Search

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to integrate impostor syndrome and leadership research to identify antecedents of impostor syndrome, their impact on sustainable leader behaviors. The paper also postulates the moderating effect of mindfulness and leader member exchange on impostor syndrome and sustainable leader behaviors, respectively. Design/methodology/approach: The paper relies on an integrative approach of literature review on impostor syndrome and leadership. After identifying gaps in impostor syndrome research and its intersectionality with the constructs of contextual leadership theory, an integrative conceptual framework was formulated incorporating antecedents, consequences and moderators of impostor syndrome. Findings: Three antecedents of impostor syndrome were identified from the literature, namely, gender, family/social role expectation and personality traits. Additionally, this paper also unearths contextual factors as yet another antecedent to impostor syndrome. Negative impact of impostor syndrome on leader behaviors such as managerial decision-making, innovative work behavior (IWB) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) were established by connecting those to the three primary characteristics of impostor syndrome, namely, low self-efficacy, fear of failure and perceived fraudulence, respectively. Finally, the paper also posits the moderating role of leader member exchange and mindfulness and proposes mindfulness training as an effective intervention for impostor syndrome. Research limitations/implications: This being a conceptual paper will benefit from empirical studies that corroborate theoretical posits. The scope of studying the effect of impostor syndrome on sustainable leader behavior was limited to three major variables, namely, managerial decision-making, IWB and OCB. Thus, it calls for a more elaborate model of impostor syndrome including other relevant leader behaviors. Practical implications: The model when applied in organizational context addresses the need for mindfulness training to reduce the effect of impostor syndrome among leaders. Leaders will exhibit sustainable behaviors when provided with the right kind of training. Originality/value: The study attempts to integrate the two independent constructs, impostor syndrome and leadership to establish a novel and meaningful connection and throws light to the unaddressed antecedents, consequences and moderators of its impact on sustainable leader behaviors. From learning and development practitioners' perspective, it also signifies the effectiveness of mindfulness training among employees' personal and professional development.

This article is drawn from a study conducted to explore how assessment conversations, a type of informal formative assessment, can support science learning in a technology-aided seventh-grade classroom in Northern California. The classroom setting where the study took place used interactive whiteboards in conjunction with the inquiry-based activities, but what made the learning useful were the conversations in which the teachers and students were all engaged. For this study, the author identified the discussions between the teacher and the English language learner (ELL) students in terms of assessment conversations, using the ESRU cycle (Elicits a question; the Student responds; the teacher Recognizes the student's response; the teacher Uses the response) and then analyzed the language used in the assessment conversations utilizing the Systemic Functional Framework (SFL). This study is rooted in three major bodies of literature: (1) formative assessments for learning; (2) sociocultural theory of learning; and (3) SFL. This article highlights the main concepts from each of these areas and discusses how each area informs the author's study of assessment conversations. By analyzing instances of ESRU cycles and examining the language used by the teacher and students in the ESRU cycle, it has been demonstrated that assessment conversations can be operationalized for ELLs in a middle school science classroom using interactive whiteboards.

Background: Quad bikes are popular recreational, four-wheeled bikes in the Middle East. Injury prevention programs targeting quad bike crashes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) need evidence about the risk factors and behaviours associated with these crashes in the target population. This is a protocol for a study aiming to investigate quad bike rider behaviours and to assess the risk factors associated with related injuries in the UAE. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study aiming to describe a seasonal sport in a desert environment. With an estimated sample size of 451, the survey will follow a three-stage, location-based sampling strategy using the line-transect method. A sampling frame of desert locations with high injury incidences was developed, using Dubai ambulance injury records. Further expansion of the sampling frame was participatory, involving police, enthusiasts, emergency responders and gas station employees. The data collection will be limited to the winter months in fifteen high-injury desert locations across three major Emirates in the UAE. Trained researchers will observe the riders directly in the desert to note their riding habits, followed by a researcher-administered interview on riding and injury history. The interviews will be administered in Arabic and English using Qualtrics software on handheld tablets with offline and online entry mode. In addition, paper-based entry with the same format will be used as a contingency in busy quad bike locations. Conclusion: The objective of this study protocol is to develop a comprehensive survey that will furnish substantial evidence for the formulation of effective injury prevention strategies. To enhance the credibility of the recorded riding behaviors, field observations will be employed. The uniqueness of this study lies in its innovative sampling strategy, custom-tailored to accommodate the highly mobile and transient population of desert bikers in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altruism seems to be perceived in its various hues. In several cases it is mistaken for "pseudo-altruism." Considering altruism as an expression of self helps clarify this perspective of altruism and probably adds a spiritual connotation to it. This article looks at altruism from the self point of view and tries to expound the variations in expression of altruism with respect to variations in self-space. On the basis of self-space, three variations of self in progression toward altruism have been proposed. The journey of an egoistic self to a transcended self expresses the transition from pseudo-altruism to purest form of altruism, the state of self-transcendence. This calls for incorporation of strategies of self-progression for development of altruism. An attempt was made to adopt self-transcendence and its features mentioned in Maslow's hierarchy of needs as an independent objective for the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the atrocities perpetrated against women, domestic violence (DV) is the most common. DV triggers enormous stress that requires coping. This qualitative study explores the coping mechanisms of marginalized, impoverished women victims of DV in rural India. Through semi-structured interviews, the study examined the influence of legal awareness (LA) sessions on their coping styles. Results suggest that such advocacy sessions could facilitate a shift from maladaptive to more adaptive coping and appeared to motivate empowered actions to curb DV. The study also suggests secondary prevention in the form of LA as reinforcers of women's resilience. Further research can support building evidence on legal empowerment to confirm the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occlusal pits and fissures are the most susceptible sites for the development of dental caries and prevention is difficult in the areas of occurrence. Although only 12.5% of all the tooth surfaces are occlusal, these surfaces develop more than two-thirds of total caries experienced by children. The fate of the bacteria is of significance when they are inadvertently sealed by a dental sealant. This study aimed in examining the antibacterial properties of three commercially available sealants, viz., Teethmate-F, Helioseal-F and Helioseal. Antibacterial testing was done by disc diffusion method. Selective agars were used to grow Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of dental caries. Statistical analysis was carried out using student′s t test. The study proved that Helioseal-F and Helioseal did not possess antibacterial properties and Teethmate-F was the only sealant that showed antibacterial properties.

