Search Results (112)

Background/Objectives: This study examines the academic discourse surrounding Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) for first responders using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling. It aims to uncover latent topical structures in the literature and critically evaluate assumptions to identify gaps and limitations. Methods: A corpus of 214 research article abstracts related to CISD/M was gathered from the Web of Science Core Collection. After preprocessing, we used Orange Data Mining software’s LDA tool to analyze the corpus. We tested models ranging from 2 to 10 topics. To guide interpretation and labeling, we evaluated them using log perplexity, topic coherence, and LDAvis visualizations. A four-topic model offered the best balance of detail and interpretability. Results: Four topics emerged: (1) Critical Incident Stress Management in medical and emergency settings, (2) psychological and group-based interventions for PTSD and trauma, (3) peer support and experiences of emergency and military personnel, and (4) mental health interventions for first responders. Key gaps included limited focus on cumulative trauma, insufficient longitudinal research, and variability in procedural adherence affecting outcomes. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for CISD/M protocols to move beyond event-specific interventions and address cumulative stressors. Recommendations include incorporating holistic, proactive mental health strategies and conducting longitudinal studies to evaluate long-term effectiveness. These insights can help refine CISD/M approaches and enhance their impact on first responders working in high-stress environments. Full article

The relationship between firm size and the financial performance of advertising and marketing companies remains understudied in the academic literature, including in the regional context. Using a panel data methodology, this study analyzes the impact of three proxies for firm size (total assets, number of employees, and sales) on the financial performance (return on assets and profit margin) of the 500 most profitable advertising and marketing companies from 16 Western European countries over the period 2019–2023. Weighted least squares regression analysis revealed statistically significant negative effects of all three proxies for firm size on financial performance, with the strongest negative effects on total assets on return on assets and sales on profit margin, which is similar to return on sales. Empirical data confirm the inverse relationship between total assets and their profitability; this indicates the advantages of resource-optimized business models with high management flexibility and effective use of intellectual capital compared to material-intensive structures. The inverse relationship between the number of employees and financial performance is due to higher operating personnel costs and the difficulty of effectively managing human resources as the number of employees increases. Increased sales negatively affect profit margins, demonstrating a decrease in the efficiency of converting revenue into profits as operations expand. These findings are important for developing effective financial management strategies and making investment decisions in the industry under study. The research contributes to SDGs 8, 9, and 12 by demonstrating how resource-optimized structures with higher management flexibility and effective use of intellectual capital can outperform material-intensive structures in the advertising and marketing industry. Full article

Methods. Through the lens of childhood trauma theory, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using purposive and snowball sampling methods to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of former students with corporal punishment and how those experiences have shaped their academic and psychological outcomes. Interviews were conducted via Zoom with 19 men and women of different ages and races who attended schools in Mississippi. Results/Conclusions. The study revealed that parents and school personnel collaborated to punish the student corporally both on campus and at home. Related, beaten students did not share their punishment with their parents/caregivers, and if their families did find out, they received another beating at home. There was a general lack of consistency in how and who administered corporal punishment. In addition to the well-documented ways that corporal punishment is administered in school, we also found that students were made to hold painful positions or perform painful tasks. There were also peer effects of trauma, with students experiencing fear or anger following a friend or classmate being beaten in front of them. Race was an influence if the abused students felt that their punishment was racist, with Black American participants feeling there were racial undertones regardless of the perpetrator’s race. The study’s findings align with those of previously conducted research, but also extend them and can be used to create policy to allow schools to address trauma and create instructional practices that eliminate the fear and racial disparities that have been proven to exist in schools with corporal punishment. Full article

