Search Results (65)

How leaders communicate with followers is a core element of leadership. However, research on leader communication techniques remains fragmented, limiting our understanding of their differential effects on follower cognition, affect, and behavior. To facilitate systematic research comparing the effects of different communication techniques, we propose a framework for leader communication techniques. We hypothesize that different communication techniques can be categorized into cognitive, affective, and behavioral leader communication techniques that influence cognitive, affective, and behavioral follower outcomes, respectively. To test this assumption, we developed and pre-tested video vignette material, which we then used in a between-subjects experiment in the military context. We assigned 368 military recruits to one of the three conditions (cognitive versus affective versus behavioral) to examine how these techniques relate to proximal and distal follower outcomes. We found few differences in the impact of cognitive, affective, and behavioral leader communication techniques on follower outcomes. The leader was perceived similarly, regardless of the communication techniques used. Only for specific affective follower outcomes (i.e., warmth and charisma of the leader), affective leader communication techniques were more effective than cognitive and behavioral techniques. We discuss implications for leader communication research, outline practical implications for leaders, and propose directions for future research. Full article

Brazil and Portugal are undeniably united because they share the same language, ocean, and, to a considerable extent, history. There has also been a profound rapprochement between the two countries at the media level, particularly in telenovelas. Brazil developed the “telenovela” genre in the 1950s and inspired Portuguese serial television fiction the most. First, Portugal saw a commitment to plots of Brazilian origin (1977—“Gabriela, Cravo e Canela”), a reality still observed today, albeit somewhat. Portuguese producers then studied and recruited Brazilian professionals when the first Portuguese narratives were created to absorb their knowledge and expertise. This research aims to measure how many telenovelas have been written by women since their broadcasting in the Portuguese–Brazilian market. This question unfolds into other questions, such as the following: What is the ratio of telenovelas written by men to women from 1951 to March 2025 in Portugal and Brazil? Is there a trend towards equilibrium, an increase or decrease in telenovelas written by men or women in the market being analyzed? To answer these questions, data was collected manually through information repositories such as “Observatório de TV” and “SP Televisão” and by watching generic telenovelas available on YouTube or the broadcasters’ channels. Portuguese and Brazilian television channels with national coverage were considered for this research. The data shows that 926 telenovelas were broadcast in the Portuguese–Brazilian market, of which 27.7 per cent were written by women, 64.1 per cent by men, 7.4 per cent were written in partnership between men and women, and 0.8 per cent have no information available. This study reveals a better balance between the number of male and female authors in Portugal than in Brazil and a downward trend in the number of female telenovela authors in Brazil after the military dictatorship. Full article

Background: Cancer is a worldwide public health issue that impacts individuals in many ways. Family caregivers (FCGs) play a crucial role in providing care for cancer patients; as a result, they face several challenges as caregivers that sometimes go unreported. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of family caregivers with a developing burden of caring for a relative with a cancer diagnosis in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A qualitative study employing thematic analysis was conducted with ten family caregivers recruited through purposive sampling from the Prince Sultan Military City Hospital’s oncology department. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from July to August 2023 until data saturation was achieved. Results: Ten family caregivers participated in the study. Four main themes emerged from the data: antecedents to the caregiving burden, attributes of the caregiving burden, consequences of the burden, and religion and beliefs. Across these four main themes, there were 12 sub-themes. Conclusions and Implications: Family caregivers are crucial in caring for and supporting cancer patients. Thus, it is essential to shed light on family caregivers, who often remain invisible as secondary patients in healthcare systems, to understand the factors associated with developing caregiver burden. Education and support for family caregivers may decrease the burden on the family caregiver, which can positively impact the whole family unit, including the relative with the cancer diagnosis. Full article

Military schools primarily aim to prepare young people for the admission procedures of military academies. In this specific environment, the high overall load can generate burnout in cadets and the consequent failure to achieve scholastic and military objectives. The present study investigated how a training protocol based entirely on internal load and a reflective approach in a military-type school context affects participants’ physical efficacy, efficiency, and psychological outcomes. For this study, 63 cadets who were 17 years old from an Italian military school were recruited. Twenty-two of them were allocated into a control group (CG), twenty-one were allocated into a group exercising based on external load (EG), and twenty we allocated into a group exercising based on internal load (IG). All groups performed tests of physical efficacy (maximal tests) and physical efficiency (self-perception-based submaximal test) and answered psychological questionnaires to assess motivation, self-efficacy, and enjoyment. Group participants attended eight weeks of interventions in which physical education lessons were led as follows: the EG performed a circuit training at 50% of maximal repetitions, the IG performed a circuit training at value six on Borg’s scale, and the CG attended curricular physical education lessons. Tests were then repeated. The IG increased physical efficacy more than the EG and CG, while only the IG increased physical efficiency. The IG and EG improved in psychological variables more than the CG. Education in self-perception and self-regulation could help cadets better manage their psychophysical status, allowing them to reach the physical demands for academic admission. Full article