Introduction The number of language minority students in the United States has continued to steadily increase. The number of public school students in the United States who were English language [...]

Background: Quadbikes or all-terrain vehicles are known for their propensity for crashes resulting in injury, disability, and death. The control of these needless losses resulting from quadbike crashes has become an essential contributor to sustainable development goals. Understanding the risk factors for such injuries is essential for developing preventive policies and strategies. The aim of this review was to identify the risk factors associated with quadbike crashes at multiple levels through a systematic review of a wide range of study designs. Methods: The study incorporated a mixed-method systematic review approach and followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for reporting systematic reviews, including a peer reviewed protocol. This systematic review included observational studies investigating the risk factors associated with quadbike crashes, injuries, or deaths. Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to October 2021. Studies were screened and extracted by three researchers. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Due to extensive heterogeneity, meta-analysis was not conducted. All the risk factors have been presented in a narrative synthesis for discussion following the guidelines for Synthesis without Meta-analysis (SWiM). Results: Thirty-nine studies combining an aggregate of 65,170 participants were included in this systematic review. The results indicate that modifiable risk factors, such as the increasing age of driving initiation, reducing substance use, and the use of organized riding parks, could reduce quadbike injuries. Riding practices such as avoiding passengers, avoiding nighttime riding, and using helmets could significantly reduce crashes and injuries among riders. Vehicle modifications such as increasing the wheelbase and limiting engine displacement could also help reduce crash incidence. Traditional interventional methods, such as legislation and training, had a weak influence on reducing quadbike injuries. Conclusion: Multiple risk factors are associated with quadbike injuries, with most of them modifiable. Strengthening policies and awareness to minimize risk factors would help in reducing accidents associated with quadbikes. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020170245 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pandemics and subsequent lifestyle restrictions such as 'lockdowns' may have unintended consequences, including alterations in body weight. This systematic review assesses the impact of pandemic confinement on body weight and identifies contributory factors. A comprehensive literature search was performed in seven electronic databases and in grey sources from their inception until 1 July 2020 with an update in PubMed and Scopus on 1 February 2021. In total, 2361 unique records were retrieved, of which forty-one studies were identified eligible: one case–control study, fourteen cohort and twenty-six cross-sectional studies (469, 362 total participants). The participants ranged in age from 6 to 86 years. The proportion of female participants ranged from 37 % to 100 %. Pandemic confinements were associated with weight gain in 7·2–72·4 % of participants and weight loss in 11·1–32·0 % of participants. Weight gain ranged from 0·6 (sd 1·3) to 3·0 (sd 2·4) kg, and weight loss ranged from 2·0 (sd 1·4) to 2·9 (sd 1·5) kg. Weight gain occurred predominantly in participants who were already overweight or obese. Associated factors included increased consumption of unhealthy food with changes in physical activity and altered sleep patterns. Weight loss during the pandemic was observed in individuals with previous low weight, and those who ate less and were more physically active before lockdown. Maintaining a stable weight was more difficult in populations with reduced income, particularly in individuals with lower educational attainment. The findings of this systematic review highlight the short-term effects of pandemic confinements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissection of mammalian cadavers enables veterinary students to appreciate the three-dimensional relationships of these specimens. Chemically fixed cadavers are generally used for dissections owing to the impracticality of using fresh specimens in most teaching facilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel embalming fluid formulation comprising 25% ethanol, 20% polyethylene glycol 400, 0.1% chloroxylenol, and 10% sodium nitrate made up to 100% with tap water to fix a series of domestic mammals for anatomical dissection. The embalmed cadavers (two cats, two dogs, two goats, and two sheep) were periodically evaluated over a 6-month period. At 1, 10, and 20 weeks of the dissection program, the cadavers were colorimetrically measured and the texture profiles, including hardness, adhesiveness, and deformation, were examined. In addition, tissue samples of the skeletal muscle, liver, lung, and intestine were collected and microbiologically analyzed at various time intervals. The embalmed cadavers closely resembled their fresh counterparts. There was negligible difference in the objective and subjective parameters, with a gradual increase in the hardness and adhesiveness