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The apps for drawing are present in our children's life. Nevertheless, little is known about the impact of mobile technology on the freehand drawing educational activity. There are few works which are contextualised within short periods of time, with teachers who are not theirs and, in some cases, outside the children's classroom. In this paper, we are focussed on the use of technology on freehand drawing activity. Thus, we have compared the graphics produced by 4- and 5-year-old children with paper&crayon in comparison with those with tablet-finger. Children made the drawings during a planned free-drawing activity, in their ordinary classrooms, with their teachers and during five sessions. Assessment of drawings has evidenced tablet feasibility for making graphics. Nevertheless, with the passing of time, quality of graphics (tablet-finger vs paper&crayons), are nearly matched, demonstrating the low impact level technology has on this activity. In addition, if drawings are analysed specifically according to ages, results have shown that both groups have to develop adaptation strategies of visual perceptual skills and fine motor skills for the touch screen in order to obtain the same quality in the drawings made on both support types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanizing villages are erstwhile rural villages that are spatially enveloped and are characterized by their dual relation to the state, which expresses itself as an issue of citizenship; of land ownership; of governance; and building regulations. This paper transcends the current focus on villages in Southern China, by comparing village urbanization between China and India through four narratives of village extensions. Four parallel readings are offered, namely that urban villages are characterized by; shared tenure rooted in their rural past; inherited administrative boundaries that are re-imbued with new legal designations; emulation of traditional practices; and sustained modes of self-governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to show how changes in survey design, supervision, and data collector affect travel survey data. The results can be used by policymakers and travel behaviour researchers when evaluating or choosing survey design. A document study of public documentation of national travel survey (NTS) methodology, and research using NTS data material from six European countries were conducted to compare the survey design of their respective NTSs. The results show that all countries included in this analysis have some sort of quality challenges. However, the countries have handled them differently, at different stages, and the transparency of the data collection process varies. Transparency in the data collection process and processing of data is essential for improving the survey design, evaluating quality, and ensuring that the time series is intact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquiring information about one's child's cancer diagnosis is a complex and ever-changing process, and parents' needs change over time. As yet, we know little about what information parents require at different stages of their child's illness. This paper is part of a larger randomized control trial studying the parent-centered information given to mothers and fathers. The aim of this paper was to describe the topics addressed in person-centered meetings between nurses and parents of children with cancer and how those changed over time. Using qualitative content analysis, we analyzed nurses' written summaries of 56 meetings with 16 parents and then computed for each topic the percentage of parents who brought it up at any time during the intervention. The main categories were Child's disease and treatment (addressed by 100% of parents), Consequences of treatment (88%), Emotional management for the child (75%), Emotional management for the parent (100%), Social life of the child (63%), and Social life of the parent (100%). Different topics were addressed at different points in time, and fathers raised more concerns about the child's emotional management and the consequences of treatment than mothers. This paper suggests that parental information demands change over time and differ between fathers and mothers, implying that information should be person-centered. Registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02332226). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain is increasingly gaining interest in both the academic and professional worlds. The implementation of this decentralised and distributed network has started taking place, firstly in the financial world and in recent years reaching to other industries. Nevertheless, not all blockchain networks are the same, and choosing the right consensus algorithm is important for companies willing to invest in this technology. Companies eager to implement blockchain should understand the underlying architecture when selecting a particular network. Through an in-depth analysis, this paper aims to explore and compare from a technical perspective the three biggest permissionless blockchain networks by market capitalisation: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple. Our research shows that Bitcoin gains a competitive advantage as a widely adopted means of payment, Ethereum excels in adopting a robust and flexible smart contract functionality whilst Ripple is most suitable for cross-border payments due to its scalability and fast processing speed. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the networks and their consensus protocols, this paper is designed to set the ground for further studies on the emerging applications of blockchain in numerous sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of impaired foot function and floating toes of 91 baseball players with disabled throwing shoulder or elbow were retrospectively investigated. Foot function was evaluated by foot "rock paper scissors" and floating toes were confirmed if none of the toes made contact with the mat in standing posture. The prevalence of impaired foot function and floating toes and the relationship between between them were determined. Abnormal foot function was observed in 83 players (91%); of those, 73 players (88%) also had floating toes, and the prevalence was statistically significant compared to those without it (12%) (P < 0.001). Floating toes were observed in 74 players (81%); of those, 73 players (99%) had impaired foot function, and the prevalence was also statistically significant compared to those without them (59%) (P < 0.001). Baseball players with disabled throwing shoulder or elbow have high rates of impaired foot function and floating toes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents the incipient emergence of an active role of the state in Brazil that has been oriented towards creating and shaping markets through investments in innovation. It draws on a comparative analysis of two case studies of funding programmes: the BNDES–FINEP Joint Programme for Supporting Industrial Technological Innovation in the Sugar-based Economy and Sugar-Chemicals Sectors (PAISS), and the Ministry of Health's Production Development Partnerships Programme (PDPP). In the