76454 research outputs found
Sort by
Quality Intrapartum Care Experiences of Women and Midwives in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Critical Narrative Review
Get PDFQuality intrapartum care measures are essential for reducing avoidable maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. One factor contributing to the high burden of maternal and newborn illness is inadequate care during the intrapartum period. There is a substantial amount of qualitative research detailing the experiences of women and midwives with intrapartum care. However, narrative reviews that concentrate on the experiences of women and midwives while utilizing and providing intrapartum care respectively in sub-Saharan African Low- to Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) are scarce, as far as the authors are aware. We aimed to retrieve evidence that supports women’s and midwives’ experiences with quality intrapartum care by conducting a critical review of the literature. The literature was searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct/Elsevier with studies between June 2014 and July 2024. Qualified midwives and pregnant and postpartum women were target populations for the review. Therefore, we undertook a critical narrative review to ascertain relevant evidence related to intrapartum midwifery care and women’s experiences—qualitative studies that focused on the views and experiences of women and midwives in low- and middle-income countries. This review article addressed the following questions: “What are the women’s experiences with health facility intrapartum care?” and “What are the midwives’ experiences while providing health facility intrapartum care?” The aim of the review was to collect, analyze and synthesize the low- and middle-income countries’ evidence that supports quality intrapartum care during first and second stages of labour, which will inform midwifery practice, education and future research, and positively influence this aspect of midwifery care for women. Out of the 250 retrieved studies, 12 met the inclusion criteria. Three themes and four subthemes were identified from the data: Theme one: Quality of care expectations with four subthemes; (1) Respectful, dignified care; (2) Availability of structural resources; (3) Cultural sensitivity; (4) Labour and pain relief. Theme two: Negative experiences with two subthemes; (1) Physical and verbal abuse; (2) Lack of communication and privacy. Theme three: Midwives’ perspective with two subthemes; (1) Midwives’ challenges and professional identity; (2) Impact on midwives. It was concluded that women and midwives work together as partners in the process of maternity care. In addition to addressing women's needs and rights, midwives are crucial in advancing women's rights and developing interpersonal relations. Further research is needed to explore both the users’ and providers’ experiences concurrently; this will enhance strategies aimed at improving the quality of intrapartum care in LMICs
A proof-of-concept study into turmeric spice as an improvised fluorescent latent fingermark detection powder for limited resource jurisdictions
No full textLatent fingermarks are a crucial form of physical evidence for crime scene investigations; however, limited-resource jurisdictions, such as some states in Brazil, face challenges in identifying fingermarks due to lower access to commercial fingermark developers. The study of unconventional and alternative techniques for fingermark detection that are low-cost, easily available, and sustainable in line with the UN SDGs presents great value for under-resourced jurisdictions. Household items and easily available materials such as spices fit perfectly in such contexts as improvised fingermark powders. Turmeric is a globally accessible culinary spice which contains high levels of the fluorescent compound curcumin. This research reports for the first time the application of turmeric spice powder as fluorescent dusting powder for latent fingermark detection. Turmeric spice powders from different sources were evaluated for their performance as dusting powders and were subsequently characterised by optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and fluorescence spectrophotometry. All turmeric powders exhibited high fluorescence intensities and were demonstrated to be suitable as a fluorescent fingermark powders without further processing, though specimens with homogeneous particle size distribution and pure turmeric composition performed better. These preliminary results indicate that turmeric is a suitable fingermark powder without further modification and is a potential alternative to commercial powders for jurisdictions with limited resources
Electricity-to-ammonia interconversion in protonic ceramic cells: advances, challenges and perspectives
