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Background: Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and a defining event for pregnant people, infants, and whānau (extended families). Recommendations have been made for a national preterm birth prevention initiative focusing on equity in Aotearoa New Zealand, including the development of a national best practice guide. An understanding of the number and quality of guidelines, and consideration of their suitability and impact on equity is required. Methods: Guidelines were identified through a systematic literature search, search of professional bodies websites, and invitation to regional health services in Aotearoa New Zealand. Obstetric and midwifery clinical directors were invited to report on guideline use. Identified guidelines were appraised by a 23-member trans-disciplinary Review Panel; quantitatively using the AGREE-II instrument and qualitatively using modified ADAPTE questions. The quality of guidelines available but not in use was compared against those in current use, and by health services by level of maternity and neonatal care. Major themes affecting implementation and impact on equity were identified using Braun and Clarke methodology. Results: A total of 235 guidelines were included for appraisal. Guidelines available but not in use by regional health services scored higher in quality than guidelines in current use (median domain score Rigour and Development 47.5 versus 18.8, p < 0.001, median domain score Overall Assessment 62.5 versus 44.4, p < 0.001). Guidelines in use by regional health services with tertiary maternity and neonatal services had higher median AGREE II scores in several domains, than those with secondary level services (median domain score Overall Assessment 50.0 versus 37.5, p < 0.001). Groups identified by the Review Panel as experiencing the greatest constraints and limitations to guideline implementation were rural, provincial, low socioeconomic, Māori, and Pacific populations. Identified themes to improve equity included a targeted approach to groups experiencing the least advantage; a culturally considered approach; nationally consistent guidance; and improved funding to support implementation of guideline recommendations. Conclusions: We have systematically identified and assessed guidelines on preterm birth. High-quality guidelines will inform a national best practice guide for use in Taonga Tuku Iho, a knowledge translation project for equity in preterm birth care and outcomes in Aotearoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Understanding people's response to the pandemic needs to consider individual differences in priorities and concerns. The present study sought to understand how individual differences in cognitive-appraisal processes might moderate the impact of three COVID-specific factors—hardship, worry, and social support—on reported depression. Methods: This longitudinal study of the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic included 771 people with data at three timepoints over 15.5 months. Participants were recruited from panels of chronically ill or general population samples. Depression was measured by an item response theory validated depression index created using items from existing measures that reflected similar content to the Patient Health Questionnaire-8. COVID-specific factors of hardship, worry, and social support were assessed with items compiled by the National Institutes of Health. The Quality of Life Appraisal Profilev2 Short-Form assessed cognitive appraisal processes. A series of random effects models examined whether appraisal moderated the effects of hardship, worry, and social support on depression over time. Results: Over time the association between low social support and depression was greater (p = 0.0181). Emphasizing the negative was associated with exacerbated depression, in particular for those with low social support (p = 0.0007). Focusing on demands and habituation was associated with exacerbated depression unless one experienced greater hardship (p = 0.0074). There was a stronger positive connection between recent changes and depression for those people with higher worry scores early in the pandemic as compared to later, but a stronger positive correlation for those with lower worry scores later in the pandemic (p = 0.0015). Increased endorsement of standards of comparison, emphasizing the negative, problem goals, and health goals was associated with worse depression scores (all p < 0.0001). People who were younger, disabled, or had greater difficulty paying bills also reported worse depression (p < 0.0001, 0.0001, and 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: At the aggregate level, COVID-specific stressors changed over the course of the pandemic, whereas depression and social-support resources seemed stable. However, deeper analysis revealed substantial individual differences. Cognitive-appraisal processes showed considerable variability across individuals and moderated the impact of COVID-specific stressors and resources over time. Future work is needed to investigate whether coaching individuals away from maladaptive cognitive-appraisal processes can reduce depression and lead to better overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different from previous linguistic studies on rhetoric, which primarily concern the ideational semantics and the logic of sentences, this article attempts to deal systematically with the interpersonal semantics of rhetoric by drawing on the comprehensive appraisal framework of systemic functional linguistics (Martin and White 2005) and explores the mechanism of rhetorical persuasion in science communication via appraisal through a case study of the gene-modification (GM) debate in China. It first examines the rhetorical appeals of the subsystems of appraisal and then based on a self-constructed and coded corpus of GM debate discourses, it compares how institutional (the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Greenpeace Organization) and individual stakeholders (Cui Yongyuan and Fang Zhouzi) of different ideological interests in the GM debate mobilize the interpersonal semantic resources to rhetorical effects to persuade the audience of the safety/danger of the GM technology and products. The analysis reveals that while the opinion leaders choose 'soft' persuasion by heavily using affect and judgement resources, the institutions opt for 'hard' persuasion by utilizing more appreciation resources. The four parties all prefer contracting resources over expanding resources of engagement, which restricts the space of negotiation. Their communicative motives are interpreted through the lens of the rhetoric theory, and the implications and consequences for science communication in the post-truth era are discussed. Theoretically, the paper contributes to understanding the persuasion mechanism of appraisal and to understanding the science vs. society, and government vs. citizens relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitally enabled circular models represent one new phenomenon that heavily rely on the power of computing and advanced digital technologies. Digital Circularity implies digitally supported day-to-day practices, more complex IT landscapes as well as higher monitoring and management skills from both users and customers. Although the literature on consumers in circular models has looked