study, evidence was found within both programmes of five dimensions of effective public–private partnerships, these being that public agencies (i) seized mapped opportunities; (ii) took the lead; (iii) engaged in risk-sharing and institutional building; (iv) pursued risk diversification and competition; and (v) sought an equitable sharing of rewards. After a discussion of the main policy lessons, the paper concludes with a reflection on the specific challenges for building equitable public–private partnerships in the light of the increasingly competitive and global scope of the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines a new first-year EAP course in a Hong Kong university. It utilizes teacher and student reflections to understand the course's strengths and weaknesses, aiming to enhance its design and delivery. The study employed a qualitative approach whereby textual analysis was used to interpret the data collected in the form of written teacher reflections, written student reflections, and notes of teacher reflective dialogue. The thematic categories for coding the data were established based on the course's main learning outcomes: Effective Learning, Spoken Language, and Written Language. Findings reveal that teachers were more critical of the course compared to learners. Teachers expressed dissatisfaction with the pedagogical approach to Effective Learning unit, insufficient time provided in the course to teach solo speaking, and the inability to cover too many organizational and linguistic features in the writing unit. Students, however, did not have much to reflect on about Effective Learning, had mixed views about Spoken Language with some worried about reading from notes, and wrote extremely positively about their learning of Written Language. Nonetheless, their views provide valuable insights for course improvement. Consequently, the paper advocates for a reflective pedagogy approach to EAP that considers both teacher and student reflections to enhance teaching and learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy innovation is critical to improve governance capacity; however, contemporary research mainly focuses on diffusion and adoption, disregarding the next stage, namely institutionalization. Taking the diffusion and institutionalization of China's "One Visit at Most" reform as a case study and using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, this paper examines the conditions and paths that lead local governments to institutionalize this reform. The results show that four paths lead from innovation to institutionalization: policy system and idea embeddedness, spontaneous competition, learning by seizing momentum, and entrepreneurial breakthrough. These findings extend the research on policy adoption, diffusion, and institutionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores an expanding area of policy interest: the networks and collaboration mechanisms between universities and creative industries actors in cities. While much is known about such relationships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), they remain taken for granted and under researched in the creative industries. We argue that they are pivotal for different domains of research and policy, notably, cultural policy, higher education, innovation systems, and regional development. To that end, this paper aims to open up consideration of these relationships which we argue 1) stimulate innovation and 2) make broader contributions to local communities and economic regeneration via a creative economy approach. Using the Triple Helix framework, we explore university-industry-governemnt relationships and knowledge exchange mechanisms via a comparative analysis of two creative industries case cities: Shenzhen, China and Brisbane, Australia. Despite differences in certain important respects the two cities have both adopted creative industries policy frameworks. We found important differences between the cases in the roles and relative strength of the three sectoral actors. This study also shows a need for strategic incentives to foster collective capacity and governance interventions as a push to broker relationships that were not there before. Focussing on boundary spanning we also argue that cultural policy should have formal mechanisms and informal interactions to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem based on knowledge exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In resource poor environments, identifying those most in need of limited available resources is challenging. Kenya's older persons cash transfer programme (OPCT) targeted at the most poor used a 2-stage targeting process to identify beneficiaries, combining community-based selection with a proxy means-test. This paper investigates whether the process "correctly" identified targeted vulnerable older people in Nairobi's informal settlements and whether receipt of the OPCT resulted in an improvement in perceived financial wellbeing. Regression results show that individuals with greater need were covered under the OPCT. Using propensity score matching, the paper evidences that the OPCT improved subjective financial wellbeing among beneficiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy seven research papers published from 1986 to 2018 were observed. These papers investigated PTEs (Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Fe, Zn, Ni, and total Cr) in leafy (mint, spinach, coriander, and lettuce) and tuberous (potato, carrot, radish, and onion) vegetables irrigated by wastewater. The studies observed in our paper were conducted in 19 countries. The PTEs concentrations were compared among studies and the human health risk was observed. According to the obtained meta-analysis results, PTEs concentrations (mg/kg) in vegetables were found in the following order Zn (34.216)> Cu (22.581)> Ni (14.056)> Pb (10.173)> Cr (8.308)> Fe(8.130)> As(1.881)> Cd (1.763). Hazard index for children was higher than that for adults and for both groups, the calculated HQ was higher than 1, which indicates that there is a health risk for the consumers. This study provides a comprehensive analysis that demonstrates the urgent necessity for treating PTE pollution in agricultural areas worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) have traditionally been considered separate disorders, although some similarities and overlaps in certain aspects of language have been detected. In this paper, we compare the deficits in receptive grammar in these two disorders. We analyse the proportion of grammatical errors in relation to semantic complexity in 84 children divided into four groups: children with autism language impairment (ALI), with autism language normal (ALN), with DLD, and with typical development (TD), all groups with the same age of receptive vocabulary. The results show significant differences in the comprehension of grammatical structures, both simple (canonical and non-reversible) and complex (non-canonical and reversible). Children with ASD and DLD show different language profiles depending on the syntactic complexity. In the simplest structures, no differences are found between the groups, starting at an equivalent vocabulary age of 7:8 years. However, there are differences