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In this paper I attempt to trace the semiotic path of meaning experience from "nothing" into "something". Traditional communication studies are problematic in 1. focusing on the message to the effect of ignoring the communicators; 2. choosing to overlook how yet-to-be signs acquire meanings in the communicative moments; and 3. tending to assume a "natural science" attitude toward the studied phenomenon so that embodied consciousness is either sidetracked or psychologized. Taking communicology as both the theory and methodology, I first describe the semiotic network in which blank paper, a nonconventional sign, acquires its signness in a specified communicative event. Then, I look inward to the relation of consciousness and embodiment. Finally, I argue that communication is such a life-world moment wherein non-expression is collectively constituted as a form of expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Inpatient falls among older adults are a relentless problem, and extant inpatient fall prevention research and interventions lack the older adults' perspectives and experiences of their own fall risk in the hospital. Theory‐guided research is essential in nursing, and the purpose of this paper was to describe the process of developing a theoretical framework for a phenomenological nursing study exploring older adults' lived experiences of being at risk for falling in the hospital. Method: Based on philosophical nursing underpinnings, the Health Belief Model (HBM) was selected as the theoretical model. The limitations of the model led to expansion of the model with established concepts associated with accidental falls among older adults. Results: The HBM was selected as the guiding model due to its ability to capture a broad range of perceptions of a health threat. The HBM was expanded with the concepts of embarrassment, independence, fear of falling, dignity and positivity effect. The addition of these concepts made the theoretical framework more applicable to age‐related developmental behaviours of older adult and more applicable to nursing research. Conclusion: The Expanded HBM theoretical framework may guide future nursing research to develop fall prevention interventions to decrease fall rates among hospitalized older adults. Patient or Public Contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the views of contemporary Muslim jurists about withdrawing treatment of the terminally ill. Its aim is threefold. Firstly, it analyses jurists' views concerning core themes within the process of withdrawing treatment. Secondly, it provides insight into fatwas about withdrawing treatment. Thirdly, it compares these views with current medical standards in Europe and the Atlantic world on withdrawing treatment. The data consisted of six papers by Muslim jurists presented at the conference of the Islamic Fiqh Council in 2015. We conducted a directed content analysis (DCA) through a predetermined framework and compiled an overview of all previous fatwas referred to in the papers, which are also analysed. The results show that the general consensus is that if health cannot be restored, treatment may be withdrawn at the request of the patient and/or his family or on the initiative of the doctor. The accompanying fatwa emphasizes the importance of life-prolonging treatment if this does not harm the patient. It becomes apparent in the fatwa that the doctor has the monopoly in decision-making, which is inconsistent with current medical standards in Europe. Managing disclosure in view of the importance of maintaining the hope of Muslim patients may challenge the doctor's obligation to share a diagnosis with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The controversy over vaccines, which has recently intensified following the COVID-19 pandemic, provokes heated debates, with both advocates and opponents raising allegations of bias and fraud in research. Researchers whose work raises doubts about the safety of certain vaccines claim to be victims of discriminatory treatment aimed at suppressing dissent, including the unjustified retraction of their published research. Such practices have previously been discussed in other controversial fields in science (e.g., AIDS, the environment, and water fluoridation) but not in the field of vaccines. The purpose of this study was to analyze, for the first time, the subjective views of researchers whose papers were retracted. Study participants are active researchers, most with international reputations in their respective fields. They perceived retraction as a means of censoring and silencing critical voices with the aim of preserving the pro-vaccination agenda of interested parties. Participants also reported additional measures aimed at harming them personally and professionally. These findings point to the need for a fair, open, and honest discourse about the safety of vaccines for the benefit of public health and the restoration of trust in science and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A critical discussion comparing Newtonian science and complexity science as the philosophical basis for suicide research and its impact on suicide knowledge development and clinical practice. Design: Discussion paper. Data Sources: A review of literature on suicide research and complexity science ranging from 2000 to 2022. Implications for Nursing: Suicide research based on a Newtonian worldview can have negative consequences for suicide knowledge development and can permeate nursing practice in ways that take away from addressing the complex needs of patients, their families and healthcare teams. Conclusion: A Newtonian worldview as a philosophical basis for research is insufficient for the study of a phenomenon as complex as suicide. A complexity science approach is better suited to the study of suicide given the multiple, interrelated, emerging factors that can contribute to a person's decision to end their own life. Impact Suggestions are provided as to how a complexity science approach to the research of suicide can inform useful knowledge development that better meets the needs of individuals facing suicidality and their families. Researchers, healthcare administrators and nurses providing care to those struggling with suicidality can benefit from adopting a complexity science worldview in addressing this multifaceted phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on how adopted adults who have reunited with at least one birth family member experienced identity shifts related to their original birth certificates (OBCs). Framed by the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI), 50 adopted adults discussed their experiences related to their OBCs and how their identities are connected to this symbol through three of the layers of CTI, the personal, enacted, and relational layers. Participants discussed the presence of an ambiguous and unsolvable identity that interpenetrated with their other identity layers. Findings extend CTI to include an additional layer for adoptees – phantom identity – which can explain the life adoptees would have lived had they not been adopted. This identity was salient for participants as it manifested in ways such as expressing frustration with obstacles in gaining access to their OBC and refocusing their professional life to support other adopted adults. Moreover, findings offer implications for the examination into current adoption record practices in the United States, additional state mutual consent registries, and increased access to adoption-competent counselors for adoptees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In its mission to optimise the quality of patient care and the level of clinician training within the fields of biotherapy, the BioTherapeutics, Education and Research (BTER) Foundation and its Maggot Therapy Competency Committee identified qualities and achievements assessed to be the minimum standards that health care professionals should attain in order to be deemed competent in maggot therapy. The set of six standards were selected to reflect the same high degree of professionalism that is used by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education for assessing other medical specialists, but with an emphasis on the principles and practice of maggot therapy. For each domain in which competency is expected, the rationale has been explained, specific competencies have been articulated, and methods for demonstrating or evaluating