into the incentives and drivers of adopting circular consumption, little is known about their perception of the digital technologies that support the circular business models. Building both on IS research on the digitisation of the individual and the analysis of 20 interview data provided by knowledge workers, the paper provides an original take-on the negative sentiments that consumers in circular models are likely to develop toward such technologies. We propose an application of the results of our data from organisational contexts to CE environments and further discuss how exploring consumers' perceptions of IT-mediated actions is crucial to the success of the transition to CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting a netnography of affect from a participatory interface on bilibili.com, this article explores emotion transmission in an interpreting task. A parallel corpus was transcribed from an interpreting assignment in a press conference led by a China–WHO joint expert team during COVID-19. Drawing on the appraisal model proposed by Martin and White, I compare the speaker's and the interpreter's attitudinal lexis, and conduct an ethnographic study of online viewers' affective comments. The findings reveal that the interpreter accentuates the force and focus of emotions in her renditions through intensification and quantification, triggering ripple emotions manifest in onscreen remarks. To understand such affect, the study examines the semiotic resource of Danmu (live comments) on the participatory website along three affect dimensions. Drawing on the audience's verbalized emotions, this research demonstrates that the interpreter foregrounds her visibility and effectively affects audience by performing as affective labor. This study contributes to empirical studies in interpreting reception by categorizing affect and broaden its application in the field of communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment for people with aphasia mainly concentrates on facilitating the communication of needs or providing facts. This focus is in danger of downplaying the significance of the expression of attitudes and emotion. Evaluative expression is critical for recreating identity and social interaction. However, the linguistic expression of emotions following aphasia has been insufficiently explored. This study aimed to determine which semantic-lexical devices people with aphasia used to express their opinions and views about their clinicians and rehabilitation. In-depth interviews with 50 people with aphasia describing their emotions during their rehabilitation were analyzed using the appraisal framework comprising appreciation, affect, and judgment. Speakers also graded their attitudes toward people, things, or events. Almost half of instances expressed appreciation, over one-third expressed judgment, and about 16% expressed affect. Amplification of emotions was used frequently, in over 40% of instances. Affective difficulties following aphasia and other brain injuries are among the most important factors for rehabilitation, social reintegration, and the burden on family members. To ameliorate these issues, the focus of rehabilitation in aphasia needs to shift from expressing needs toward facilitating the expression of opinions and feelings and providing people with aphasia with the opportunities and means to express their views on their healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on theories of emotion contagion and social appraisal in interpersonal affect transfer and the control-value theory of achievement emotions, the present study examined associations between students' perceptions of peer emotions and their own self-perceived emotions in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms. Data were collected from 103 seventh to ninth grade classrooms (n = 3,643) using self-report questionnaires. Doubly latent multilevel structural equation modeling showed that perceived peer enjoyment, anxiety and boredom, and students' corresponding emotions for language learning, were positively related and that the effects of perceived peer enjoyment, anxiety and boredom on corresponding student emotions were mediated by control and value appraisals at the individual level. At the class level, however, the mediation effects were only significant for control appraisal as a mediator of effects on anxiety and value appraisal as a mediator of effects on boredom. Effects were robust across grade level, gender and previous language achievement. The discussion centers on the practical implications of peer emotion interactions for promoting foreign language development in classroom instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the effectiveness of the performance appraisal (PA) system and its impact on employee performance. The objectives of the study included examining the effectiveness of the current performance appraisal system, determining whether performance appraisal has an impact on the performance of employees, investigating the benefits of performance appraisal feedback on employee performance, and providing practical recommendations to the management on how to best improve the effectiveness of the PA system in the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) at Umkhanya-Zulu and Amajuba-Mzinyathi Business Units, KwaZulu-Natal region. A quantitative approach was used to determine whether the current performance appraisal is effective or not. Simple random sampling was used to select the samples, and a survey questionnaire was distributed to the participants. The target population of the study consisted of 233 participants, of which 120 were the target sample size. The samples were employees who were working at the Amajuba-Mzinyathi and Umkhanya-Zulu NHLS Business Units. The list of participants was taken from the NHLS intranet, and they were given a unique number, starting from 1 to 233. The Excel spreadsheet was used to generate the random values, and after the numbers were randomised, the first 120 names were selected. The data analysis was done using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) tool. The results revealed that there is a significant positive outcome from the current performance appraisal used by the organisation. Performance appraisals have an impact on employee performance, and feedback is given to employees on how to improve unsatisfactory performance. The study also found that there is great value in having a performance appraisal system in the organisation, and employees do benefit from this exercise. On the other side, the study findings show a need to have regular performance appraisal exercises instead of only twice a year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is an attempt to explore the depiction of racism in the era of emancipation by reviewing two representative texts: Of Our Spiritual Strivings by W. E. B. Du Bois, and The Jim Crow Laws and Racism in United States written by David Fremon, and telefilm The Birth of a Nation directed by D. W. Griffith. After the official abolition of slavery by 13th Amendment of the Constitution, the problem of racism not only emerged but reached to its peak in that epoch in United States. It adversely affected both the black and white races for a period of almost one hundred years. Racism divided social milieu in US based on skin color. Dogmatically the darker in color would mean the cursed. The hatred against