between the ALI and DLD groups with respect to the TD group in the more complex structures, starting at an equivalent vocabulary age of 3 years. Therefore, both groups ALI and DLD present the greatest difficulties compared to ALN and TD. The paper discusses the importance of attending to these differences, since the repercussion of comprehension difficulties increases as children grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we theorize the 2016 Brexit referendum as a critical juncture in UK politics and analyse its effects on devolution using the concept of regional authority. We argue that Brexit raised the option of re-balancing the self-rule and shared rule dimensions of regional authority present in UK devolution. We generate hypotheses regarding parties' territorial strategies and test them against a content analysis of 2015 and 2017 UK general election manifestos. We demonstrate that proposals dealing with shared rule grew between 2015 and 2017, within the context of consistency in parties' overall territorial positioning. The governing Conservatives also offered more proposals on shared rule but not ones that increased devolved influence. Overall, they moved from favouring an increase in regional authority in 2015 to the cusp of maintaining existing regional authority and somewhat reducing it in 2017. This helps to explain whypost-Brexit UK government policy in practice maintained a primary focus on self-rule within a general approach of limiting the further growth of regional authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For conformal contact situations, some of the assumptions employed in classical contact theories, such as the flatness of the contact area, lose their validity. Existing conformal contact models are challenged by either accuracy or computational efficiency. With the aim of achieving a balanced trade-off between these contrasting requirements, this paper proposes a new simplified method to solve conformal rolling contact problems, which is based on fast non-Hertzian contact model INFCON and FaStrip. Numerical experiments are performed for two typical wheel/rail conformal contact scenarios to assess the performance of the proposed method, taking as the reference the CONTACT method for conformal contacts. The comparative analyses show that the proposed method is in good agreement with the reference method in terms of the determination of the contact stresses, total forces, and the prediction of wear, whereas the traditional half-space approach fails to capture the main features of the conformal contacts. In addition, the high computational efficiency of the proposed method shows the potential for application in vehicle dynamic simulation and damage analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper departs from research illustrating that the development effects of high-speed rail (HSR) vary between cities being locations for stations and assumes that strategic planning and geographical contexts matter. It gives an overview of general planning through local authorities for a coming HSR and its station locations in four Swedish cities and settlements. The results show that, although Sweden represents a planning system with strong mandates for local authorities, strategic planning takes form through multi-level governance. The paper discusses how this condition the integration of visions for growth and environmental issues for the general planning on the local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with mental illness have a higher prevalence of co-occurring physical health conditions and poor health behaviors, leading a mortality gap of up to 16 years, compared with the general population. Nurses working in mental health settings play an important role in addressing factors influencing sub-optimal physical health. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to identify nurse-led physical health interventions and align interventions to eight recognized physical healthcare priority areas (i.e. Equally Well in Victoria Framework). A systematic search strategy was used to identify relevant literature. Data extraction included alignment to the Equally Well priority areas, research design, and indication of co-design (meaningful and collaborative involvement of consumers and significant others) and recovery-oriented practice (focusing on needs and goals of a consumer's recovery journey). All included papers (n = 74) were aligned to at least one of eight Equally Well priority areas. Papers were predominately quantitative (n = 64, 86%), with the remainder mixed methods (n = 9, 9%) or qualitative (n = 4, 5%). Most papers were aligned to improving metabolic health and support to quit smoking. One study focused on nurse-led intervention designed to reduce falls. Recovery-oriented practice was evident in six papers. No paper described evidence of co-design. A research gap was identified for nurse-led intervention to reduce falls and improve dental/oral care. Relative to mental healthcare policy, there is a need for future nurse-led physical health research to be co-designed and include recovery-oriented practice. Evaluation and description of future nurse-led physical interventions should seek to report perspectives of key stakeholders as these remain relatively unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the impact of social movements on the Indian state's developmental paradigm. Adopting from Varigonda's (2020) framework, the paper argues that the impact of social movements on state policy and its implementation is primarily determined by three key factors: the collective action repertoires of social movements; the politicization of the Indian state's developmental paradigm; and the openness of state input structures. This framework is tested through a comparative study of two movements that have emerged against two examples of the Indian state's developmental paradigm: a proposed nuclear plant at Kovvada and a proposed thermal plant at Sompeta, both in Andhra Pradesh. The Sompeta agitation was successful in impeding the thermal plant's inception while the movement in Kovvada eventually petered out. The paper demonstrates how the variation in the impact of the two movements can be attributed to the social movement in Sompeta benefitting from stronger collective action repertoires; greater politicization of the state's developmental paradigm; and more open state input structures, vis-à-vis the movement in Kovvada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shareholder value orientation has commonly been considered a hallmark of corporate financialisation. Today, firms increasingly share their profits with shareholders in the form of cash dividends and share buybacks. Yet how the shareholder payouts are distributed by firms from various sectors, sizes and countries remain unexplored. To complement existing accumulation- and asset-centred approaches that focus, respectively, on how resources enter the firm and change its structure, we present a payouts-centred approach to corporate financialisation that focuses on how resources leave the firm. This paper analyses firm-level trends in shareholder payouts in OECD member countries for the period 2000–2019, differentiating between types of distributed payouts. We show