those competencies have been suggested. Applicable to any clinician applying maggot dressings professionally, these recommendations should assist those who wish to identify, assess, or achieve competency in maggot therapy. Specifically, these six competencies include: (1) knowledge about wound care in general and maggot therapy in particular; (2) skill in general patient care, to a level commensurate with their professional role; (3) ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, and the general public; (4) professional and ethical behaviour; (5) ability to deliver systems‐based health care; (6) incorporation of continuing education and quality improvement into their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Festivals play an important role in improving death and grief literacy, enabling members of the public to engage with these often-sensitive topics. Good Grief Weston festival was co-designed and delivered with the community in Weston-super-Mare, a coastal town in South-West England with high levels of socioeconomic disadvantage but rich community assets. It was held in person over 8 days in May 2023. Objectives: To evaluate the reach and impact of Good Grief Weston festival and gather data to inform future festivals. Design: Mixed methods evaluation (survey and focus groups). Methods: Online and paper surveys assessing participants' characteristics and experiences were administrated during and after the festival. Survey participants who indicated their willingness to participate were invited to attend a focus group. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Data were collected by trained community co-researchers. Results: Approximately 3000 people attended the festival. Of 204 completed surveys, 64.5% were from women, age range ⩽15 to ⩾75 years; 88.2% identified as White; 14.9% deaf, disabled/with a chronic condition; 18.9% neurodivergent; 9.0% gay, bisexual or queer. Festival participants were entertained (70.9%), inspired (68.5%), felt part of a like-minded community (54.3%), talked to someone new (49.2%), learnt about grief/bereavement (34.3%), shared or expressed experiences (30.3%) and found out about local support (19.7%). 71.3% reported that they felt more confident talking about grief after attending. Median experience rating was 5 (IQR 0; possible range 1 = poor to 5 = excellent). In free-text comments, participants expressed appreciation for the festival and described benefits in attending. Two focus groups were conducted (n = 8 participants, all women), lasting c.1.5 h. Focus groups added rich descriptions of the festival's value, and data to inform the next festival. Conclusion: Findings suggest festivals of this nature can play a central role in a public health approach. Plain language summary: What was the impact of Good Grief Weston festival? Why was the study done? Previous studies have shown that many people feel unsupported by their community after the death of a loved one. We designed a festival to improve knowledge and support for bereaved people. We did this study to assess how the festival affected the people who attended. What did the researchers do? The team included researchers and people and organisations from the local community. Together, we designed and ran a festival on the topic of death, grief and bereavement in Weston-super-Mare, a coastal town with areas of high deprivation. The festival took place over an eight-day period in May 2023 and included creative, interactive and educational events. The team collected feedback on attendees' experiences of the festival. We did this using online and paper feedback forms, postcards, and focus groups to collect as many opinions as possible. What did the researchers find? We found that a wide range of people attended the festival. Most people who took part in the research rated the festival as 'excellent'. They told us they learnt about grief and bereavement and found out about local support services. Attendees met new people, shared their experiences, and felt that the festival built community spirit. They also made suggestions to improve any future festivals. What do the findings mean? The findings show that in-person festivals can effectively engage the public on the topic of death, grief and bereavement. They can also help develop connections between people and organisations in communities. These connections and learning opportunities may help communities to support their members through bereavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Designed affordable 3DOF attitude simulator. • In–house built 3-axis Helmholtz coil cage. • Identified CubeSat demonstrator parameters. • Demonstrated CubeSat self-actuation & detumbling. Spacecraft attitude determination and control systems (ADCS) stand as a pivotal factor for ensuring the success of missions. As satellite sizes continue to decrease, the need for more intelligent and efficient control algorithms becomes increasingly pronounced. In response to this imperative, we propose the development of a scaled-down testbed specifically designed for evaluating satellites (ACDS). This testbed will demonstrate effective control of a CubeSat through the use of Helmholtz coils, magnetic torquer solenoids, reaction wheels and inexpensive student-made components and available components off the shelf (COTS) in the San Diego State University SPACE Lab. Referred to as the Spacecraft Attitude Testbed (SAT), this custom-designed 3-DoF experimental attitude platform replicates the conditions experienced by a weightless satellite in space. The objective of this research paper is to improve the understanding of how to manufacture a testbed and components like those within this paper, expose some of the issues encountered and improve the outcomes for future academic testbeds. Within this study, the testbed employs torque application to magnetic torquers and reaction wheels to regulate attitude. In summary, this research endeavors to establish a comprehensive and cost-effective testbed platform dedicated to the assessment of spacecraft attitude control and determination systems. It not only seeks to enhance our understanding of advanced control algorithms but also aims to contribute valuable insights into fault detection and adaptive control strategies, ultimately bolstering the efficiency and robustness of satellite operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few primary studies that focused on the older immigrants' food habits and meal preferences after immigration and settlement in a new country. A comprehensive database search for literature was conducted in May 2021 and upgraded in September 2021. Ten databases (Medline (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsycInfo (Ovid), Cinahl (EBSCOhost), Food Science Source (EBSCOhost), SocIndex (EBSCOhost), Social Care Online, Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts (ASSIA), Web of Science and Google Scholar), were scanned for original, peer-reviewed papers published in English. The review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and SWiM items. Out of 3069 records, 10 papers were included for thematic synthesis. A data synthesis across all studies resulted in three main findings: (i) the significance of food in maintaining cultural identity, (ii) the continuity of traditional food culture and (iii) adapting to the host country's food culture. Although different forms of dietary acculturation occur throughout life, older immigrants often want to maintain their traditional food habits and meal preferences. For them, traditional eating habits offer comfort and security by serving as a means of identifying who they are and reminding them where they have come from. Public health and social services play an important role in providing cultural nutritional care to older immigrants; therefore, this issue should be carefully addressed by professionals and future research. Registration: The review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 27 September 2022 with registration number CRD42022358235. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of male nurses towards human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccination and to examine whether knowledge about the HPV vaccine affects attitudes and beliefs about HPV vaccines. Background: HPV is responsible for ≈5% of all cancers worldwide. Therefore, vaccination against HPV is recommended to prevent HPV infections and HPV‐related cancers in men and women. Methods: The study group included 383 male nurses who were asked to complete online questionnaires. The data were collected using the following tools: a sociodeomographical characteristics form, the Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Scale (HPVKS), and The Carolina HPV Immunization Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (CHIAS). Results: It was determined that the general HPV knowledge of the male nurses participating in the study was at a moderate level, but their knowledge of HPV screening test, HPV vaccination, and current HPV vaccination programmes were at a low level. Male nurses' HPV vaccination rates were relatively low, and most of them did not intend to be vaccinated. In addition, CHIAS Attitudes and Beliefs scores of the male nurses were at an average level and HPV knowledge affected the attitudes and beliefs of the nurses. Conclusion: These results demonstrate an opportunity to improve information and awareness about HPV and vaccines by nursing education. Summary statement: What is already known about the topic? Although HPV vaccination is recommended to prevent HPV infections and HPV‐related cancers in men and women, vaccination rates are far behind the target, especially for men. What this paper adds? Findings showed that male nurses' HPV vaccination rates were relatively low.Male nurses' knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccine was not sufficient.HPV knowledge affected the attitudes and beliefs of these male nurses. The implications of this paper: Nurses need to be aware of the HPV vaccine during their undergraduate education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cultural competence is considered one of the criteria for high‐quality nursing care. Aim: This study aimed to analyse cultural competence in nursing. Methods: This study was performed using the hybrid concept analysis approach in three phases. In the theoretical phase, literature was reviewed by searching Persian and English language databases, and 94 articles were included. In the second or fieldwork phase, 11 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with purposefully selected nurses. The results of both theoretical and fieldwork phases were analysed using conventional content analysis, and in the final analysis phase, the results of the previous phases were triangulated. Results: The attributes of cultural competence were obtained in the theoretical phase in six and the fieldwork phase in three categories. In the final phase, the categories obtained in both previous phases were triangulated: cultural competence in nursing is a continuous, developmental, flexible, extensive and complex process that is patient‐ and justice‐oriented and emerges through learning and skills acquisition, including cultural knowledge, attitudes and practices. Conclusion: Managers and planners of nursing education can use the results of this study to educate nursing students and nurses and evaluate outcomes as one of the criteria for quality care. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? There is a concern in nursing that the profession needs a unified definition of cultural competence.What this paper adds? This study showed that cultural competence in nursing is a continuous, developmental, complex, and extensive process that is patient‐ and justice‐orientated and emerges through learning and skills acquisition, including cultural knowledge, attitudes, and practices.The implications of this paper: The findings help identify and present the definition of cultural competence in nursing and be used in the training of nursing students and the continuous education of nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the ways that publicly funded developmental services for adults with developmental disabilities in southern Ontario are limited in how they support clients. This paper is informed by field research conducted in the summer of 2019, which was composed of semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a policy review. Informed by parent advocates who are the main caregivers of their adult children labelled with intellectual and developmental disabilities, this paper claims that the administrative processes of the Ontario ministry that manages and funds adult disability services relate to broader exclusionary patterns among adults with developmental disabilities. I explore this claim by reviewing how common ableist assumptions of people with developmental disabilities are ingrained in the policies and administrative processes of these services. I contribute to ongoing discussions among Critical Disability Scholars of the ways that disability as a social category can be articulated outside of ableist assumptions. Informed by parent caregiver perspectives, this article outlines how the limitations of provincially funded disability services in Ontario, Canada cause significant challenge in the lives of those labelled with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One possible explanation for these limitations is that there is a disconnect between how the provincial government classifies who should receive immediate services and how many services, versus the actual need of those labelled with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The criteria for high supports, such as monthly funding, placement into a living facility, and the provincial assessment for determining a person's 'adaptive functioning' are rooted in problematic assumptions made of people labelled with intellectual and developmental disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on strategic ambiguity in classical games provides generalized notions of equilibrium in which each player best responds to ambiguous or imprecise beliefs about his opponents' strategic choices. In a recent paper, strategic ambiguity has been extended to psychological games, by taking into account ambiguous hierarchies of beliefs and max–min preferences. Given that this kind of preference seems too restrictive as a general method to evaluate decisions, in this paper we extend the analysis by taking into account α -max–min preferences in which decisions are evaluated by a convex combination of the worst-case (with weight α) and the best-case (with weight 1 − α ) scenarios. We define the α -max–min psychological Nash equilibrium; an illustrative example shows that the set of equilibria is affected by the parameter α and the larger the ambiguity, the greater the effect. We also provide a result of stability of the equilibria with respect to perturbations that involve the attitudes toward ambiguity, the structure of ambiguity, and the payoff functions: converging sequences of equilibria of perturbed games converge to equilibria of the unperturbed game as the perturbation vanishes. Surprisingly, a final example shows that the existence of equilibria is not guaranteed for every value of α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When information is incomplete or uncertain, Fermatean hesitant fuzzy sets (FHFSs) can provide more information to help decision-makers deal with more complex problems. Typically, determining attribute weights assumes that each attribute has a fixed influence. Introducing probability information can enable one to consider the stochastic nature of evaluation data and better quantify the importance of the attributes. To aggregate data by considering the location and importance degrees of each attribute, this paper develops a Fermatean hesitant fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) method with probabilistic information and an ordered weighted averaging (OWA) method. The OWA method combines the concepts of weights and sorting to sort and weigh average property values based on those weights. Therefore, this novel approach assigns weights based on the decision-maker's preferences and introduces probabilities to assess attribute importance under specific circumstances, thereby broadening the scope of information expression. Then, this paper presents four probabilistic aggregation operators under the Fermatean hesitant fuzzy environment, including the Fermatean hesitant fuzzy probabilistic ordered weighted averaging/geometric (FHFPOWA/FHFPOWG) operators and the generalized Fermatean hesitant fuzzy probabilistic ordered weighted averaging/geometric (GFHFPOWA/GFHFPOWG) operators. These new operators are designed to quantify the importance of attributes and characterize the attitudes of decision-makers using a probabilistic and weighted vector. Then, a MADM method based on these proposed operators is