Blacks was institutionalized. Racially biased laws called Jim Crow Laws were enacted by many southern states. Private gangs such as Ku Klux Klan were formed who would find excuses for lynching and killing the blacks. The blacks were marginalized up to a limit which shook their souls and called ‘double consciousness’ by W.E.B. Du Bois. The essay tries to reconnoiter the traces of miseries of blacks from slavery towards racism through interdisciplinary critique of selected writings and a film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of stress can result in college athletes experiencing symptoms of burnout and electing to terminate their sport participation. Research suggests there may be a relationship between athlete burnout and one's view of stress (Avery et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between stress mindset and burnout in college athletes, while controlling for gender, coping self-efficacy, and perceived stress. College athletes (N = 118) completed measures of stress mindset, athletic burnout, coping self-efficacy, and perceived stress via online survey software. Non-parametric partial correlations were conducted to determine relationships between variables while controlling for coping self-efficacy, perceived stress, and gender. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between stress mindset and total burnout score, and the burnout subscale of reduced sense of accomplishment. Further research could examine the effectiveness of a stress mindset intervention on reducing burnout symptoms in college athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study was conducted to assess the performance appraisal on employee's productivity at the Department of Basic Education in Limpopo, South Africa. Performance appraisal refers to the methods and processes that organisations use to evaluate their employees' level of performance. This usually entails assessing employees' performance and offering them with feedback on both the quantity and quality of their work. The study examined the kind of tool Department of Basic Education utilize and the effects of performance appraisal on employee's productivity. The researchers adopted a qualitative approach in this study in order to better understand performance reviews and employee experiences. Data was gathered through interviews with senior/junior managers purposively chosen. Additionally, subordinates selected from a simple random sample based on their responsibilities, backgrounds, and experience. As a result, the study used a verbatim transcription to capture every detail of the interview. The data was then analysed using thematic mapping. The research findings demonstrated the inefficiency of the current performance management and development method. The study also shows that workers are unmotivated and no longer have faith in the evaluation process. The findings further show that supervisors' management and implementation of the system are prejudiced, which demotivate employees as a result. According to the study, the current system has to be changed or revised in order to address the gaps and issues that have arisen as a result of prejudice and ineffective execution. The study also suggests that in order for the system's goals to be met, managers need acquire the right training, and staff should receive training as well to have knowledge about the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helping acts, however well intended and beneficial, sometimes involve immoral means or immoral helpers. Here, we explore whether help recipients consider moral evaluations in their appraisals of gratitude, a possibility that has been neglected by existing accounts of gratitude. Participants felt less grateful and more uneasy when offered immoral help (Study 1, N = 150), and when offered morally neutral help by an immoral helper (Study 2, N = 172). In response to immoral help or helpers, participants were less likely to accept the help and less willing to strengthen their relationship with the helper even when they accepted it. Study 3 (N = 276) showed that recipients who felt grateful when offered immoral help were perceived as less likable, less moral, and less suitable as close relationship partners than those who felt uneasy by observers. Our results demonstrate that gratitude is morally sensitive and suggest this might be socially adaptive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry is the primary application for induction machines. As such, it is essential to calculate the induction devices' electrical properties accurately. With DC testing, no-load rotor tests, and locked rotor tests, one may empirically evaluate the electrical variables of induction motors. These tests are expensive and difficult to conduct, however. The information supplied by machine makers can also be used to accurately approximate the equivalent variables of the circuits in induction machines. This article has successfully predicted motor reactance (Xm) for both double- and single-cage models using artificial neural networks (ANN). Although ANNs have been investigated in the literature, the ANN structures were trained to use unmemorized training. Besides ANN, six other approaches have been suggested to address this issue: heap-based optimization (HBO), leagues championship algorithm (LCA), multi-verse optimization (MVO), osprey optimization algorithm (OOA), cuckoo optimization algorithm (COA), and sooty tern optimization algorithm (STOA). The efficaciousness of the suggested approaches was compared with each another. Regarding the obtained outcomes, the suggested MVO- multi-layer perceptron (MLP) technique performed better than the other five methods regarding reactance prediction, with R2 of 0.99598 and 0.9962, and RMSE of 20.31492 and 20.80626 in the testing and training phases, respectively. For the projected model, the suggested ANNs have produced great results. The novelty lies in the mentioned methods' ability to tackle the complexities and challenges associated with induction motor reactance optimization, providing innovative approaches to finding optimal or near-optimal solutions. As researchers continue to explore and refine these techniques, their impact on motor design and efficiency will likely grow, driving advancements in electrical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance appraisal (PA) is commonly used to manage as well as to measure employees' performance at various organisations. Large or small organisations are always seeking much better ways to effectively enhance and improve employee performance thus maximising profit. The main aim of the study was to investigate the effect of PA on employee performance at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). The hypothesis for this study was that the PA process will have a positive impact on employee performance at the UKZN while the null hypothesis was that the PA process will not have any impact on employee performance at the UKZN. The study employed a quantitative research method. The study also used a descriptive research design to help the researcher describe the characteristics of the population in an accurate and systematic approach. A stratified random sampling technique was employed, employees were divided and categorised into groups representing departments or schools they belong to, and then a simple random sampling in each group was applied. The sample size was determined