that shareholder payouts are high across various sectors and geographical locations, and not limited to a small subset of large, US-American financial corporations, but include 'big pharma' and 'big tech' as well as Latin American and Israeli firms. The paper sheds light on the nature of the contemporary corporations and contributes to discussions on the increasing financialisation of non-financial firms and their rising shareholder value orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in HIV-treatment, adolescents and young adults (AYA) with HIV (AYAHIV) face myriad challenges. They are less likely than children and older adults to be virally suppressed and are at higher risk for mental health conditions compared to their peers who do not have HIV. AYA are also developing in the context of numerous biomedical, neurocognitive, and psychosocial developmental changes. Normative challenges during this time can be exacerbated by HIV and can result in significant physical and mental health problems. Yet, many AYAHIV have shown resilience with positive assets and resources and few health or mental health problems. Historically research has had a risk-focused approach to understanding AYAHIV needs. This paper discusses the rationale for a shift from a risk-focused only approach to one that examines AYAHIV needs from both a risk and resilience perspective. This paper presents: (1) epidemiological data on AYAHIV; (2) conceptual models for understanding both risk (e.g., poverty, stress, trauma, limited resources) and resilience/protective factors (e.g., family and peer support, future orientation, problem-solving skills); (3) global data examining risk and protective factors for physical and mental health challenges; and (4) promising interventions that incorporate elements of resilience to improve overall outcomes among AYAHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper overviews the importance of justice and health-care partnerships in a MOUD feasibility trial in a rural Appalachian community. Research partners included a local jail, a local community supervision office, and a local community federally qualified health center. This paper describes the pilot feasibility study participants and methodology, as well as lessons learned including the challenges encountered and needed changes to address feasibility as the environment changes over time. Implications for social work research, practice, and policy advocacy focused on delivery of extended-release naltrexone and other MOUDs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines self-organised grassroots initiatives in the creative and cultural sector of the Balkans, a region that has experienced significant socio-political shifts over the past three decades. The study focuses on three distinct case studies: Embros Theatre in Athens, Greece; Lumbardhi Cinema in Prizren, Kosovo; and Uzina Cultural Centre in Tirana, Albania. Theoretically, it draws on theory of agonistic practices (Mouffe 2005, 2013) and theories of care and repair (Graziano and Trogal 2017; Puig de la Bellacasa 2017; The Care Collective 2020) to analyse the formation, operation, and collective activities of these initiatives. The paper posits that grassroots initiatives emerge as counter-spaces in response to inadequate cultural infrastructure, limited funding and investment and scarce resources. At the same time, they exemplify more inclusive and "care-full" work models, carrying also the potential to spark change in their local communities by developing support networks. [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]

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has generated a new impetus towards an enhanced European defence pillar, while many EU members have announced significant increases in their respective defence budgets over the coming years. Expectedly, a large percentage of the capital and technological inputs required to support the efforts towards a common European defence and the increased defence needs of many EU members will be procured from the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). The European defence companies are among the major suppliers of conventional arms in the world. Their cumulative share of world arms exports is the second largest globally. This paper uses a Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) model via Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to comparatively evaluate the sales performance of major European defence industries vis-à-vis other major international arms producers. The sample used in the analysis contains 72 firms and spans the period 2016–2020. The findings indicate that on the whole US defence manufacturers have a dominant presence among the biggest global producers and outrank many major European companies. These findings offer valuable policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the origin, sustenance and implications of a persistent rumour that is responsible for low measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination uptake in the Somali diaspora in a number of countries across the globe. The rumour stipulates that the MMR vaccine – the silent shot – causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although the association between MMR and ASD is non-causal, and various public health initiatives have promoted health information campaigns, the rumour continues to circulate in the Somali diaspora in many countries, including Sweden. This paper shows that there are valid reasons for this. The findings from this paper draw on a systematic scoping review and qualitative interview data from Sweden. The results show that the Somali community experiences higher than average rates of ASD compared to the general population. Moreover, ASD does not exist in the Somali language or their home country, is considered a Western disease that only affects Somali children in the diaspora, and is a highly stigmatised disease. Also, the Somali diaspora has had negative experiences with ASD diagnosis and care. The rumour has been sustained by the absence of an answer to their ASD fear and through active diaspora networks on social media. The network that surrounds the rumour has arguably further helped to create an epistemic community for a community whose concerns have been silenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically investigates the leadership implications of adopting the European Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) in a non-European context. A multiple case study compares the Latin American regions of Medellín, Colombia, and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. A variety of data collection procedures are used, including in-depth interviews with 33 relevant actors from the triple helix that participated in the S3 design. The paper contributes to the literature by identifying the leadership capabilities that lead to effective S3 in intermediate metropolitan regions, as well as the factors that foster and hinder those leadership capabilities. This paper argues that the leadership roles for S3 include a systemic perspective among a wide range of stakeholders, but also an evolutionary perspective to manage novelty and break path dependencies. Second, it argues that the degree of centralization