they also differ in their recognition of social vulnerability to floods. In this paper, we explore the different types of knowledge and expertise in FRM in three countries (England, Flanders and France), focussing on the strategies of flood defence and flood risk prevention. We characterise the epistemic communities supporting the domains and study to what extent experts differ in their recognition of social vulnerability to floods. We also dive into the mechanisms employed to stimulate integration between experts and consider the extent to which this integration can strengthen recognition justice
Content moderator mental health and associations with coping styles: replication and extension of previous studies
Get PDFThere is an increasing evidence base that demonstrates the psychological toll of content moderation on the employees that perform this crucial task. Nevertheless, content moderators (CMs) can be based worldwide and have varying working conditions. Therefore, there is a need for studies to be replicated to ensure results are robust. The current study used a large sample of commercial CMs employed by an international company to replicate the results from two previous studies which relied on an anonymous online survey. The results pertaining to mental health, wellbeing and the effectiveness of wellbeing services for this population were mostly replicated. Over a third of CMs demonstrated moderate to severe psychological distress and a quarter were experiencing low wellbeing. Further, the results suggest the potential utility for interventions that increase problem-focused problem solving, as well as a need for the efficacy of wellbeing services to be evaluated more broadly
Return to the ancestral homeland
No full textWhile there is no universally accepted definition of the phenomenon of return migration to the ancestral home countries, the most simplistic rendition of what it entails for a migrant, is the act and process of going back to the point of departure: either the regional or wider geographic location of the country of origin of the migrant ancestors. That is, the ancestral homeland. This type of return could refer to either, a conscious individual migrant, or, a collective family, decision to leave a particular host country and return permanently to the country of origin. This is effectively a return to one’s ‘roots’ (Christou, 2013). In this entry we will cover some of the core questions of the phenomenon of return to the ancestral homeland: What is the scope, context and factors that lead to return to the ancestral homeland? What are some of the major challenges and the impact of return on the migrant, the host and the ancestral home countries
My work here is done? A collaborative arts-informed narrative inquiry into the stories of senior psychotherapy practitioners as they contemplate retirement
Get PDFThe focus of this qualitative research project is to explore the experiences and stories of senior psychotherapy practitioners as they consider the transition towards retirement. This is an under-investigated area of professional practice and research. A methodology incorporating a visual narrative inquiry was adopted, together with a highly reflexive approach. Participants were able to contribute text, visual, and other art-based data on an electronic bulletin board, which also allowed the participants to interact and engage in collaborative meaning-making. The data was analysed with reference to McCormack lenses as part of the process of producing highly subjective, interpretive stories. A major finding from this process was the presence of ambivalence towards the notion of retirement, with the participants experiencing both a draw towards retirement, and a pulling back from it. In the process of the research some participants made the decision to retire. Stories are a powerful way of sharing personal experiences and create opportunities for others to resonant with the personal narratives. The project highlighted the possibility to further develop the methodology and methods as a way of meaningful engagement with research participants, where the exploration of highly subjective experiences is a central part of the research investigation