to be 225 academic and support staff. Findings showed that PA has a positive impact on employee performance at UKZN. The study recommends that managers and supervisors must continue to set clear work goals and work targets for their employees as it is noted that employees are more effective and highly motivated when they know what is required from them and their work target. Appraisers must give frequent feedback to employees and help them improve in areas where they are lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Evaluating employee performance is important for organisational success however, limited research exists across the allied health workforce. Objective: This study investigated allied health clinician and manager experiences and perceptions of the appropriateness of the performance and development (PAD) framework. Design: A mixed methods design with purposive sampling was conducted in a medium size hospital and health service in regional Queensland to investigate the appropriateness of the PAD framework. A 29 item online survey collected likert scale and open ended responses. Identified respondents also completed a semi‐structured interview. Aggregated satisfaction scores identifying PAD alignment, processes, education, resources and perceptions were analysed to identify organisational PAD appropriateness. Themes from interviews provided concurrent experiential data. Findings: Eighty‐five respondents completed the online survey and 20 interviews were conducted. A Chi‐Square Goodness of Fit test revealed a significant (p < 0.05) clinician (n = 75) response of moderate dissatisfaction (36%) for the PAD framework, while managers (n = 10) were neither dissatisfied nor satisfied (50%) or moderately satisfied (40%). Clinician aggregated agreement responses were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for PAD alignment (45%), processes (63%), education (49%) and lower for feedback (33%) and resources (28%). Manager aggregated agreement responses were high for PAD alignment (85%), processes (55%), education (57%), feedback (65%) and perceptions (50%). Interviews (n = 20) revealed three themes: uncertainty around PAD framework; expectations for experienced leadership and importance of discipline specific knowledge. Discussion: This study draws on both clinician and manager input to assess the overall PAD framework with responses favouring clinician dissatisfaction to the current process. Conclusion: The PAD framework is valuable for staff development when there is positive rapport and discipline alignment between both clinician and manager. Successful staff appraisals require efficient and appropriate documentation that promotes individual development, clinical performance and organisational priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timber sales from the US National Forest System (NFS) can provide ecological and economic benefits. Unsold ("no-bid") offerings can result in delays, additional costs, and missed targets. We used mixed methods, including analysis of administrative data, synthesis of research, and semi-structured interviews to understand situations considered "no-bid" offerings by different stakeholders. We measured prevalence, identified causes, and generated a framework for communicating interlinkages. From 2007 to 2020, the volume not sold at first offering was 11.9% nationally. However, a substantial amount is sold subsequently, leaving 2.7% never sold. Regions with the highest percentage never sold include Alaska, Southwestern, and Pacific Southwest. A new conceptual framework developed from a literature review and interviews with NFS and industry employees identified proximate causes and underlying factors. Proximate causes include road construction, equipment requirements, and timber condition; whereas underlying factors include staffing, communication, and appraisal methods. These insights can aid communication and help develop future strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military-themed videogames are significant cultural artifacts that shape popular geopolitical narratives and venerate dominant post-9/11 War on Terror discourses. Overwhelmingly resonant with the Military Entertainment Complex, these artifacts, not excluding America's Army (2002–2013), envision the world through a Western lens. Over the past decades, America's Army has come to challenge dominant orthodoxies and ideological presuppositions, disseminating new configurations of power. The article argues that the latest installment of the game, America's Army: Proving Grounds (2013), marks a paradigmatic shift from the post-9/11 discourse permeating most military-themed videogames. Taking past scholarship on geopolitics and multimodal legitimation as points of departure, the current study unfolds the militarized aesthetics and politics of gameplay unique to America's Army: Proving Grounds in its capacity to promote redefined ideals of hegemonic masculinity, on the one hand, and substantiate US universal legitimacy, on the other. To this end, the research endeavor proposes a more nuanced multimodal legitimation analytical framework in an attempt to capture the full spectrum of the semiotic affordances instilled in the gaming space. Key convergent discourses and practices of hegemony emerge therein, fundamentally: proficiency, efficiency, virtuosity, agility, nobility, solidarity, precision, stoicism, and aggression. The spatio-temporal shift away from post-9/11 discourses reifies new militaristic representations of hegemonic masculinity symbiotically entangled with futuristic and non-contemporary ideological war narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are being released into the environment in large quantities, especially in less developed parts of the world. This group of pollutants is mostly leached into the environment through heavy plastic dumpsites, pharmaceutical and personal care product containers, hospital wastes, plastic package accessories, and litter from food packaging. Consequently, these compounds are found in different compartments of the ecosystem, such as soils, sediments, biota, and, surprisingly, drinking water. The present study systematically appraised recent studies on MP pollution in the Asian and African environments. It also summarized the trends in the methods for the environmental monitoring of MPs and the removal strategies that have been employed. From the data gathered, the two key instrumentations involved are the microscopes for visualization and the Fourier transform-infra-red (FT-IR) spectrometer to classify or characterize the MPs. Based on the surveyed works of literature, China and South Africa have relatively more information on MP contamination of diverse matrices within their countries. Meanwhile, studies on the status of MP contamination should be conducted across all countries. Hence, this study becomes an eye-opener regarding the commencement of research works on the MP contamination of the environment, especially in other Asian and African countries with little or no information. Furthermore, the literature on ecotoxicity studies of MPs was investigated to ascertain the toxic nature of these compounds. This aspect of research is vital because it serves as a prerequisite for the remediation of these compounds. Microplastics have been declared lethal to biotic components, so all hands must be on deck to continuously remove them from the environment.