Objective: Current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) guidance for positron emission tomography (PET) drugs has been established in Europe and the United States. In Japan, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) approved the use of radiosynthesizers as medical devices for the in-house manufacturing of PET drugs in hospitals and clinics, regardless of the cGMP environment. Without adequate facilities, equipment, and personnel required by cGMP regulations, the quality assurance (QA) and clinical effectiveness of PET drugs largely depend on the radiosynthesizers themselves. To bridge the gap between radiochemistry standardization and site qualification, the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine (JSNM) has issued guidance for the in-house manufacturing of small-scale PET drugs under academic GMP (a-GMP) environments. The goals of cGMP and a-GMP are different: cGMP focuses on process optimization, certification, and commercialization, while a-GMP facilitates the small-scale, in-house production of PET drugs for clinical trials and patient-specific standard of care. Among PET isotopes, N-13 has a short half-life (10 min) and must be synthesized on site. [¹³N]Ammonia ([¹³N]NH₃) is used for myocardial perfusion imaging under the Japan Health Insurance System (JHIS) and was thus selected as a working example for the manufacturing of PET drugs in an a-GMP environment. Methods: A [¹³N]NH₃-radiosynthesizer was installed in a hot cell within an a-GMP-compliant radiopharmacy unit. To comply with a-GMP regulations, the air flow was adjusted through HEPA filters. All cabinets and cells were disinfected to ensure sterility once a month. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) were applied, including analytical methods. Batch records, QA data, and radiation exposure to staff in the synthesis of [¹³N]NH₃ were measured and documented. Results: 2.52 GBq of [¹³N]NH₃ end-of-synthesis (EOS) was obtained in an average of 13.5 min in 15 production runs. The radiochemical purity was more than 99%. Exposure doses were 11 µSv for one production run and 22 µSv for two production runs. The pre-irradiation background dose rate was 0.12 µSv/h. After irradiation, the exposed dosage in the front of the hot cell was 0.15 µSv/h. The leakage dosage measured at the bench was 0.16 µSv/h. The exposure and leakage dosages in the manufacturing of [¹³N]NH₃ were similar to the background level as measured by radiation monitoring systems in an a-GMP environments. All QAs, environmental data, bacteria assays, and particulates met a-GMP compliance standards. Conclusions: In-house a-GMP environments require dedicated radiosynthesizers, documentation for batch records, validation schedules, radiation protection monitoring, air and particulate systems, and accountable personnel. In this study, the in-house manufacturing of [¹³N]NH₃ under a-GMP conditions was successfully demonstrated. These findings support the international harmonization of small-scale PET drug manufacturing in hospitals and clinics for future multi-center clinical trials and the development of a standard of care. Full article

Effective project management depends on a deep understanding of the human attributes that influence project success. This study aims to quantify the causal relationships between human resource variables in order to establish a prioritisation criterion for workforce allocation in industrial projects. Traditional statistical models often overlook the multidimensional nature of these factors, limiting their effectiveness in complex planning contexts. To address this, the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method is used to assess and prioritise the key competencies required of project personnel. The analysis is based on an extensive literature review of management and industrial project studies, combined with data collected from experienced managers through structured questionnaires. Respondents assessed how different human resource attributes interact and influence each other. The results show that personal motivation, innovation, education, work–life balance, flexibility and adaptability are dominant causal factors. Stakeholder relations, conflict management, negotiation skills, objectivity and impartiality are more reactive. This study is differentiated in that it analyses a complex network of 400 influence relationships, providing a more comprehensive perspective than previous research. By integrating a structured decision-making approach, the results contribute to both the academic literature and practical applications, supporting more effective workforce planning and improved performance in industrial projects. Full article