and institutional context affect regional leadership. Finally, four leadership capabilities are suggested based on both systemic and evolutionary perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alongside the usual exam-level cut-score requirement, the use of a conjunctive minimum number of stations passed (MNSP) standard in OSCE-type assessments is common practice across some parts of the world. Typically, the MNSP is fixed in advance with little justification, and does not vary from one administration to another in a particular setting—which is not congruent to best assessment practice for high stakes examinations. In this paper, we investigate empirically four methods of setting such a standard in an examinee-centred (i.e. post hoc) and criterion-based way that allows the standard to vary appropriately with station and test difficulty. Using many administrations (n = 442) from a single exam (PLAB2 in the UK), we show via mixed modelling that the total number of stations passed for each candidate has reliability close to that of the total test score (relative g-coefficient 0.73 and 0.76 respectively). We then argue that calculating the MNSP based on the predicted number of stations passed at the 'main' exam-level cut-score (i.e. for the borderline candidate) is conceptually, theoretically and practically preferred amongst the four approaches considered. Further analysis indicates that this standard does vary from administration to administration, but acts in a secondary way, with approximately a quarter of exam-level candidate failures resulting from application of the MNSP standard alone. Collectively, this work suggests that employing the identified approach to setting the MNSP standard is practically possible and, in many settings, is more defensible than using a fixed number of stations set in advance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses online racial hate speeches in Portugal. The theory underpinning this research challenges the idea that racism is an epiphenomenon in European and Portuguese history. Beginning with a theoretical framework which conceives racism as a historically constructed system of power and privilege, we argue that its structural nature paved the way for the consolidation and normalisation of openly racist discourses. Moreover, this paper demonstrates that the nature of racist narratives can only be understood from a theoretical conceptualisation which problematises the Portuguese colonial past and its current continuities. In this research, a critical analysis of discourses produced and reproduced on social media, namely Facebook and Twitter, was carried out. From a comparative analysis of the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea that this health crisis coincided with a shift of the dominant racist narratives is thus challenged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global programmes (GPs) are crucial actors in transnational policy transfer but understudied in literature. The paper explores GP policy transfer in terms of instruments, space, and time from a comparative perspective. Employing a thematic analysis of policy/programme files and using the GP to prevent gender-biased sex selection as a case study, the paper compares implementation across diverse countries and regions. It finds similar policies and ideas are transferred, across scales, sectors, and actors throughout the policy cycle. Yet short programme cycles contradict longer timeframes needed to assess sex-selection policies and interventions to change social norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multiple linear regressions, it is known that least-squares estimates of the parameters are likely to be too large in absolute value and possibly of wrong sign, if explanatory variables are correlated. To reduce the undesirable effects of collinearity, the ridge estimator has been proposed as an alternative method to the least squares estimator. The biggest debate with the ridge estimator is the selection of the regularization parameter. Several methods for the selection of the regularization parameter have been discussed. Although most of these methods are based on minimizing the mean square error of the ridge estimator, bootstrap resampling method is also proposed to provide an optimal regularization parameter which gives an estimate of mean square error of prediction. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive study of regularization parameter selection methods which consider bootstrap approach as well as estimation and prediction approaches. The paper concludes with application of these procedures to simulation studies and real data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the distribution system, voltage sags and swell have adverse effects on sensitive and critical loads. Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) play a vital role to mitigate voltage sags and swell through its organized control when connected in series with the system. Various conventional control schemes have been reported for the control of DVR. The performance of DVR with these schemes has been successful in the mitigation of voltage sags/swell, but drawbacks, such as undershoot, and overshoot during sag dynamics are observed in the regulated load terminal voltage. These drawbacks may cause malfunctioning of the equipment connected and hence their elimination is indispensable. With this inspiration, a novel Adaline filter-based adaptive control scheme using learning-rate parameter-based Least-Mean-Square algorithm has been proposed. This scheme has the capability to overcome the drawbacks with the conventional control schemes thus improving the performance of DVR. In this paper, the performance of DVR using proposed algorithm is compared with that using synchronous reference frame (SRF)-based conventional control scheme. The performance is studied and validated through simulation results under different voltage sag and swell conditions in MATLAB software using Sim Power System toolboxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing voices is a highly stigmatised experience, despite being common across clinical and non-clinical populations. The stigma held by healthcare professions of the clinical populations they work with can have a detrimental impact on the recovery trajectory of people with mental illness, with early career professionals and students thought to have among the most negative attitudes. The current study examined the efficacy of an education intervention to reduce implicit and explicit stigma surrounding voice hearing in psychology students (N = 49). With the world turning to digital delivery methods in the face of COVID-19, the study also examined the impact of intervention delivery mode: comparing online with face-to-face delivery. Results indicated that the education intervention was associated with improvements to explicit – but not implicit – stigma towards voice hearing. Comparisons between education delivery type suggested online and face-to-face delivery methods found no difference in associated reductions to explicit stigma. These findings provide further support for the use of education interventions to reduce stigma surrounding voice hearing and support the online administration of