Abstract Background and objective The living systematic review (LSR) approach is based on ongoing surveillance of the literature and continual updating. Most currently available guidance documents address the conduct, reporting, publishing, and appraisal of systematic reviews (SRs), but are not suitable for LSRs per se and miss additional LSR-specific considerations. In this scoping review, we aim to systematically collate methodological guidance literature on how to conduct, report, publish, and appraise the quality of LSRs and identify current gaps in guidance. Methods A standard scoping review methodology was used. We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), and The Cochrane Library on August 28, 2021. As for searching gray literature, we looked for existing guidelines and handbooks on LSRs from organizations that conduct evidence syntheses. The screening was conducted by two authors independently in Rayyan, and data extraction was done in duplicate using a pilot-tested data extraction form in Excel. Data was extracted according to four pre-defined categories for (i) conducting, (ii) reporting, (iii) publishing, and (iv) appraising LSRs. We mapped the findings by visualizing overview tables created in Microsoft Word. Results Of the 21 included papers, methodological guidance was found in 17 papers for conducting, in six papers for reporting, in 15 papers for publishing, and in two papers for appraising LSRs. Some of the identified key items for (i) conducting LSRs were identifying the rationale, screening tools, or re-revaluating inclusion criteria. Identified items of (ii) the original PRISMA checklist included reporting the registration and protocol, title, or synthesis methods. For (iii) publishing, there was guidance available on publication type and frequency or update trigger, and for (iv) appraising, guidance on the appropriate use of bias assessment or reporting funding of included studies was found. Our search revealed major evidence gaps, particularly for guidance on certain PRISMA items such as reporting results, discussion, support and funding, and availability of data and material of a LSR. Conclusion Important evidence gaps were identified for guidance on how to report in LSRs and appraise their quality. Our findings were applied to inform and prepare a PRISMA 2020 extension for LSR.

This study examined the influence of performance management on teacher effectiveness in primary schools in Bulaago Coordinating Centre, Bulambuli District, Uganda. Informed by the Goal Setting Theory, the measures of performance management were goal setting, performance appraisal, and career development. The measures of teacher effectiveness were content knowledge, personal conduct, pedagogical effectiveness, professional effectiveness, and classroom management. This study employed a correlational research design with a sample of 102 teachers. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). PLS-SEM results revealed that while goal setting and career development had a positive and significant influence on teacher effectiveness, performance management appraisal had a positive but insignificant influence on teacher effectiveness. The study concluded that goal setting is important for teacher effectiveness, improper implementation of performance appraisal makes it fail to enhance teacher effectiveness, and career development is necessary for teacher effectiveness. The recommendations of the study are to the effect that administrators should emphasise goal setting in the management of schools, should improve the way of implementing appraisal, and the Ministry of Education and Sports, and school administrators should support teacher career development to enhance their effectiveness.

The general research here introduced concerns the phenomenon of urban sprawl unfolding in the last century and defined as “the physical pattern of low- density settlement in urban areas”. The focus, as part of the more general research cited, is the relationship between sprawl and public transportation. The specific study here present is a possible approach to planning and managing policy responses to urban sprawl through the integration of consolidated settlement systems (with a view to their re-revitalization) with rail green public transportation in the framework of TOD (Transit-Oriented Development). A paramount issue emerges about sprawl: there are prototype case in which TOD and rail green public transportation help concentrate settlement instead of sprawl? No cases have been found. Instead the most recent literature recommends to perform new researches concerning solutions through real world applications, given the total shortage of case studies. The general research framework has been applied in a specific Case Study to support the community of Calabria, the southernmost Mediterranean region of mainland Italy in European Union, within the most urbanized sub-regional sub-area, in analyzing the rampant phenomenon of sprawl and, possibly, in addressing and mitigating it relying on TOD and rail green public transportation. In the Case Study of the present research there are three alternatives in sub regional public transportation: A1; A2; A3. A1 is the status quo. A2 is the upgrading of the railway which, although existing, is illogically neglected. A3 is an unexpected new project by the railway managing body for a new route in the south of the area completely away from the most important settlements and outside any transport or mobility or accessibility institutional public plan. The three alternatives were subjected to social discussions well as a qualitative evaluation by a panel of experts. The multiple criteria valuation approach resulted in a preference for Alternative A2 over Alternatives A1 and A3. The preferred Alternative A2 integrates perfectly with the existing settlement by responding to a fundamental criterion placed at the top of the valuation: integrating the urban railway directly into the existing consolidated inhabited centers. This preferable Alternative A2 has among its peculiar characteristics: – directly connects many of the settlements in the area; – can serve approximately MORE THAN 250,000 potential settled residents; – connects coast to coast the narrowest regional and national isthmus; – creates the fastest and shortest possible connection in the national territory between the two fundamental railway backbones Tyrrhenian (Palermo - Milan - Torino) and Ionian-Adriatic (Reggio Calabria - Venice); – thereby helping to connect two of the Trans European Network and pan-European train mega-corridors I (Palermo - Berlin) and VIII (Skopje - Varna). The A2 Alternative has the further distinctive feature of performing both local and supra-local dual service in a unified venue that is both train-tram and long-distance rail, in analogy with continental benchmarks and experiences, such as the German S-Bahn. Subsequently, in the Case Study, the costs of the Alternative A2 for the upgrading (and “modernization”) of the existing railway has an estimated cost of 168 million appraised by the research team with a detailed quantification, and subsequently, in de facto double-blind estimate, surprisingly confirmed by the railway managing body. According to the latest and most up-dated estimates by the same railway managing body, the completely new route project located far south of all the settlements, constituting the Alternative A3, would cost over 485 million, are reported. This is because all the areas have to be acquired and because the route crosses land with technical difficulties to be overcome by carrying out expensive works. In terms of costs, the preferred Alternative 2 seems to be the most balanced, much more even than the status quo Alternative 1 (do nothing). The latter only apparently has no big investment costs, unless ordinary maintenance. In fact it hides enormous private costs and implicit (and not immediately monetary) social suffering, due to: car commuting (un-pooled) of people; their monetizable travel times, enormous due to congestion; air pollution; accident risks; congestion in cities; high private personal costs of using the individual vehicle (car wear; fuel); parking cost and fine risk; etc.