Facing the support challenges of short-wall working face (15–40m) roadways in the ‘excavation–backfill–retention’ tunneling method for section coal pillars, traditional equipment struggled to achieve stable, reliable, and efficient support. This paper designed a temporary support robot for the excavation and mining system of section coal pillars to ensure the safety of equipment and personnel in short-wall working faces. The support requirements of the section coal pillar excavation and mining system were analyzed, and a general ‘driving under pressure’ temporary support scheme was proposed. The working principle of the temporary support robot was analyzed. A mechanical model for the stable support of the temporary support robot was established. The mechanical properties of the surrounding rock were analyzed, and the allowable range of the temporary support robot’s supporting force was determined while ensuring the stability of the surrounding rock. Based on the Stribeck friction theory, a dynamic model of the temporary support robot in the driving under pressure state was constructed. The boundary conditions of the dynamic model were set, and the corresponding relationship between the temporary support robot’s supporting force and its maximum static friction force was determined. This accurately described the influence of the supporting force and pushing (pulling) force on the movement during the process of driving under pressure. Through finite element simulation, the stress conditions of the temporary support robot and the floor under maximum load were analyzed, indicating that this load condition would not cause damage to the temporary support robot or the surrounding rock. Through multi-body dynamics simulation, the pushing (pulling) forces required for the temporary support robot’s movement under different supporting force conditions were obtained, verifying the feasibility of the driving under pressure action under different supporting force conditions. Moreover, the model-predicted and simulated values of the required pushing (pulling) forces during the process of driving under pressure were consistent, validating the accuracy of the driving under pressure dynamic model. This research provides a new theoretical framework for the design and dynamic analysis of temporary support equipment for short-wall working faces in section coal pillar mining, holding significant academic value and broad application prospects. Full article

A positive school climate is characterized by a higher degree of well-being among students, reduced bullying, and improved academic performance. While many initiatives are aimed at creating a positive school climate, discussions in both research and theory frequently fail to acknowledge the essential role of school personnel. This study examines a purposeful sample of Swedish middle-school students (4th to 9th grade) of school personnel’s noticing in fostering or hindering a positive school climate. Fifteen (15) focus groups and 19 semi-structured interviews were analyzed, covering 133 participants selected from three schools (age range 10 to 16 years) in a Swedish municipality. Drawing on a framework of professional noticing and positive school and classroom climate, the investigation was conducted using a case study approach and analyzed with the help of content analysis. The results highlighted the importance placed by students on school personnel noticing appropriate things/events and responding accordingly. For this to happen, personnel need to (a) notice and make themselves visible; (b) be actively observing as a prerequisite to their noticing; (c) be receptive to noticing; (d) notice and grasp a full picture, including students’ perspectives; and (e) connect their noticing with appropriate actions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Swedish schools are mandated to counteract gender norms that restrict students’ life opportunities. School personnel also bear the responsibility of fostering students’ democratic responsibilities and healthy behaviors, which is crucial not only for their mental wellbeing but also for their academic performance, as stressed by the European Commission. Aim: The purpose of the present study is to explore adolescents’ performativity of gender when discussing social barriers to mental and emotional wellbeing. Methods: Fifty adolescents were interviewed in small gender-divided groups, and the transcribed text was analyzed using thematic analysis. Theoretically, interactionist perspective and gender analytic discourses are applied. Results: Emotional barriers to mental wellbeing were identified based on too cogent gender norms. Boys describe challenging each other and the environment by using a social facade that includes “stoneface” and harsh language, seldom showing sadness, even among close friends. The girls’ facade includes maintaining a “happy face” and trying to be attractive. Both genders underline the need for belonging, and most of them fear social exclusion from peers. According to the interviewees, it is socially acceptable for girls to display most feelings, even mental difficulties such as anxiety or phobia, but among boys, gender norms still hinder them from showing emotional vulnerabilities such as sadness and risking exclusion. Conclusions: Young people’s emotional wellbeing needs to be further developed and included in the curriculum. It is time for adults to focus on boys’ sadness and depressive emotions, as well as girls’ aggressiveness and frankness rather than their appearance, to push the river of equality forward. Full article