such interventions to allow for more widespread education delivery to a broader audience. What is already known about this topic: Hearing voices is a common yet highly stigmatised experience. Stigma towards mental illness is common among by healthcare professionals, with early career professionals and students holding particularly negative attitudes. Education interventions can be effective in reducing stigma held towards mental illness in healthcare professionals. What this paper adds: This paper supports the use of an education intervention to reduce psychology students' explicit stigma towards voice hearing. It also provides support for education interventions to be delivered in both online and face-to-face formats. This may allow education interventions to be delivered to broader audiences in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental governance in China is a hybrid of mandatory and voluntary regulations in both implementation and enforcement. This paper aims to explore how voluntary environmental regulations (VERs) affect corporate green innovation (CGI) and the role of mandatory environmental regulations (MERs). The study uses panel data of 1,232 Chinese-listed manufacturing firms from 2004 to 2016 and the main findings are: first, VERs have a significant positive effect on CGI. Second, no significant effect has been found of MERs on firms' CGI. Third, in areas where mandatory environmental regulations are weak, voluntary environmental regulation can better serve as a supplement to promote firms' green innovation. The results are robust to a series of sensitivity checks. This study provides evidence that voluntary environmental regulation is more effective in encouraging enterprises to engage in green innovation activities, and it is an important supplement to mandatory environmental regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homecare workers face significant occupational risks, necessitating effective safety training programs. This paper presents a comprehensive Train-the-Trainer (TTT) program developed to enhance occupational safety in homecare organizations. Through an analysis of 229 reported safety events, the frequency and type of incidents, such as injuries during handling, road crashes, slips, trips, and falls, were identified and primarily attributed to human errors and violations. Based on the results, a TTT program was designed and implemented. The TTT successfully engaged Health, Safety, and Environment managers, fostering collaborative activities, knowledge sharing, and resource discussions. The program modules address critical areas, including distractions and inattentions, fatigue, time pressure, frustration and aggressiveness, and safety behaviors. This innovative approach provides valuable insights for organizations seeking to improve homecare workers' safety. The findings add to the broader comprehension of occupational safety in the homecare sector, proposing a pragmatic framework for future interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dentists, managing highly prevalent oral disease are in demand across the world and hence potentially highly mobile. Both the United Kingdom and Australia, continue to be favourable destinations for migrant dentists. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the professional integration of migrant dentists in the UK and Australia, and health system responses, while explicating implications for future health workforce governance. In doing so, the paper adopts a system-thinking approach to analyse interactions between the migration system and other societal systems. This is the first multi-country study to analyse the professional integration of migrant dentists through the lens of health workforce and migration governance. The study draws on semi-structured qualitative interviews with migrant dentists in both countries, together with national systems registration and examination data and relevant policies, together with data from government and global datasets. Both countries are high-income countries with a relatively large dentist-to-population ratio maintained through reliance on migrant dentists. The health systems and migration governance have responded by increasing the number of local graduates with limited success in the UK, potentially due to organisational demands, and the multifactorial complex mutual influences between higher education systems, labour market, feedback loops and dentist migration systems creating a nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmopolitanism, which is often defined as openness to other cultures and individuals, is significant for understanding processes of stratification in contemporary, globalised societies that are home to increasingly diverse populations. In this paper, we broaden the perspective on cosmopolitanism to include cultural, interpersonal, and political dimensions. We test the associations between these types of cosmopolitanism and three types of correlates: socio-demographic characteristics, personal exposure to other cultures, and exposure to other cultures via various media. We analyse data from nine European countries that differ in the characteristics of their population, cultural traditions, and political models. Results indicate that differences between respondents in the nine countries are better explained by individual characteristics than by country characteristics. Furthermore, it is mainly personal and mediated exposure to other cultures, rather than socio-demographic variables, that play a significant role in influencing respondents' cosmopolitan tendencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, developmental and biographical issues in individual biographical pathways of radicalization are examined from birth through to conviction for Islamist terrorism-related offenses. The source of data was court files of forty-five homegrown Germans convicted of Islamist terrorism-related offenses (age range at the time of the crime: 15 to 38; mean: 24 years, SD: 5; four female convicts). Using coding and constant case comparison techniques, a multiple comparative case analysis was conducted. This article gives an account of what individuals who were later convicted of Islamist terrorism-related offenses experienced in their life course and when. Patterns of relations between the biographical experiences and developmental psychological phases are identified, visually represented, and measured using odds ratios. In particular, the importance of the distinction between the developmental psychological phases of adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood is emphasized and its meaning for radicalization processes is discussed. The interplay of cumulative vulnerabilities and developmental psychological phases are discussed. Guidance is provided on which topics are best addressed in prevention interventions and at what times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is currently part of the mission of art museums to actively involve children in learning experiences and empower them through a variety of programmes – including developing text panels specialized for children. To date, we have only a limited understanding of the semiotic resources in audience-sensitive exhibition text panels. Drawing