Climate change is the most lethal crises facing Humanity. The majority (99%) of scientists agree that climate change is caused by humans. According to empirical evidence this ecological tragedy is rooted primarily in world-wide enormous fossil energy production and consumption. The civil sector, including settlements, is the world’s “largest fossil energy consumer and polluter”. Green building is the only way to ensure sustainable development and to overcome climate change by decarbonizing the constructions. The aim of the research is to test a strategic solution, applied to the civil sector, valuated through new assessment tools including the novel BIM in updated platforms. Some significant Building Energy Performance Simulation Programs (BEPSPs) are comparatively tested in a Case Study experimented in the simplest Prototype Building. One goal of the present research is to valuate if the ecological coat produces a saving of up to at least 40% of energy consumption in the building in the short-medium terms i. e. by 2030 as required in the EU Directive 2018/844 and if it is economically feasible. The passivation of brown common inefficient Prototype Building is implemented using bio ecological panels made from natural materials. By simply using a six or ten centimeters thick panel coat, the energy saving for heating is around 71% or 82%, way above the set objective of 40% by 2030 as required in the EU Directive 2018/844. The building global energy saving is always more than 55%. The research achieved the general objective and the specific goal set, obtaining the empirical evidence of the extraordinary impacts/benefits produced by insulation using extremely small panels/boards made from local natural cork in a local circular economy structure. Since the economic and financial impacts are of great relevance for the feasibility of the Strategy “Green Building” Strategy, a financial estimate has been developed. It immediately also highlighted the economic profitability, pecuniary convenience and financial feasibility convenience of the Sustainable Scenario. Research appraised a favorable monetary Pay Back\recovery (within only five years from the ecological intervention) of the differential additional upfront cost due to passivation additional works. There is a gap in the real world and a strong request in the research world (Hopkins, 2016) of appraisal concerning financial feasibility of the “Green Building” Strategy. The presented research aims to contribute to answer these demands of economic valuation. Il cambiamento climatico è la crisi più letale che l’umanità deve affrontare. La maggior parte (99%) degli scienziati concorda sul fatto che il cambiamento climatico è causato dall’uomo. Secondo l’evidenza empirica, questa tragedia ecologica è radicata principalmente nell’enorme produzione e consumo di energia fossile a livello mondiale. Il settore civile, compresi gli insediamenti, è il «più grande consumatore di energia fossile e inquinatore con conseguenti emissioni di CO2» al mondo. La bioedilizia, e quindi la decarbonizzazione degli edifici con l’efficienza energetica e quindi il risparmio anche mediante cappotto ecologico, è l’unico modo per garantire uno sviluppo sostenibile e per superare il cam- biamento climatico. Tale approccio è definibile: Strategia “Green Building”. L’obiettivo della ricerca è quello di testare una soluzione strategica, applicata al settore civile, valutata attraverso nuovi strumenti di valutazione tra cui le nuove piattaforme BIM. Sono stati testati comparativamente alcuni importanti programmi di simulazione delle prestazioni energetiche degli edifici in un caso di studio sperimentato in un semplice edificio prototipo. Uno dei passaggi specifici della presente ricerca è quello di valutare se il cappotto ecologico produca un risparmio fino ad almeno il 40% dei consumi energetici dell’edificio nel breve-medio termine, ovvero entro il 2030, come previsto dalla Direttiva UE 2018/844, e se sia economicamente fattibile. La passivazione dell’edificio prototipo comune ed inefficiente è realizzata utilizzando pannelli bioecologici realizzati con materiali naturali. Utilizzando semplicemente un pannello di sei o dieci centimetri di spessore, il risparmio energetico per il riscaldamento si aggira intorno al 71% o 82%, ben al di sopra dell’obiettivo fissato del 40% entro il 2030 come previsto dalla Direttiva UE 2018/844. Il risparmio energetico globale dell’edificio è sempre superiore al 55%. La ricerca ha raggiunto l’obiettivo generale e l’obiettivo specifico prefissato, ottenendo l’evidenza empirica degli straordinari impatti / benefici prodotti dall’isolamento con pannelli di dimensioni estremamente ridotte realizzati con sughero naturale locale in una struttura di economia circolare locale. Poiché gli impatti economici e finanziari sono di grande rilevanza per la fattibilità della Strategia “Green Building”, è stata elaborata una stima finanziaria che ha immediatamente evidenziato anche la redditività economica e la convenienza di fattibilità finanziaria dello Scenario Sostenibile, valutando un favorevole Pay Back\recupero monetario (entro soli cinque anni dall’intervento ecologico) del differenziale costo aggiuntivo dovuto alle opere aggiuntive di passivazione. C’è una lacuna nel mondo reale e una forte richiesta nel mondo della ricerca (Hopkins, 2016) di valutazione riguardante la fattibilità finanziaria della Strategia “Green Building”, e la ricerca presentata mira a contribuire a rispondere a queste esigenze di valutazione economica.