This paper explores the use of wearable technology (Garmin Fenix 7) to monitor physiological and psychological factors contributing to attrition during basic military training. Attrition, or the voluntary departure of recruits from the military, often results from physical and psychological challenges, such as fatigue, injury, and stress, which lead to significant costs for the military. To better understand and mitigate attrition, we designed and implemented a comprehensive and continuous data-capturing methodology to monitor 63 recruits during their basic infantry training. It’s optimized for military use by being minimally invasive (for both recruits and operators), preventing data leakage, and being built for scale. We analysed data collected from two test phases, focusing on seven key psychometric and physical features derived from baseline questionnaires and physiological measurements from wearable devices. The preliminary results revealed that recruits at risk of attrition tend to cluster in specific areas of the feature space in both Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Key indicators of attrition included low motivation, low resilience, and a stress mindset. Furthermore, we developed a predictive model using physiological data, such as sleep scores and step counts from Garmin devices, achieving a macro mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.74. This model suggests the potential to reduce the burden of daily wellness questionnaires by relying on continuous, unobtrusive monitoring. Full article

Background: Seeking mental health care is crucial for supporting effective reintegration among veterans. The U.S.–Mexico border presents a compelling and urgent case for study due to its proximity to economically marginalized and medically underserved areas, where the availability and accessibility of services are often limited. Objective: This study explored veterans’ mental health challenges and factors that hindered their adjustment to civilian life on the U.S.–Mexico border. Methods: A total of 36 veterans were recruited using purposive sampling from a mental health agency located in Southwestern Texas on the U.S.–Mexico border between November 2023 and May 2024 to complete an in-depth semi-structured interview and a brief survey. Results: Using thematic analysis, we found six themes associated with our study: (1) mental health struggles, (2) enduring military-influenced mindset, (3) adjustment to civilian life, (4) strained family relationships, (5) past victimization and discrimination, and (6) barriers to opportunities and mental health care. Conclusion: Understanding veterans’ mental health well-being and their prospects for integration into the civilian world is critical for identifying risk and protective factors that can inform the development of targeted health promotion initiatives, strengthen the implementation of equitable health care efforts, and support strategies for enhancing treatment access that address the unique needs of veterans in the border region. Policy and practice implications are discussed. Full article

Figural matrices tests are common in intelligence research and have been used to draw conclusions regarding secular changes in intelligence. However, their measurement properties have seldom been evaluated with large samples that include both sexes. Using data from the Norwegian Armed Forces, we study the measurement properties of a test used for selection in military recruitment. Item-level data were available from 113,671 Norwegian adolescents (32% female) tested between the years 2011 and 2017. Utilizing item response theory (IRT), we characterize the measurement properties of the test in terms of difficulty, discrimination, precision, and measurement invariance between males and females. We estimate sex differences in the mean and variance of the latent variable and evaluate the impact of violations to measurement invariance on the estimated distribution parameters. The results show that unidimensional IRT models fit well in all groups and years. There is little difference in precision and test difficulty between males and females, with precision that is generally poor on the upper part of the scale. In the sample, male latent proficiency is estimated to be slightly higher on average, with higher variance. Adjusting for measurement invariance generally reduces the sex differences but does not eliminate them. We conclude that previous studies using the Norwegian GMA data must be interpreted with more caution but that the test should measure males and females equally fairly. Full article