developed. Finally, an illustrative example of selecting the best new retail enterprise demonstrates the effectiveness and practicality of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines the normative versus non‐normative distinction commonly used in collective action research. To explore the similarities and differences between antecedents of normative versus non‐normative actions, we conducted a systematic review on diverse predictors of non‐normative, radical and violent collective actions. We examined 37 social and political psychology studies published after 2010 and identified five recurring themes: identity, efficacy, injustice, emotions and norms. Findings exhibited significant overlaps with those predictors associated with normative collective action. Thus, a reconceptualization is needed to undermine the rigid boundaries between these action types, highlighting the intricate interplay of factors that transcend the conventional binary. Aiming to avoid conceptual ambiguity and challenge the perspective that associating particular collective actions with unwarranted violence using social norms as fixed and a priori, we propose the term 'confrontational collective action' to separate out form of action from societal approval. Through this reconceptualization, we discussed the main limitations in the literature, focusing on how studies approach normativity and efficacy and addressing the issue of decontextualization in the literature. This paper calls for a contextually informed understanding of confrontational collective action that recognizes what is seen as 'normative' can change over time through intra‐ and intergroup interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The essence of humanism in medicine and health care is relationships-caring relationships between clinicians and patients. While raising concerns regarding professional-patient boundaries has positively contributed to our understanding and prevention of potentially harmful boundary violations, there is controversy about which types of relationships, caring acts, and practices are acceptable versus cross boundary lines.Objective: To examine primary care physicians' practices and attitudes regarding acts that have been questioned as potentially "inappropriate" or "unethical" crossing of professional-patient boundaries.Design: Surveys conducted via in-person polling or electronic and mailed paper submissions from April 2016 to July 2017. We calculated descriptive statistics and examined associations with practices and attitudes using logistic regression.Participants: Random sample of all US primary care physicians who treat adult patients; convenience sample of attendees at medicine grand rounds presentations.Main Measures: Outcomes were self-reported practices and attitudes related to giving patients rides home, paying for patients' medication, helping patients find jobs, employing patients, going to dinner with patients, and providing care to personal friends.Key Results: Among 1563 total respondents, 34% had given a ride home, 34% had paid for medications, 15% helped patients find a job, 7% had employed a patient, 10% had dinner with patients, and 59% provided care to personal friends. A majority disapproved of dinner with a patient (75%) but approved of or were neutral on all other scenarios (61-90%).Conclusions: The medical profession is quite divided on questions related to drawing lines about appropriate boundaries. Contrary to official and widespread proscriptions against such practices (with exception of dinner dates), many have actually engaged in such practices and the majority found them acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is based on the linguistic meaning of extremism, which is defined by the dimension and the end of the middle, which shows that in every hypothesis or theory, in each constant or variable in which the eyes and positions are divided into three main axes, two extremes and a moderate medium whose attributes are proven And the decision and moderation in thought and behavior, and by adopting the advantages in both parties , and the rejection of the negatives in them, and as the distance from the center increases attitudes and trends negative and turbulent; because they lost this distance to the medium until reaching the end of the parties On the other hand, the extremes in the negative attitudes increase or decrease according to the distance between them and the center . The division in this equation is threefold, but the negatives in the extreme left, and the corresponding ones by cons in the extreme right will be generated by the fourth - party outside of all of this equation; because it rejects all axes altogether, it is my view to the middle of the eye charge and inaction, and to the party yen opposite of the eye negatives and evil, and here lies the danger of this kind great harm, and this What the researcher will try to prove in his folds These papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Han, Miller, and Snow have written three thoughtful critiques of the VIA Classification of Strengths and Virtues. In this response, I emphasize five points. First, I suggest the concept of practical wisdom may be understood in terms of three VIA strengths: prudence, judgment, and perspective. Second, recognizing that the VIA Classification is a structural model of individual traits, rather than a moral theory, can address some concerns about the model, including its failure to account for the unity of the virtues. Third, I review a three-virtue model that has emerged in recent research on the VIA strengths may provide essential elements for a taxonomy of virtue. Fourth, I raise several issues associated with the application of the VIA Classification to moral education. Finally, though the model demonstrates substantial generalizabilty across Westernized populations, research in traditional indigenous cultures remains insufficient. I conclude with a series of questions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To discuss the risks that heteronormative assumptions play in prostate cancer care and how these may be addressed. Background There is international evidence to support the case that LGBT patients with cancer are less likely to report poor health or self-disclose sexual orientation. Gender-specific cancers, such as prostate cancer, require particular interventions in terms of supportive care. These may include advice about side-effect management (such as incontinence or erectile dysfunction), treatment choices and social and emotional issues. In this paper, we discuss and analyse the heteronormative assumptions and culture that exist around this cancer. We argue that this situation may act as a barrier to effective supportive care for all Lesbian women, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual patients, in this case men who have sex with men. [Correction added on 21 September 2017, after first online publication: The first sentence of the Background section has been revised for clarity in this current version.] Design Theoretical exploration of heteronormativity considered against the clinical context of prostate cancer. Methods Identification and inclusion of relevant international evidence combined with clinical discussion. Results This paper posits a number of questions around heteronormativity in relation to prostate cancer information provision, supportive care and male sexuality. While assumptions regarding sexual orientation should be avoided in clinical encounters, this may be difficult when heteronormative assumptions dominate. Existing research supports the assertion that patient experience, including the needs of LGBT patients, should be central to service developments. Conclusion Assumptions about sexual orientation should be avoided and recorded accurately and sensitively, and relational models of care should be promoted at the start of cancer treatment in an appropriate manner. These may assist in reducing the risks of embarrassment or offence to nonheterosexual patients, or to professionals who may adopt heteronormative assumptions. Relevance to clinical practice Having an awareness of the risks of making heteronormative assumptions in clinical practice will be useful for all health professionals engaged in prostate cancer care. This awareness can prevent embarrassment or upset for patients and ensure a more equitable provision of service, including men with prostate cancer who do not identify as heterosexual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper attempts to contextualize the significance of the work of unpaid female family helpers' (UPFFH) for women empowerment. Additionally, it brings into light the subjective feelings and perceptions of unpaid family helpers. The current research is based on primary data collected through a self-structured questionnaire from 200 females aged 15+ years who were helping in the household income generation without getting paid. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among UPFFHs residing in district Lahore, Pakistan. The participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The analysis of UPFFHs empowerment was performed by employing a percentage distribution approach based on four levels of participation in decision making. The research puts emphasis on the impact of excessive, unequal, and unpaid work on women and further argues for social rational of recognizing the work through empowering women in decision-making process at their personal, household, and community level. The findings of the study indicates that the young UPFFHs are less empowered as they face the greatest familial and community pressure when it comes to making their life decisions. However, the paper further documents their aspiration to attain economic independence which would then bring change in gender perceptions and their overall social standing. The paper concludes by highlighting the problems associated with "unpaid work" and why it must be addressed, especially if the country has to fully realize the valued goal of women empowerment and gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most philosophers agree that the distinction between rebutting and undercutting defeaters is sound. Recently, however, there has been much debate over the nature of and relationship between rebutting and undercutting defeaters. Among the things that have been argued about is whether undercutting defeat, in contrast to rebutting defeat, require higher‐order commitment, i.e., a belief regarding the link between the source of justification and the target proposition. This paper examines the debate and argues that whether or not undercutting defeaters require higher‐order commitments to this effect depends on the relevant defeatee at issue. A belief might fail to be rational in at least two ways—either by failing to correctly respond to one's reasons or by failing to be coherent with one's other attitudes. According to dualism about rationality these failings reflect two genuine and distinct kinds of rationality: substantive and structural rationality. In line with this view, the paper suggests that we should make a parallel distinction between substantive and structural undercutting defeaters. An advantage of classifying undercutting defeaters in this way is that it helps to disentangle the current debate. Another interesting result is that the proposed distinction lends further support to dualism about rationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I will analyze the set of markers that have been associated with exclamative sentence-type and exclamations in Romance, like Catalan ma, mira, que , and si , Italian guarda and che , or Spanish mira, que, si , and vaya. The hypothesis I will defend is that the meaning encoded by each of these markers contribute to create an exclamation speech act. I will show that we must first distinguish mirative markers like ma, mira or guarda , which encode the surprise attitude of the speaker towards a proposition. A second class of elements are degree operators, like si , which create the necessary domain extension on which the attitude of the speaker is built. Finally, I will show that que / che is a marker of exclamative sentence-type. In the second part of the article I will show that these pragmatic differences have a transparent reflex in syntax: mirative markers occupy the Judge Phrase position in Krifka's Speech Act Layer, above ForceP and vocatives, so they may combine with different sentence-types, besides exclamatives. In ForceP we find degree operators (and exclamative wh -phrases) in its specifier, and the sentence-type marker que / che in its head. All in all, the paper aims at showing that a compositional approach to exclamativity can deal with the rich set of pragmatic and syntactic properties of exclamative markers in Romance. • Exclamativity and mirativity are two distinct pragmatic categories, with specialized markers. • Mirative markers are typically found with exclamative sentences, but they may appear with other sentence-types as well. • The set of pragmatic and syntactic properties of exclamative particles in Romance can be explained compositionally. • Data from exclamative markers support a rich syntax-pragmatics interface along the lines of the Cartographic Program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 has caused psychological distress such as anxiety and fear among nurses worldwide. Nurses are a creditable source of vaccine‐related information and have a primary role in building confidence regarding vaccines. Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the fear and anxiety of nurses regarding novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and their attitudes towards the COVID‐19 vaccine. The predictors of fear, anxiety and attitudes towards the vaccine were also investigated. Methods: A descriptive and correlational design was used. The study was conducted in three public hospitals from different parts of the Turkey, and 405 nurses from the three hospitals were recruited by stratified sampling. Results: Anxiety and negative attitudes towards the vaccine were positively related to fear of COVID‐19. Age and fear were also positively associated with anxiety related to COVID‐19. Nurses who had received the vaccine and those who were fearful had a positive attitude towards the vaccine. Conclusion: Psychosocial support programmes should be implemented to improve psychological resilience and coping strategies in nurses and organized education programmes are needed to increase positive attitudes towards vaccination. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? The COVID‐19 pandemic significantly affected the psychological health of nurses.Nurses have a fundamental function in the general acceptance of vaccines. What this paper adds? Relationships were found between COVID‐19‐related fear, anxiety and attitudes towards the COVID‐19 vaccine.Anxiety and a positive attitude towards the vaccine were found to be predictors of fear related to COVID‐19.Fear related to COVID‐19 and being vaccinated against COVID‐19 were predictors of attitudes towards vaccination. The implications of this paper: Nursing managers could organize programmes to improve the coping skills of nurses in responding to situations that cause psychological burden.Nursing managers could support nurses through education to develop positive attitudes towards vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reported in this paper explores the experiences of 95 people with intersex variations constituting an international English-speaking sample who completed a mixed methods survey comprises questions designed by the authors to explore 1) genital variations and medical interventions (and pressures to undertake them), 2) experiences with sex education, and 3) experience of physical intimacy, including use of safer sex devices and sexually transmitted infections. Surgeries on minors were common and typically not consensual, often resulting in the need for revisions. Pressures for surgeries most commonly were made by doctors. Experiences of sex education often failed to be inclusive of intersex bodies, with information about menstruation and hygiene rarely provided, and many participants having to learn on their own. Participants had a diversity of experiences of physical intimacy beyond penetration. For those who had experienced penetration, vaginal intercourse was enjoyable for some, but many found it painful. Conversely, anal intercourse was enjoyed by many and rarely found to be painful. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of an intersex-specific approach to sexual health for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health authorities worldwide address older adults as a risk group for more serious illness and health complications associated with COVID-19, while social gerontologists have warned that addressing older adults as a risk group of COVID-19 bears the risk of reinforcing ageism. This paper empirically explores to what extent older adults perceive themselves as part of a COVID-19 risk group and how these perceptions influence their everyday lives and experiences of age and ageing. This paper draws upon data from a mixed-methods study on older adults' risk perceptions during COVID-19 in Lower Austria, including a representative survey on 521 adults (60+ years) and data from 20 semi-structured interviews. Approximately two-thirds of the respondents consider themselves at risk of COVID-19 and name age, in addition to pre-existing illness, as a contributing factor in this risk perception. Older adults with health constraints, and especially older men, have a higher probability of perceiving risk due to COVID-19. Additionally, older adults report that they experience being 'suddenly seen as old' or 'being put into a box' during the pandemic, which influenced their experiences and images of ageing. Our study provides insights into how perceived COVID-19 risk affects the everyday lives of older adults. Age-based categorisations of risk contribute to a shift in images of age and ageing, drawing on insecurity and risk, rather than successful and active ageing, to conceptualise later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reconsiders Ezekiel's alleged anti-imperial attitude toward the Babylonian empire. It nuances the alleged attitude with Frantz Fanon's theory of colonized subjects' desire to be like their colonizer. Looking at Ezekiel's privileged social location, I argue that the book exhibits a desire to be like the Babylonian empire. Ezekiel intertwines Babylonian's "anti-Egyptian" propaganda with Yahweh's interest in maintaining loyalty toward the empire. To support this argument, the paper first surveys the Babylonian and Egyptian conflict over the Levant. It then reconsiders the situation of Ezekiel and his community in exile. Further, it discusses Fanon's theory of colonized subjects' desires and how Ezekiel operates within it. It concludes by looking at what Ezekiel might gain through this maneuver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research problem of this paper is related to numerous open questions in the field of energy, its understanding, its use, and the challenges of the energy future. After the introductory part, in which a brief historical overview of energy literacy is provided, the paper focuses on energy literacy, its emergence, and the different approaches to its definition and measurement. The paper analyzes the energy literacy of students at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka based on their cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills. Their knowledge about energy, energy processes, and the energy efficiency of the objects they encounter on a daily basis is examined. Their personal attitudes and values are examined through various forms of personal initiatives and active participation in energy sustainability projects. Finally, the habits and behavioral patterns that the respondents have in their daily lives and their tendencies to save energy resources and find energy-efficient solutions are examined. Despite some positive findings, the current results are not satisfactory and point to the creation of adequate public policies with a particular focus on education and the role of the corrective mechanisms of the state, but also the need for joint negotiations between policy makers, regulators, scientists, representatives of civil society, and the business community. The particular contribution of this work is reflected in being the first research of its kind conducted among Croatian economics students, as well as among Croatian students in general; in the creation of a research instrument that is conceptually consistent with the findings from the existing literature, but with an original set of questions within each energy literacy skill adapted to the cultural and sociological background of the respondents; and in a kind of progress from previous research by taking into account the quantitative aspect (in addition to the qualitative) assessment of the respondents' energy literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Value-based healthcare has been described as the sustainable, equitable and transparent use of healthcare resources to achieve improved experiences and outcomes for people and communities. It is supported by all levels of government in Australia, with recent initiatives championing a shift away from traditional, clinician-centric care delivery to a more contemporary, value-based approach. To date, however, efforts in Queensland have focused on smaller scale siloed models of care and have not extended to the transformational change required to create equitable and sustainable healthcare delivery. The Queensland Health Allied Health Framework for Value-Based Health Care (the Framework) builds on contemporary frameworks with reference to the local context in Queensland and provides a structure and starting point for clinicians and managers to work together with consumers to transform services to focus on preventative health and wellbeing, shifting the focus of care to the community and sustainably improving the quality of care delivered. The Framework outlines key considerations for the design and implementation of new services, including understanding the care pathway, supporting an outcome driven workplace culture, measuring what matters and designing for outcomes. Several key lessons were learnt during the development of the Framework, including the importance of early and sustained consumer partnerships, of establishing a shared definition of value-based healthcare that enables integration across the care pathway and the need for leadership at all levels to actively support the change management process. While developed for Queensland public allied health services, the Framework is intended to be a system-wide tool relevant to all health professionals and services. What is known about the topic? Value-based healthcare provides an approach to restructure healthcare systems to improve health outcomes and the holistic experience of care for people and communities. What does this paper add? This paper details the development of a framework to support health services to transition to a value-based approach. What are the implications for practitioners? By reflecting on the diversity of health practitioners, managers and consumer experiences and the unique opportunities and challenges of individual healthcare services, the framework provides a structure and starting point for services to transition to value-based healthcare. This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-Based Healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many elements associated with aphasia, its assessment and treatment, and its effects on individuals living with this disorder have been examined. However, the implications for people with aphasia of living alone has not been a focus. Factors such as living alone, ageing, aphasia, gender, depression (and suicide), comorbid physical impairments and mortality converge and intersect with each other to have a profound effect on those individuals with aphasia who live alone. This study aimed to explore the research relating to people with aphasia living alone (PWALA), as well as to identify knowledge gaps and the key characteristics related to this topic. The PRISMA scoping review methodology was selected to search the current literature. Online databases (Google Scholar and five electronic journal databases) were used to identify relevant papers, predominantly published since the year 2000. From 1201 papers initially identified, 115 relating to the topic were imported into NVivo Qualitative Research Software and analysed into themes. From the 74 papers directly relating to the topic, seven themes emerged: emotional status, communication, identity, independence, family relationships, friends/visitors and daily activities. It was unclear how the experiences of PWALA compared to those not living alone from these papers as the information provided mainly reflected the studies' research questions, not specifically the fact that the person concerned was living alone. There is an obvious and urgent need to investigate the lived experience of PWALA. However, two key areas require immediate attention. PWALA require early and ongoing assessment, monitoring and intervention for depression, and also the implementation of strategies and programs to decrease loneliness and social isolation. This scoping review relating