The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has the potential to drastically change society, planning, design, and development strategies. This study uses the PRISMA protocol to carry out a systematic literature review, focusing on the backcasting method as an analytic tool. By examining. 21 studies published between 2003 and 2024, this paper highlights the phases of backcasting: visioning, policy packaging, and appraisal, and identifies critical factors necessary for the successful integration of AVs. Visioning for future driverless cities includes high-quality urban areas, active mobility, and innovative developments. Policies and Packaging suggested a focus on restricting vehicular access, transit-oriented development, and encouraging public transportation. Appraisal reveals skepticism about the positive impacts of AVs, urging policies that limit access to urban areas and promote sustainable modes of transportation. The main contribution of this study lies in its comprehensive application of backcasting to AV implementation, offering a structured approach to envisioning future urban scenarios, formulating supportive policies, and evaluating their impact. This analysis provides a solid foundation for future research, urging us to explore the intersection between AVs, citizen participation, and environmental sustainability to achieve more efficient and sustainable cities.

This study investigates the role of emotion regulation strategies on achievement emotions among tertiary-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. It also explores the strategies employed by students to regulate these emotions. Employing a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, data was collected from forty-nine language learners attending prep-classes at the Department of Foreign Languages in a state university in Türkiye. The participants were categorized based on their utilization of cognitive reappraisal (CR), expressive suppression (ES), or a combination of both emotion regulation strategies (ERSs). They completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Academic Emotions Questionnaire-Foreign Language Classroom to assess differences in achievement emotions among groups. Subsequently, the participants provided narratives regarding their perceptions and regulation of emotions. Thematic analysis using MAXQDA (Version 2020) was conducted. Results revealed significant variations in emotions among groups, with the ES group reporting lower levels of positive emotions and higher levels of negative emotions compared to others. The study underscores the importance of evaluating emotion regulation strategies to foster sustainable and enjoyable language learning environments.

Background: The global or multinational scientific evidence on the distribution of opioid fatality is unknown. Hence, the current study collects epidemiological characteristics to shed light on the ongoing global or multinational opioid crisis and to promote the development of public health prevention/management strategies. Method: All documents on PRISMA standards were retrieved via electronic databases. Results: Among the 47 articles relevant to our studies, which depict a total population size of 10,191 individuals, the prevalence of opioid fatal overdose was 15,022 (14.74%). Among the 47 articles, 14 of them reported the gender of the participants, with 22,125 (15.79%) male individuals and 7,235 (5.17%) female individuals, and the age distribution of the participants that was most affected by the overdose was as follows: 29,272 (31.13%) belonged to the 18-34-yearold age group and 25,316 (26.92%) belonged to the less than 18-year-old age group. Eighteen studies qualified for the meta-analysis of the multinational prevalence of fatal opioid overdose, depicting an overall pooled prevalence estimate of 19.66%, with 95% CIs (0.13-0.29), I2 = 99.76% determined using the random-effects model, and Q statistic of 7198.77 (p < 0.0001). The Egger test models of publication bias revealed an insubstantial level of bias (p = 0.015). The subgroup analysis of the study design (cohort or other) revealed that others have the highest prevalence estimate of 34.37, 95% CIs (0.1600-0.5901), I2 = 97.04%, and a sample size of less than 1,000 shows the highest prevalence of 34.66, 95% CIs (0.2039-0.5234), I2 = 97.82%, compared to that of more than 1,000 with a prevalence of 12.28, 95% CIs (0.0675-0.2131), I2 = 99.85%. The meta-regression analysis revealed that sample size (less-than or greater-than 1,000), (p = 0.0098; R2 = 3.83%) is significantly associated with the observed heterogeneity. Conclusion: Research-based findings of fatal opioid overdose are grossly lacking in middle- and low-income nations. We established that there is a need for opioid fatality surveillance systems in developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attitudes in the Flemish Political Climate Debate: A Linguistic Analysis This study investigates the climate communication by the main political parties in Flanders. Its aim is to describe explicit and implicit evaluations that parties make about climate change and climate-related policies in the communication on their websites. To analyse parties' opinions on climate action, the study uses the system of Appraisal (Martin & White, 2005), which provides a framework for interpreting expressions of attitude as a social tool to engage with others. The results show that the climate communication by Flemish political parties strikes an overall positive note. Differences in emphases aside (e.g., on quality of life vs. financial profitability), there seems to be a consensus on the need for, and value of, climate action. The communication by Vlaams Belang stood out as an exception: its negative tone, and critical content, gives signs of climate scepticism, forming a counterposition in the political climate change debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors constitute a marginalised professional group who can struggle to achieve the professional development they desire. Our primary objective was to understand, from a theoretically informed perspective, the ways in which the professional identity of SAS doctors influences their professional development opportunities, including through appraisal. Ten UK SAS doctors participated in indepth, narrative interviews. Participants were drawn from six medical specialities, and ranged in experience (2.5--15 years) and country of primary medical qualification. Interview transcripts were analysed via critical discourse analysis using Figured Worlds theory. The position of SAS doctors within the Figured World was at times unstable, ambiguous and context dependent. They were often relative outsiders, not immediately trusted by colleagues. Some found their development needs eclipsed by the priorities of colleagues, typically consultants and postgraduate trainees. Appraisal was often not perceived to have successfully addressed these issues. This study enhances our understanding of the lived experience of SAS doctors, which is often in stark contrast to formal policy on the range of roles that they can fulfil. The struggles and successes of SAS doctors described here suggest that there is scope to improve the professional status and professional development opportunities for SAS doctors, including through