of the muscle samples with time. No microbiological growth was detected in the tissue samples obtained from the embalmed specimens, except in the colon tissue from one cat and lung tissue from one sheep. These findings demonstrated the successful preservation of cadavers in the novel embalming formulation for a period of 6 months. The subjective evaluations during dissection were harmonious with the objective assessments of the embalmed cadaver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The artiodactyl brain has multiple levels of vascular pooling and the rostral epidural rete mirabile (RERM) at its base. The current study is the first of its kind to precisely demonstrate the arterial vasculature of the dromedary brain, utilizing a new casting method with colored latex and epoxy paint. In total, 35 freshly slaughtered dromedary heads were injected with colored latex or colored epoxy paint prior to dissection in order to reveal cerebral vasculature; Ten processed heads were chemically digested with 5% potassium hydroxide to obtain hard casts of cerebral arteries and anastomosing structures. The outcomes of this study ascertain the distinct vascular features of dromedaries that set them apart from other artiodactyls. In addition to the RERM, the dromedary possesses a well-developed ophthalmic and chiasmatic rete. The dromedary is similar to giraffe, goat, cat and pig in the contribution of middle meningeal artery to the rete mirabile; however, dromedaries have several arteries emerging directly from the cerebral arterial circle that supply the choroid plexus and pineal gland. Additionally, dromedaries exhibit a dominant basilar system that dominates the blood supply to the medulla oblongata, pons, and cerebellum. In our study, we were able to graphically prove the lack of connection between the areas supplied by vertebrobasilar system and carotid system in the dromedary. Furthermore, the vertebral artery does not branch into the basilar artery; instead, it acts as a contributing vessel to the ventral spinal artery that later fuse to form the basilar artery. This study employed the new casting method to illustrate a new arterial source to RERM and the various anastomoses among arterial sources supplying the brain in the dromedary. These anastomoses play an important role in maintaining an uninterrupted cerebral blood supply, decreasing the vulnerability of the fragile brain against ischemia and stroke, as well as, play an important role in maintaining blood pressure and flow in long-necked dromedaries when they raise or lower their heads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental concerns such as global warming, the extinction of species and the natural response of the common man towards the exploitation of nature have raised innumerable questions pertaining to the future of mankind for academia in recent times. This paper aims to present a case study as a conceptual framework to study the likely relationship that can be created between students and plants at their places of academic pursuit to toil and nurture nature along with their studies. It also summarizes the evolution of a practical approach to integrate the University Grants Commission's (UGC) proposed mandatory environment management course to its basic level of involvement of the student community on campus. Contemporary students' orientation of vocational excellence and splendid life style is expected to be slightly modified with such an interface with a plant during any course of study. Academics in general have a proven disconnect to the rural agrarian dynamics of the country. This study utilized detailed inquiry methods to generate primary data from a NAAC accredited institution of Kerala. The data were summarized to determine how academic organizations can become systems to promote such best practices with prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological drought during the southwest monsoon season and for the northeast monsoon season over five meteorological subdivisions of India for the period 1901-2015 has been examined using district and all India standardized precipitation index (SPI). Whenever all India southwest monsoon rainfall was less than −10% or below normal, for those years all India SPI was found as −1 or less. Composite analysis of SPI for the below normal years, viz., less than −15% and −20% of normal rainfall years indicate that during those years more than 30% of country's area was under drought condition, whenever all India southwest monsoon rainfall was -15% or less than normal. Trend analysis of monthly SPI for the monsoon months identified the districts experiencing significant increase in drought occurrences. Significant positive correlation has been found with the meteorological drought over most of the districts of central, northern and peninsular India, while negative correlation was seen over the districts of eastern India with NINO 3.4 SST. For the first time, meteorological drought analysis over districts and its association with equatorial pacific SST and probability analysis has been done for the northeast monsoon over the affected regions of south peninsular India. Temporal correlation of all India southwest monsoon SPI and south peninsular India northeast monsoon SPI has been done with the global SST to identify the teleconnection of drought in India with global parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]