With the Republic of Türkiye signing the “Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage” in 2006, awareness and sensitivity towards the safeguarding of cultural heritage has also begun to develop in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which has close relations with the Republic of Türkiye. However, the intangible cultural heritage convention could not be signed in the TRNC due to political reasons, and this has led to a lack of sufficient change and awareness about it on the island. Regrettably, the limited number of academic studies carried out in universities in this field has proven to be inadequate in terms of creating general public awareness about the subject. However, the knowledge and experience of both the community and individuals working in this field are crucial for the safeguarding and sustainability of cultural heritage elements. In this context, this study collected the knowledge and opinions of personnel affiliated with the TRNC Ministry of Culture on the subject of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and it investigated whether the adequacy of the personnel’s knowledge and opinions around cultural heritage had a direct impact on its safeguarding and sustainability. This research used a type of mixed method called “Convergent Mixed-Methods Design”. The sample of this research consisted of 30 personnel working in different units affiliated with the Ministry of Culture in Northern Cyprus. This study included personnel working in different units and positions affiliated with the ministry. An interview form was used to obtain the data that formed the basis of this research. The interview form consisted of 10 structured and 3 semi-structured questions prepared by the researchers. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the quantitative data, and content analysis was used in the analysis of the qualitative data. This study, which aimed to determine the knowledge and opinions of Ministry of Culture officials working in the TRNC regarding the safeguarding and transfer of intangible cultural heritage elements, revealed that the employees were not fully informed about the scope, objectives, and protection of ICH. Full article

Magnetic Resonance (MR) technology is extensively used in academic and industrial research laboratories and represents one of the most significant methodologies in clinical radiology. Although MR does not use ionizing radiation, it cannot be considered risk-free due to the strong static magnetic fields and time-varying electromagnetic fields employed in the technology. To mitigate risks for MR operators, the European Community and ICNIRP have established safety limits based on the existing literature, primarily related to diagnostic MR. However, the literature on occupational exposure in non-clinical nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is limited. Due to their specificity, non-medical NMR environments present unique challenges from the point of view of operator exposure. NMR spectrometers are characterized by extremely high static magnetic fields, reaching up to 28 T in commercial systems; moreover, routine activities performed near the magnet, where field gradients are highest, increase operator exposure. Such environments are not typically perceived as hazardous and are frequented by various types of personnel, often without specific training. This study aims to highlight the critical issues in managing a preclinical MR laboratory equipped with a high-field NMR spectrometer, discussing operator safety challenges and presenting risk assessment data. Full article

After 35 years of a free market in Poland, three life insurance companies have gained a dominant position in the market and developed certain procedural equilibrium in the area of training, allowing their status quo to be maintained. Yet, they do not take into account the opinions of agents and the possibility of using the latest IT developments, including artificial intelligence, which supports increasingly broad areas of activity in organisations with great success. As independent sales force training poses a challenge to any national or multinational company in a constantly changing global economy, the primary focus of this research was to analyse the opinions of the top 438 agents from dominant life insurance companies. A need was emphasised to reconfigure the existing training programmes with the potential for AI involvement to achieve a more effective educational trajectory. The research findings confirmed the necessity to reconstruct training programmes in relation to an agent’s age, education level, and seniority and offered grounds for discussing innovative AI concepts that can be relevant for future academic research in management sciences and improving organisational effectiveness, particularly in life insurance companies or other first-contact personnel-dependent institutions. Full article

This study addresses the need for a comprehensive analysis of the demand for qualified personnel in Spain’s hotel accommodation sector, situating the issue within a context of increasing demand for specialized and highly personalized services in the tourism industry. The objective of this research is to develop a theoretical framework and conduct a preliminary assessment of a model designed to identify and quantify the need for skilled professionals across hotels of different categories and locations. This model considers key factors such as seasonality, required technical competencies, and labour market demands in the tourism sector. The methodology employed combines quantitative and qualitative data analysis from multiple sources, including prior studies, surveys of human resources managers, a review of the academic literature on human resource assessment models in the hotel industry, and a validation survey. Preliminary findings indicate a significant shortage of professionals with advanced expertise in critical areas such as operations management, multilingual customer service, and process digitalization, highlighting the urgent need for a strategic approach to training and talent retention. The conclusions emphasize the importance of adapting workforce planning to the specific demands of Spain’s hotel sector while drawing comparative insights from models in France and the United States. This study proposes strategies to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability in an increasingly globalized market. Full article