upon Systemic Functional Linguistics, this paper analyses and compares 56 text panels in an exhibition from the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Australia. They are comprised of two versions of text panels for 28 artworks, targeting different groups of audiences, respectively (children and adults). It is found that the children's texts have been recontextualized to evoke interest in learning to paint, while the adults' texts focus on aesthetic appreciation. The comparative analysis shows that audience-sensitive text writing is interrelated with its social context in view of field, tenor, mode, and genre. This paper further explores how the production of audience-sensitive text panels contributes to the pedagogic, commercial, and community value of art museums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the divergence in data protection enforcement strategies among national agencies. Whereas the literature on cross-national enforcement practices is scarce, this study develops a scale for data protection enforcement strategies and measures and compares enforcement choices across agencies. Based on survey responses from 18 DPAs, interviews with DPA employees, and secondary sources on GPDR enforcement, the paper clusters DPAs based on enforcement strategies, analyzes cross-national variations, and investigates misalignments between strategy and actions. Using Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, the paper tests how bureaucratic and political contexts – organizational capacities, budget sources, and issue saliency – impact enforcement choices. Almost half of the studied DPAs reflect high deterrence by their strategy, but for many of them, lack of resources and expertise inhibits the translation of strategy into practice. This study provides a starting point for understanding the national impacts of Europeanization post-GDPR, adding empirical support for theorizing about enforcement across the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curriculum has become a core element of universities' competitive positioning, internationally and nationally. This paper presents a longitudinal analysis of policy processes and outcomes associated with 'radical' university curriculum reforms that resulted in divergence from institutions' own historical patterns and national conventions and traditions. The empirical investigations draw on a policy trajectory conceptual framework and focus on how two research-intensive Australian universities navigated global–local policy flows throughout their curriculum transformations. Findings revealed that each reform project manifested proactive policy learning and, ultimately, agency, as global and national influences were articulated into local contexts, with the effect of 'breaking the mould' of relatively standardised university curriculum provision in Australia. At the same time, the analyses revealed a similar pattern of intensified bureaucratisation of curriculum governance within the two universities, as well as the compromising of initial reform objectives in key curriculum areas such as interdisciplinarity, internationalisation and so-called twenty-first-century skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astronauts undergoing long-duration space flights (LDSF) often experience a unique set of neuro-ocular findings known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). However, the exact mechanisms and the true incidence of SANS remain unclear. This paper aims to review the existing literature on SANS, focusing on its incidence and sequence of findings, and to provide a comprehensive understanding of this condition. Studies reporting SANS and optic disc edema in astronauts from PubMed, Scopus, and WOS have been collected. Eligible studies were selected based on stringent inclusion criteria. Statistical analysis utilized R software with random effect models for them, and heterogeneity was assessed using I2 and chi-squared tests. Our study includes 19 studies that met the inclusion criteria, which encompassed 294 participants. Included studies revealed that optic disc edema and choroidal folds were highly prevalent, with proportions of 75% and 71%, respectively. Hyperopic shifts (95%CI 0.51, 0.76, I2 = 0%) were also statistically significant, appearing gradually and persisting even after astronauts returned to Earth. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of SANS in astronauts. The study suggests that the current clinical definition of SANS may underestimate its true incidence and proposes the inclusion of quantitative metrics to enhance sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyacrylate crude oil demulsifier is one of the hot topics in the research and development of demulsifier at present, there is a lack of systematic comparative study on performance and properties of polyether and polyacrylate crude oil demulsifier. In this paper, the demulsification performance and microscopic demulsification process of the two demulsifiers, namely polyacrylate P(MA-DBC) and polyether P199–59 are discussed. The demulsification performance of polyether P199–59 was superior to that of polyacrylate P(MA-DBC). The study of the microscopic process of demulsification established that for P199–59, the diffusion rate was faster, the saturated adsorption capacity was higher, the ability to destroy the oil-water interface film was stronger and the probability of water droplets collision coalescence was higher; therefore, it can achieve faster dehydration speed and higher dehydration rate than that of P(MA-DBC). The results of this comparative study are meaningful for improving the demulsification performance of polyacrylate demulsifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has suggested a decline in alcohol use among students, however, only a few papers offer to explain why adolescents are drinking less. According to ESPAD, adolescents' alcohol use is decreasing in Europe, but only Hungary shows an increasing trend. The paper aims to give explanation for the opposite trends. The analysis is based on a cross-national dataset, ESPAD in 2003 and 2019, involving 25 countries (N = 157,790). The background variables cover family, school, leisure time, risk behaviors. Chi-square tests, logit explanatory model, KHB method were applied. In Hungary and in countries with decline the strongest relation with current alcohol use was found for internet use, going out, parental control, daily smoking, and alcohol intake. In countries with decline and in Hungary, stronger parental control, going out less often, smoking less may contribute to a declining trend while a more widespread internet use may contribute to an increasing trend. Hungary shows the same pattern as the countries with decline, so other factors such as a lack of alcohol policy, permissive attitudes, media representation, health awareness may be behind the different trends. Future research should be directed toward providing further explanations for the opposite trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A space, where the client feels safe, is necessary for therapeutic process. Its importance seems to be implicitly understood and agreed upon across different schools of psychotherapy. However, what it means and how it appears in therapy has not been clearly described before. This paper presents the findings from the first author's master thesis, which sought to answer the question 'Why is safe space important in dance therapy, and how do dance therapists define and create it in their practice?'