Military personnel need physical fitness to effectively carry out operational military activities within their specific field of operation. This research investigates the effects of a 34-week training program on Angolan cadets’ body composition, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Seventy-four volunteer recruits, aged 18 to 26 years, were monitored during their eight-month military service, following an exercise program protocol comprising 12 weeks of strength training followed by 24 weeks of endurance training. Anthropometric variables, including body mass, body mass index, and fat mass, were assessed, along with cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max), sprint performance, countermovement jump (CMJ), medicine ball throw, push-ups, and curl-ups. The physical training protocol encompassed running sessions, strength exercises, agility drills, and flexibility exercises. The initial assessment revealed gender differences in various parameters such as body mass, body fat percentage, VO₂max, sprinting, countermovement jump (CMJ), medicine ball throw, and push-ups. Following the training program, changes were observed in all variables (effect size between 0.48 and 2.33, p < 0.01) for the participants. Significant interactions (sex × time) were found in body mass (F = 5.18, p = 0.03, ηp² = 0.06), body fat percentage (F = 5.31, p < 0.01, ηp² = 0.14), and medicine ball throw (F = 10.84, p < 0.01, ηp² = 0.13). Specifically, males exhibited a greater reduction in body mass (females: 2.70%, males: 3.47%, p < 0.05) and a substantial improvement in ball throwing performance (females: 7.74%, males: 11.47%, p < 0.01), while females experienced a greater reduction in fat mass (females: 5.34%, males: 3.15%, p < 0.01). The physical training regimen effectively influenced body composition, particularly in enhancing strength performance among males. The integration of exercise programs with military service led to a notable reduction in fat tissue and an increase in lean tissue. Hence, the development of tailored training protocols is imperative to enhance the physical capacity and overall health of military recruits, considering sex-specific characteristics and physical attributes. Full article

Bone stress injuries are prevalent among athletes and military recruits and can significantly compromise training schedules. The development of an ankle–foot orthosis to reduce tibial load and enable a faster return to activity will require new device testing methodologies capable of capturing the contribution of muscular force on tibial strain. Thus, an actuated robotic surrogate leg was developed to explore how tibial strain changes with different ankle–foot orthosis conditions. The purpose of this work was to assess the reliability, scalability, and behavior of the surrogate. A dual actuation system consisting of a Bowden cable and a vertical load applied to the femur via a material testing system, replicated the action-reaction of the Achilles-soleus complex. Maximum and minimum principal strain, maximum shear strain, and axial strain were measured by instrumented strain gauges at five locations on the tibia. Strains were highly repeatable across tests but did not consistently match in vivo data when scaled. However, the stiffness of the ankle–foot orthosis strut did not systematically affect tibial load, which is consistent with in vivo findings. Future work will involve improving the scalability of the results to match in vivo data and using the surrogate to inform exoskeletal designs for bone stress injuries. Full article

Carrying heavy loads may present certain biomechanical changes in special populations. However, most of the existing research on whether or not different external loads impact gait biomechanics has been conducted in military personnel, while the same changes have been relatively unknown in other populations, such as police officers. In order to maximize the importance of load ergonomics and design, it is necessary to establish both spatial and temporal gait changes under different load conditions in a variety of high-risk jobs, in order to detect which parameters are the most important for special interventions and policies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine changes in spatial and temporal gait parameters under different loading conditions. Ninety-six intervention police officers were recruited and evaluated. Zebris FDM pedobarographic platform was used to assess spatial and temporal gait changes gradual increases in load carriage significantly increased cadence (p = 0.024, η² = 0.029), stance-phase for left (p = 0.046, η² = 0.024) and right foot (p = 0.019, η² = 0.030), and load response for left (p = 0.044, η² = 0.025) and right foot (p = 0.033, η² = 0.027), while decreases in step time for left foot (p = 0.024, η² = 0.029), and swing phase for left (p = 0.047, η² = 0.024) and right foot (p = 0.047, η² = 0.024) were observed. No significant changes in spatial gait parameters occurred when carrying heavier loads. In conclusion, increases in external loads lead to larger changes in temporal, but not in spatial foot characteristics during gait. Thus, temporal gait parameters may be more prone to changes when carrying heavy loads. Full article

Suicide is a significant public health problem, with disproportionate rates in rural areas. Rural communities face substantial structural and cultural barriers to suicide prevention. This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the need for suicide prevention and gauge the appropriateness of prevention efforts in the context of a rural Georgia county by leveraging existing community resources and knowledge. Twenty one-on-one, semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted, with participants recruited via purposive snowball sampling. Data analysis included qualitative deductive and inductive content analysis from individual interviews and focus groups with community stakeholders. The findings highlight how rural contexts exacerbate drivers of death by suicide and how the substantial loss of community members to suicide contributes to the ongoing crisis and reduces available support. Access to mental health care often depended on a connection to an established public system such as schools, a military base, or Veterans Administration. There were perceived gaps in crisis and post-crisis services, with participants actively trying to address these gaps and build community support through coalition building. This study contributes knowledge to contextual drivers of suicide in rural areas beyond individual-level risk factors. Community-engaged suicide prevention research in rural areas is promising, but there is a need to develop interventions to best support coalition building and capacity development. Full article