Background: Recommendations from a trusted healthcare provider have been shown to be the most effective intervention for encouraging patients to be vaccinated. However, providers have reported feeling less prepared to address vaccination questions and having less time to discuss vaccines with patients than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers may benefit from a brief update about the available influenza vaccines and vaccination guidelines. Academic detailing is an evidence-based approach for preparing healthcare providers to discuss getting vaccinated with patients. Methods: An academic detailing presentation was developed using influenza statistics, vaccination recommendations, and recent local and national immunization rate data. Academic detailing was conducted with physicians and community pharmacy personnel in Yakima County, Washington, between November 2023 and January 2024. Yakima County is designated as a medically underserved area due to a lack of providers. A pre-detailing survey was conducted to evaluate participant knowledge of current ACIP recommendations and gather opinions about local resident vaccination barriers. A post-detailing survey was conducted to gather participants’ opinions about the value of detailing. Results: Prior to the training, 73% of providers believed it was important to discuss influenza vaccination with patients, but only 52% felt confident in combating misinformation. Healthcare providers believed misinformation and vaccine hesitancy are the most common barriers for Yakima County patients, but recent survey results showed that online scheduling systems, long wait times, and limited appointment hours were the predominant issues reported locally. Two out of 12 community pharmacy personnel and zero resident physicians correctly named all three preferentially recommended influenza vaccines for patients 65 years and older. Overall, 96% of detailing participants reported that the session was valuable, 87% believed it would help them combat vaccine misinformation, and 65% reported planning to have more conversations with patients about influenza vaccination after participating. Conclusion: Physicians and community pharmacy immunizers found the influenza vaccines academic detailing to be valuable. Staying up to date on vaccination guidelines can prepare providers to be confident in having informed conversations with patients about getting vaccinated. Full article

Background/Objectives: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential to ensure the safety of dental personnel and patients. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and compliance of dental undergraduate students, interns, and postgraduate students with IPC measures in prosthodontic procedures. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, involving 216 participants selected using stratified random sampling. A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and compliance. Statistical analyses, including the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test, were conducted to explore factors influencing knowledge and compliance levels. Results: Participants demonstrated a high level of IPC knowledge, with 93.55% correctly identifying the goal of infection control. However, gaps were noted, such as only 41.23% recognizing the recommended handwashing duration. Sex differences in knowledge were marginally statistically significant (p < 0.05), while academic level showed no significant association. Compliance was high in some areas, such as handwashing after treating patients (81.11%), but lower in others, such as disinfecting digital equipment between patients (36.87%). Higher self-confidence was significantly associated with greater knowledge scores (p < 0.05), while self-satisfaction with knowledge did not correlate with knowledge levels. Conclusions: This study highlights strong IPC measures knowledge and compliance during prosthodontic procedures among dental personnel, with some gaps in understanding and practice. Addressing these gaps through targeted training and standardized guidelines can further enhance safety and infection control in clinical settings, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers. Full article

In academic literature, fathers often cite barriers related to their employment, which may halt or negatively influence their level of involvement with their children. This is sometimes reported in relation to practices and policies around leave, such as for new-born children or child illness, and flexibility in leaving the workplace to attend key events in children’s lives. Research has also shown that fathers receiving validation of their paternal status in the workplace is an important factor for fathers’ emotional well-being, work life balance, and self-efficacy. In this study, we look at the needs and priorities of fathers working in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abu Dhabi. We used in-depth one-on-one interviews with employed fathers (n = 50) in order to create a detailed picture of their lived experiences, and with human resources personnel (n = 3) to understand if/how fathers are supported in the workplace. We discuss the implications of these experiences and present fathers’ suggestions for employers and workplaces to provide further support to nurture working conditions in which a work–life balance and employee well-being are more likely to be achieved. Full article