to PWALA revealed that insufficient attention has been paid to the specific issues and implications of aphasia for this sub-population. An urgent investigation of a diverse sample of PWALA using in-depth supportive interviewing techniques is needed to explore the personal experiences and perceptions of living alone. Based on this, strategies and programs can be developed or adapted to address and ameliorate the specific exigencies of PWALA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a cultural analysis of the popular Kuwaiti TV series Men Sharea El Haram (translated as From Haram Street). Combining religion, class, race, nationality, and patriarchy, Haram Street showcases pertinent issues that today's Kuwaiti society has to face. Attending to the scarcity of previous research on vernacular communities and their salient concerns, this paper explores the following research questions: How does Men Sharea El Haram capture the intersecting nature of women's resistance? What does a feminist Kuwaiti vernacular look like, and how does it intersect with privilege? The analysis outlines how Men Sharea El Haram touches upon several silenced themes in the conservative Kuwaiti society of Kuwait, showing the many and varied ways in which Kuwaiti women are oppressed and showcasing the ways in which women can—and do—resist. Together, the findings provide a deeper understanding of several central issues in Kuwaiti society, especially around masculinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incarcerated trans women experience significant victimization, mistreatment, barriers to gender-affirming care, and human rights violations, conferring high risk for trauma, psychological distress, self-harm, and suicide. Across the globe, most carceral settings are segregated by sex assigned at birth and governed by housing policies that restrict gender expression—elevating ‘safety and security’ above the housing preferences of incarcerated people. Aim/methods: Drawing upon the lived experiences of 24 formerly incarcerated trans women in Australia and the United States and employing Elizabeth Freeman’s notion of chrononormativity, Rae Rosenberg’s concept of heteronormative time, and Kadji Amin’s use of queer temporality, this paper explores trans women’s carceral housing preferences and contextual experiences, including how housing preferences challenge governing chrononormative and reformist carceral housing systems. Findings: Participants freely discussed their perspectives regarding housing options which through thematic analysis generated four options for housing: 1) men’s carceral settings; 2) women’s carceral settings; 3) trans- and gay-specific housing blocks; and 4) being housed in protective custody or other settings. There appeared to be a relationship between the number of times the person had been incarcerated, the duration of their incarceration, and where they preferred to be housed. Conclusions: This analysis contributes to richer understandings regarding trans women’s experiences while incarcerated. This paper also informs the complexities and nuances surrounding housing preferences from the perspectives of trans women themselves and considers possible opportunities to enhance human rights, health and wellbeing when engaging in transformative approaches to incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes as its premise the idea that transferential phenomena emerge out of the endless interactions between the wider social context, including myriad social injustices, and the inter and intra psychic events psychoanalytic therapists are more familiar with thinking about. Freud's was a neuro-psycho-social model of development, with the interrelationship between internal life and social practices carefully mapped in 'Totem and Taboo' (1913) and 'Civilisation and Its Discontents' (S. Freud, 1930). However, what Freud left undone, and is still only nascent in its development, is the work of mapping how this interaction between internal and external, between psycho and social, manifests in the consulting room. Focusing on race, as one aspect of identity that powerfully impacts transferential phenomena, the paper presents accounts of clinical events, one disguised, one fictionalised, to explore the meaning of the author's own Whiteness in this context. Using a Kleinian and post-Kleinian understanding of very early Oedipal struggles, 'Whiteness' is formulated as an anti-developmental merger with the ideal breast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a case study of the first shamanic organization in China and argues that organizational shamanism in Northeast China is characterized by the double identities of the shaman and the dualistic attitudes of the national authorities. The analyses in this paper reveal how the shamanic organization created a modernized and globalized space for traditional shamans and specialists to connect with the outside world, enabling them to gain empowerment, legitimacy, and agency. Chinese authorities hold dualistic attitudes towards shamanism: the positive attitude of seeing shamanism as part of cultural heritage has always been coupled with the negative attitude of seeing shamanism as superstition. The studies in this paper demonstrate that organizational shamanism in Northeast China has played a crucial role in negotiating with political authorities and linking local traditions with global discourse. In this sense, the traditional eco-cosmological way of maintaining relationships with natural forces and nonhuman beings has been irrevocably transformed into a cosmopolitical form for the shaman, where the animistic world engages with the outside world, global currency, and political forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents details on the character of political leader Stephen F. Austin as implied in the 'Papers Concerning Robertson's Colony in Texas' (PCRCT) by Malcolm D. McLean. Objective of McLean in writing the book; Betrayal of Austin of his colleagues; Impact of PCRCT on the history of Texas.

In this article, the author focuses on the German psychoanalyst Wolfgang Loch's paper "Drives and objects – observations on the origins of the emotional object world." It mentions that the paper offers information about the theory of the establishment of the psychical reality of internal objects and the psychical space. It also mentions that emotional theory was also appeared in the book "Beyond the Pleasure Principle."

This brief article examines the community services delivered to youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a Southern Californian city as a way to better understand ASD service provision and service attitudes. Specific goals of the study were to identify the services being delivered within the area, and how the use, perceived evidence, and value attached to these services mapped onto recent systematic ASD service reviews. Forty-six providers completed the ASD Strategies and Interventions Survey (ASD-SIS), which consisted of 21 treatment strategies and 22 interventions packages commonly used with children with ASD. Participants: (1) indicated each treatment strategy and intervention package they use, and (2) rated the perceived evidence and value of each treatment strategy and intervention package they endorsed using. Results demonstrated that a variety of treatment strategies and intervention packages, both with and without an established evidence base, were reportedly being delivered to youth with ASD through community-based agencies. Additionally, a large number of providers reported not knowing the evidence of many treatment strategies and intervention packages. Finally, although no relationship was found between evidence base and use, perceived evidence, and value for treatment strategies, providers reported significantly higher use, perceived evidence, and value for established intervention packages. Results demonstrate the need to more effectively disseminate strategies that can support providers in selecting services to deliver to youth with ASD, and underscore the need to better understand the community service landscape on a larger scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concerns on the quality of scientific papers writing. Topics include the benefits of improved scientific paper writing for the researchers and on the progress of science, the factors that influence better writing and the rules that will boost the impact of a paper through the reinforcement of attitude toward scientific literature.