The FDA-approved Adenovirus Type 4 and Type 7 Vaccine, Live, Oral is highly effective and essential in preventing acute respiratory diseases (ARDs) in U.S. military recruits. Our study revealed the presence of a previously undetected mutation, not found in the wild-type human adenovirus type 4 (HAdV-4) component of the licensed vaccine, which contains an amino acid substitution (P388T) in the pre-terminal protein (pTP). This study demonstrated that replication of the T388 HAdV-4 vaccine mutant virus is favored over the wild type in WI-38 cells, the cell type utilized in vaccine manufacturing. However, results from serial human stool specimens of vaccine recipients support differential genome replication in the gastrointestinal tract (GI), demonstrated by the steady decline of the percentage of mutant T388 vaccine virus. Since vaccine efficacy depends upon GI replication and the subsequent immune response, the mutation can potentially impact vaccine efficacy. Full article

Introduction: Traumatic long-bone fractures (TLFs) among children and adolescents are relatively common, with morbidity and economic consequences. Obesity has become a significant global concern. Studies have found an association between TLFs and BMI in the past but not in a large cross-sectional population study. Our study objective was to measure the incidence of TLFs in the 17-year-old general population and evaluate its association with BMI, body height, and gender. Methods: Data from a medical database containing all 17-year-old candidates’ records before recruitment into mandatory military service were retrieved as BMI, height, gender, and history of TLFs. Logistic regression models assessed the association between BMI and height to TLFs. Results: The records of 911,206 subjects (515,339 males) were reviewed. In total, 9.65% had a history of TLFs (12.25% and 6.25% for males/females, respectively). Higher BMI was associated with TLF, with a linear trend in the odds ratio (OR) for having TLFs. The strongest association was found between obese females and TLFs (OR = 1.364, p < 0.0001). Height was an independent factor positively associated with TLFs. The OR for a TLF in the highest height quintile was 1.238 (p < 0.001) for males and 1.411 (p < 0.001) for females compared to the lowest quintile. Although TLFs were more common in males, the OR for TLFs was more prominent in females. Conclusions: There is an association between BMI, body height, and TLFs in healthy adolescents. TLFs are more common in males, but the strongest association between overweight and obesity is evident in females. Full article

Strenuous exercise, such as military training, is known to demand a high degree of physical performance and to cause injuries. The present study aimed to (a) monitor the incidence of soft tissue injuries (blisters, contusions, and lacerations) among cadets during Basic Combat Training (BCT), and (b) identify possible risk factors for these injuries. Participants were 315 first-grade cadets (women, n = 28; men, n = 287), recruited from the Hellenic Army Academy. Seven weeks of BCT resulted in an overall cadet injury rate of 24.1% (n = 76) with 13.7% being injured one time, whereas 10.4% of participants were injured 2–6 times. The incidence of injuries was 2.9 soft tissue injuries per 1000 training hours. The logistic regression model using sex, being an athlete, nationality, weight, height, body mass index, and percentage of body fat (BF) to predict soft tissue injury was not statistically significant (χ²₍₇₎ = 5.315, p = 0.622). The results of this study showed that BCT caused a large number of soft tissue injuries similar to the number reported for musculoskeletal injuries. In conclusion, following BCT, soft tissue injury characteristics (occurrence, severity, treatment) are similar to those applied in musculoskeletal injuries for Army cadets. However, risk factors such as sex, nationality, and BF have not been related to soft tissue injury prediction as previously shown for musculoskeletal injuries for the same sample group. Full article

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) are the most important tissue factors involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the promoter mutational status of VEGFA and the expression levels of VEGFA, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 in bladder cancer (BC) tissues and to correlate the results with the clinical–pathological parameters of BC patients. A total of 70 BC patients were recruited at the Urology Department of the Mohammed V Military Training Hospital in Rabat, Morocco. Sanger sequencing was performed to investigate the mutational status of VEGFA, and RT-QPCR was used to evaluate the expression levels of VEGFA, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2. Sequencing of the VEGFA gene promoter revealed the presence of −460T/C, −2578C/A, and −2549I/D polymorphisms, and statistical analyses showed a significant correlation between −460T/C SNP and smoking (p = 0.02). VEGFA and VEGFR2 expressions were significantly up-regulated in patients with NMIBC (p = 0.003) and MIBC (p = 0.03), respectively. Kaplan–Meier analyses showed that patients with high VEGFA expression had significantly longer disease-free survival (p = 0.014) and overall survival (p = 0.009). This study was very informative, showing the implication of VEGF alterations in BC, suggesting that VEGFA and VEGFR2 expressions could be promising biomarkers for the better management of BC. Full article