Get PDFNH3 is an attractive alternative fuel to hydrogen and methane, offering advantages such as easy compression at room temperature, straightforward storage and transportation, high volumetric energy density, and carbon-free nature. However, conventional NH3 synthesis requires high temperatures and pressures, resulting in substantial energy consumption and increased equipment and maintenance costs. Protonic ceramic cells (PCCs), as a cutting-edge energy conversion technology, can realize NH3 synthesis at moderate pressures and low-to-intermediate temperatures by utilizing surplus renewable electricity generated by wind and solar power. Additionally, PCCs can be employed to convert NH3 into electricity to meet instantaneous demand, providing a means to address the seasonal and intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. Despite their potential, the commercial application of electricity-to-NH3 interconversion in PCCs faces several challenges, primarily related to insufficient performance and durability. This review systematically explores the mechanisms and challenges of electricity-to-NH3 interconversion in PCCs, highlights recent advancements in NH3 synthesis using PCCs and direct NH3-fueled proton ceramic fuel cells (DA-PCFCs), and discusses perspectives for realizing high-efficiency electricity-to-NH3 interconversion. This review aims to establish a scientific foundation for efficient electricity-to-NH3 interconversion via PCCs and provides critical insights for designing high-performance and durable PCC components
Fungicide Resistance Management in West Australia’s Wheatbelt
Get PDFBarley growers from the West Australia Wheatbelt were invited to share information on their fungicide resistance management strategies. The study aimed to identify gaps in growers’ knowledge about issues like fungicide resistance and the objective and/or perceived obstacles and constraints associated with the management of fungal epidemics. To gather this information, we used a case study approach and co-designed the survey in collaboration with industry stakeholders. Socio-economic data was collected using in-depth phone interviews (which made up 82% of the responses) and self-administered questionnaires (which accounted for 18%). The data included both qualitative and quantitative responses. This data covered several aspects: growers’ demographic details, barley production statistics, current knowledge and understanding about fungicide resistance, current agronomic practices, willingness to pay to mitigate fungicide resistance risk, types of fungicide resistance management extension services growers currently use, the reasons for their preferences and additional types of fungicide resistance management extension services growers would like to access in the future
Tourism-related department coordination during crisis: a policy network perspective
No full textThis study examines the characteristics and structural effects of policy network within tourism and other related national departments during public health crises in China. We explore the role of the tourism department in the inter-organisational policy coordination. Using social network analysis and exponential random graph models (ERGM), this study reveals that the policy network is decentralised and incompact, with certain departments acting as intermediaries. However, the tourism department does not play a central role, coordinating reactively rather than serving as a key intermediary. This study advances the tourism literature by unveiling the structure of tourism-related policy network and identifying the role of the tourism department in the network. The study also contributes to policy network literature by proposing a policy network model with distinct structural properties, termed as ‘multi-intermediary connected network’. This model offers a robust theoretical framework for understanding policy coordination in crisis management, with broad implications beyond public health crises in tourism
How does service description contribute to peer-to-peer service satisfaction? Consumer clout matters
No full textPurpose: This paper aims to decode how service descriptions contribute to consumer satisfaction in the peer-to-peer service context and how consumer clout interferes with such influence. Based on the expectation–confirmation theory, the authors hypothesise that lowered expectations induced by modest service descriptions strengthen the performance-satisfaction link. In addition, the authors posit that consumer clout influences the moderation effect of service descriptions. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is an empirical study using data of Airbnb, a representative peer-to-peer service platform. The data includes all listings in San Francisco, where Airbnb is headquartered. A total of 5,567 listing descriptions with 241,791 review comments were analysed after removing non-English texts. The host descriptions and guest reviews are analysed with the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count and Google Cloud. The Tobit and ordered logistic models were used for hypothesis testing. Findings: Guests are more likely to give higher ratings when they feel positive about the accommodation services. Such effect is stronger for lower guest expectations induced by modest host descriptions, as lower expectations are more likely to generate positive surprise disconfirmation. The previous relationship is moderated by guest clout, as guests high in clout pay less attention to host descriptions and are less likely to be surprised. Originality/value: The paper investigates the joint influence of service descriptions and consumer reviews on peer-to-peer service satisfaction. The paper conducted entity-level sentiment analysis to examine opinions expressed towards specific types of entities. The paper also explored how consumer clout moderates the relationship, a boundary condition that previous studies have not explored