An editorial is presented on the topic of euthanasia/voluntary assisted dying (VAD). Topics include emphasising the disparity in support between responses of medical and nursing staff and highlighting the low support rate of high impact specialists; and showing a wide range of personal attributes, social relationships, professional experiences, and intellectual endeavours.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether questionnaires measuring psychosocial constructs related to low back pain (LBP) that were originally designed for adults are suitable for adolescents, and if paper and web-versions have similar measurement properties. OBJECTIVES: To examine selected psychometric properties for the paper- and web-based Back-Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ) and the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ-phys) among adults and adolescents in two diverse countries and to determine whether differences existed between countries and pain groups. METHODS: A sample of 156 adults (Hong Kong, n = 75; Australia, n = 81) and 96 adolescents (Hong Kong, n = 61; Australia, n = 35) participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Main effects for country and administration mode were observed in adult BBQ scores, where Australian adults reported significantly higher BBQ scores than Hong Kong adults (mean difference (MD); 95% CI: 2.85; 0.96-4.74) and significantly higher scores were recorded on the web mode compared to the paper mode (MD 0.74; 0.10-1.38). Similarly, Hong Kong adults and adolescents reported higher FABQ-phys scores than Australian adults and adolescents (MD; 95% CI: 3.40; 1.37-5.43 and 4.88; 0.53-9.23, respectively). Internal consistency values were mostly acceptable (α⩾0.7). CONCLUSION: Differences exist between cultures for LBP-related beliefs. The BBQ and FABQ-phys have acceptable measurement properties in both administration modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's tips for writing a better scientific paper. These involve style, truth and presentation. He mentions the aim of research papers in presenting outcomes, explicating its importance and placing in the body of knowledge. An overview of the scene for communication between the reader and the writer is also presented.

The present study focuses on the implementation of a self - assessment procedure in a Physics class, extended during a seven weeks period in a European secondary level school. The researchers used three modes of assessment based on paper and pencil, computer-web and mobile devices respectively. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of each mode of assessment on students' motivation and achievement. Analysis of pre- and post-motivation tests revealed a more positive motivational orientation of students towards computers and mobile devices as assessment delivery mediums. Also, student evaluation implemented after the phase of the experimental procedure showed a significant increase in learning achievement for low-achieving students who participated in the mobile-based and computer-based assessment. The positive effects of computers and mobile devices on students' learning motivation suggest that they can be used as a promising alternative to paper and pencil assessment procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have explored the existence and uniqueness of solutions for a pair of nonlinear fractional integro-differential equations comprising of the Ψ-Caputo fractional derivative and the Ψ-Riemann–Liouville fractional integral. These equations are subject to nonlocal boundary conditions and a variable coefficient. Our findings are drawn upon the Mittage–Leffler function, Babenko's attitude, and topological degree theory for condensing maps and the Banach contraction principle. To further elucidate our principal outcomes, we have presented two illustrative examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of technology and the rising digital divide among the older adult population, predominantly in lower-middle income countries such as Bangladesh, have posed a precarious challenge. Hence, the time has come to navigate this upcoming challenge. Thus, the current research aims to investigate the impact of perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PE), and perceived risk (PR) on the behavioral intention to adopt mHealth (BI). Furthermore, multigroup analysis (MGA) is used to examine BI regarding gender and income groups. Data from 140 older adults in Bangladesh were gathered and later analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to estimate the measurement and structural model parameters and produce concurrent bootstrap evaluations. The findings revealed that PE and PU substantially affect the intention to adopt mHealth, whereas PR has small effect on mHealth adoption. Furthermore, the MGA depicts that the effect of PR is statistically significant for older adult males and females. Additionally, the effect of PE on behavioral intention to adopt mHealth between income groups (lower income vs. higher income) is significant. Therefore, this research advances our theoretical and empirical understanding by yielding new scholarly evidence in the domain of mHealth adoption by older adults. Finally, the paper concludes with augmented practical considerations concerning the adoption of mHealth as a technology by older adults, which will assist in alleviating the digital divide for any such lower-middle income country across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish the claim that racism is an ideology that consists of having morally impermissible attitudes towards people in virtue of their racialised identities, Appiah claims that a (false) belief in race is not automatically morally wrong. This paper examines what is involved in believing in races and shows that believing in races is in itself morally problematic as it involves stereotyping that undermines agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the moderating effects of public deliberation on policy support determinants: self-interests, symbolic attitudes and sociotropic perceptions. It explores how individual attitudes and policy preferences evolve during deliberation, focusing on Gyeonggi Province's basic income policy held in 2020 in South Korea. The paper reveals that while public deliberation, through information and group discussions, reduces the influence of material self-interests on policy preferences, it has a relatively limited effect on symbolic attitudes and sociotropic perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accents are an important differentiator between groups which influence social perception and interaction, especially in a diverse country like Singapore. Social identity theory suggests that individuals would exhibit favoritism towards their own accents. However, the accent prestige theory demonstrates instances whereby foreign accents are perceived as more prestigious than one's own accent and are associated with more positive characteristics. This paper sought to explore which of these two theories is more prevalent in Singapore by comparing the perceptions of American English accents and local Singaporean English accents along the competence‐warmth paradigm of the Stereotype Content Model. Further, the current research also sought to examine the mediating effect of competence/warmth on the relationship between accents and social influence. Study 1 showed that Singaporeans perceived American‐accented speakers as significantly more competent (but not warmer) than local accented speakers. Furthermore, increased perceived competence significantly mediated the relationship between American accents and social influence. Study 2 further investigated perceived threat as a potential moderator in this mediating relationship. The findings replicated the accent‐competence‐social influence relations in Study 1 but found no effect of perceived threat. Taken together, the findings supported accent prestige towards American accents within Singapore. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the effects originated by the massive entrance of foreign capital in the ceramic tile district of Castellon (Spain). Cross-fertilizing multinational acquisitions and industrial districts' literature, and using mix-methods on a focal case study, our article explores the effects that those multinationals have on districts, and whether the type of multinationals (financially-oriented vs industrial) presents different impacts on a focal industrial district. Our results point out that the massive entrance of foreign capital alters the local system. Overall, positive perceived attitudes are evidenced, along with negative attitudes associated with potential risks of lack of local-embedded ownership and the reduction of local cooperative ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]