. This phenomenological inquiry originated from a need to translate the experiential phenomenon of safe space into words. It is a first attempt to investigate safe space in depth and to provide a definition of its essence in dance movement therapy. Findings from this research describe working methods and interventions for safe space as well as qualities that therapists can embody to help their clients feel safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper evaluates the influence of dynamic effects filtration incorporating the method of deflection frequency normalisation on the results of the comparative analysis of FWD dynamic instruments. The authors' calculations are based on a database comprising the results of comparative deflection tests conducted by use of six FWD instruments, on five different test sections, in strictly monitored on-site conditions. After analysing the results of deflection measurements subjected to the dynamic effects filtration procedure, it was possible to unambiguously determine the device for which the obtained deflection values differ most from the values obtained for other devices. The unequivocal selection of a device for comparative test results of FWD devices that had not been submitted to deflection frequency normalisation has not been possible. The calculations performed in the paper have confirmed the positive influence of dynamic effects filtration using the method of deflection frequency normalisation on the results of the comparative analysis of FWD devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an experiment that investigates interpretive distinctions between two different expressions of generalization in Spanish. In particular, our aim was to find out when the distinction between generic statements (GS) such as Tigers have stripes and universally quantified statements (UQS) such as All tigers have stripes was acquired in Spanish-speaking children of two different age groups (4/5-year-olds and 8/9-year-olds), and then compare these results with those of adults. The starting point of this research was the semantic distinction between GS and UQS in that the former admit exceptions, unlike the latter. On the other hand, several authors have observed a Generic overgeneralization effect (GOG) consisting in allowing for UQS to be felicitous in the face of exceptions, thus proposing that this "error" stems from GS being defaults (simpler, more easily learned and processed). In the current paper we aimed to test the "Generics as Default" (GaD) hypothesis by comparing GS and UQS in three different age ranges. Our data show that, overall, the accuracy of GS is greater than the accuracy of UQS. Moreover, we also confirm a hypothesized interaction between age and NP type (GS vs UQS). Further, we present several data points that are not predicted by the GaD, including an observed decline in the accuracy of GS in the older group of children as well as in adults, and that children fail at rejecting statements that are not considered to be true generalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last decades have seen an enormous growth in published research and evaluations, which makes it difficult for a researcher to stay up-to-date in their own field, let alone complement their knowledge with insights from other fields. In this paper we give an elaborate overview of a methodology that aims to tackle this task. It builds on the realist evaluation science approach and combines it with qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), hence its name: the ResQ approach. Central to the approach are generative mechanisms that can be found across fields, domains, sectors and contexts. The approach sets out to synthesize the evidence on the circumstances linked to the triggering of these mechanisms. QCA is used to identify the most relevant conditions, leading to theories around these mechanisms, called 'mechanism concepts'. New studies can test, and refine the mechanism concepts, setting up a continuous cycle of theory-building across disciplines enabling us to learn from other fields, disciplines and contexts in a systematic way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dam failures that cause significant adverse downstream impacts continue to occur globally. Hence, effective, adequately resourced dam safety regulation is critical for the safety of dams and downstream communities. This paper explores options for regulatory funding and resourcing according to a selected set of relevant key factors along a continuum of dam safety assurance. An international comparative analysis of 15 jurisdictional case studies against the key factors identifies trends representing indicative precedents. A procedure is developed to help identify increasingly relevant precedents for guiding target jurisdictions on potentially suitable options. Illustrative application to a real case in Australia is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 health communicators around the globe have had to reach, urge, and persuade individuals and communities to adopt appropriate health protective behaviors. They have used a mix of communication channels, including outdoor media and public signage which are the focus of this paper. Drawing on a comparative linguistic landscape analysis, this paper critically examined the amount, content, and prominence of Covid-19 signage in Hackney, a London borough severely hit by the first wave of the pandemic. Having analyzed 1288 signs collected between May and July 2020, we found significant differences in Covid-19 signage between deprived and less deprived areas. These differences (e.g., in messaging about staying at home) have created inequalities in access to Covid-19 related health information and guidance. We also explored the changes in Covid-19 signage over time and the tailoring of risk and health messages to minority communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the adequacy of financial and non-financial disclosures in the government's consolidated annual report for political accountability of public-private partnerships (PPPs). The empirical evidence from the comparative study shows that neither the UK nor Portugal complies with the information needs of the parliament because several disclosures deemed necessary for the functioning of the political accountability relationship are missing. Furthermore, in the case of Portugal, resource dependence and coercive institutional pressures related to the financial bailout during the sovereign debt crisis justify the increase in the level of disclosures. Such evidence also suggests that a comprehensive external reporting framework for PPPs in their post-procurement phase should be devised. The results present novel evidence concerning public sector accounting comparative studies by focusing on specific transactions and may have important implications for policymakers regarding the design of the disclosures deemed necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]