Advanced Air Electrodes for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells: A Comprehensive Review
Get PDFReversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (R-PCECs) have great potential for efficient and clean power generation, energy storage, and sustainable synthesis of high-value chemicals. However, the sluggish and unstable kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the air electrode hinder the R-PCEC development. Durable H+/e−/O2− triple-conducting air electrode materials are promising for enhancing reaction kinetics and improving catalytical stability. This review synthesizes the recent progress in triple-conducting air electrodes, focusing on their working mechanisms, including electrode kinetics, lattice and its defect structure in oxides, and the generation and transport processes of H+, O2−, and e−. It also examines the required physicochemical properties and their influencing factors. By synthesizing and critically analyzing the latest theoretical frameworks, advanced materials, and regulation strategies, this review outlines the challenges and prospects shaping the future of R-PCEC technology and air electrode development. Based on these theories and multiple strategies about the bulk triple conducting properties and surface chemical states, this review provides practical guidance for the rational design and development of efficient and stable air electrode materials for R-PCECs and related electrocatalytic materials
Numerical and Experimental Study of Packed Bed Heat Transfer on the Preheating of Manganese Ore with Air up to 600 °C
Get PDFThis work studies heat transport in the fluid–solid interface of a packed bed to demonstrate the feasibility of preheating lumpy manganese ores to 600 °C with air at 750 °C. Preheated manganese ores aim to reduce furnace energy consumption during smelting in submerged arc furnaces to produce manganese ferroalloys. The preheating process was experimentally studied in a pilot-scale shaft-type column. The air was heated to 750 °C and used as a heat transfer fluid to heat a packed bed of manganese ore from room temperature to 600 °C. A one-dimensional three-phase (manganese ore, air, and the column wall) numerical model was developed to simulate the preheating process. The energy balance of the three phases was carried across a finite volume using the volume averaging technique. Numerical schemes were applied, and non-dimensional parameters were introduced before applying numerical techniques to solve the systems of linear equations. Python NumPy and SciPy modules were used for the computation of the packed bed temperature fields. Temperature data from the preheating tests were used for model validation. The model prediction of the transfer process agreed with experimental results to least square errors of less than 25 °C. Data from experimental measurements confirmed the feasibility of using air as the transfer fluid in the preheating of manganese ore. Detailed temperature field data generated from the model can be used for the sizing of manganese ore preheating units and the implementation of control protocols for the preheating process
Do related party transactions affect insider trading? The moderating role of ESG
No full textPurpose: This study aims to investigate the association between related party transactions (RPTs) and insider trading behaviour as well as the moderating role of environmental, social and governance (ESG) on the association between RPTs and the extent of corporate insider trading. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a sample of the top 300 companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange from 2008 to 2019 and analysed data using OLS regression and generalised method of moments. Findings: This study found a significant and positive association between RPTs and insider trading dominated by buy trades. However, this study observed that ESG strength reduces the association between RPTs and insider trading dominated by buy trades. Research limitations/implications: The findings of this study highlight to regulators the value of considering disclosure on RPTs and insider trading to improve and refine regulations and promote compliance. Originality/value: This study contributes to the dearth literature on the association between RPTs and insider trading as well as the potential moderating factors affecting such a relationship
Colonial origins of agglomeration: Evidence from Malayan rail stations
Get PDFThis study examines how historical rail stations condition long-run development using Colonial Malaya as a laboratory. By constructing novel historical data on rail stations, agglomeration centres, tin mines, and rubber plantations dating back a century and matching contemporary data on economic activity at the 1-km cell level, we find that regions with earlier access to rail stations exhibit higher levels of economic activity today, owing to agglomeration economies. These results persist even in regions that have abandoned colonial stations. This study highlights the role of investment in transport infrastructure in accelerating local economic activity