appraisal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counselor's right to utilize assessment, appraisal, and tests, and diagnose has substantive implications for professional counseling, counselor education, the provision of evidence‐based practice, and supporting client development across the life span. We identified documents detailing licensure rules and regulations for counselors' use of these clinical tools within the contiguous United States, Washington, DC, Alaska, Hawaii, and inhabited U.S. territories. Proportion comparisons over time, Fisher's exact test, and related effect sizes were computed to identify changes over time, as well as trends associated with regional professional association. Our results indicated increased representation over time of privileges allowing for the use of assessment, appraisal, and tests, and diagnosis within counselors' scope of practice and educational requirements, but modest representation of normal assessment use and allowable/nonallowable assessments and tests. Furthermore, we identified statistically significant differences in the regional representativeness of diagnostic privileges. Implications for counselor education and individual and association‐level advocacy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study disentangles positive and negative reactions to home-to-work transitions (i.e. transitions from the home role to the work role during non-work hours; HWTs) and examines their consequences for employees' work engagement and psychological strain. Based on boundary theory and appraisal theories, we expected that positively appraised HWTs would relate to more engagement and less strain whereas negatively appraised HWTs would contribute to less engagement and more strain. We tested our hypotheses using two daily diary datasets from different Belgian companies, one collected before the COVID-19 pandemic during 13 workdays among 81 employees (678 observations; Study 1) and one collected during the pandemic during 9 workdays among 82 employees (516 observations; Study 2). Hypotheses were tested both on the within – and the between-person level using multilevel modelling to account for daily fluctuations in the appraisals of HWTs and between-person differences. As expected, positive appraisals were related to more engagement and less strain at the between-person level in both studies. We did not find this impact on the within-person level, nor did we find any within – or between-effects of negative appraisals. Our study highlights the relevance of positive appraisals for employees' between-level engagement and strain beyond the impact of HWTs themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has two main objectives: to generate intelligibility about the English learning experiences of a group of Undergraduate students, as well as to understand the process of discursive reconstruction of those experiences. Bearing these goals in mind, the category of perezhivanie (affective experience) is used aiming to comprehend theoretically the role of these affective experiences in the students' subjective English learning pathways. Semistructured interviews were performed with the students of the Chemistry Teacher Formation Program of the Federal Institute of Maranhão - Campus Codó. In order to understand the different ways our affective experiences are materialized in discourse, this study employs the Appraisal System as an analytical tool to examine the meaning of the appraisals realized encoded in the narratives. The results demonstrate that the affective elements play a key role in the teaching-learning of English and that the appraisal represents an important tool for the reconstruction of our affective experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a subtle attempt to fortify territorial boundaries, the rise of White nationalism and far-right politics worldwide has recently brought to the fore the dangerous conflation of immigration and ecological crisis at the basis of eco-racist discourses fuelling several conspiracy theories. These, in turn, have led to a series of terrorist attacks, including the mass shooting among the Hispanic community which took place in El Paso, Texas, on 3 August 2019 by Patrick Crusius. Drawing on a theoretical framework that combines eco-racism, appraisal theory, and facticity in linguistic analysis, this article aims to analyse Crusius's manifesto - "The Inconvenient Truth" - to highlight the linguistic strategies he deploys to construct his discourse as factual in order to influence readers' convictions. The analysis intends to increase awareness about the implications of the co-articulation of anti-ecological and racist discourses and eventually aid their dismantling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pragmalingüística is the property of Facultad de Filosofia y Letras, Universidad de Cadiz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pragmalingüística is the property of Facultad de Filosofia y Letras, Universidad de Cadiz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal for Foreign Languages is the property of University of Ljubljana, Faculty of the Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article investigates empathic listening as practised in the tradition of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), noting that this tradition is understood as a designed register of interpersonal connection, "concerned with progress toward a better world" (Hughes 2018). In the tradition, empathy is considered "a respectful understanding of what others are experiencing, ... we give to others the time and space they need to express themselves fully and to be understood" (Rosenberg 2015: 91–92). The analysis in this article applies the tools of systemic functional linguistics to demonstrate that this empathic understanding is achieved by the empathiser supporting the speaker's exploration of their emotions via a linguistic pattern of co-created, continuous thematic progression of resonated new information. The article provides insights into the linguistic machinery powering NVC empathy practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the multi- and intersemiotic expression of empathy and compassion in a campaign organised by the Vegan Society. It draws upon insights from ecofeminism and the ethics of care as well as systemic functional semiotics as a way of exploring how instances of attitude (affect, judgment and appreciation) in the campaign's various texts might be negotiated and shared, creating potentials for empathetic and compassionate responses. The study finds that parts of the campaign represent empathy and compassion as exemplars for readers to follow, while other parts of the campaign, especially social media, provide readers with an opportunity to enact empathy and compassion. The study also identifies gendered and generational dimensions, and suggests that syndromes or clusters of positive and negative attitude can form the basis for empathetic and compassionate responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the level of awareness of safety precautions in the use of extension cords in Ho Municipality in Ghana. The relevance of this study is to provide an understanding of the awareness level of safety measures likely to lead to a significant reduction in incidents of domestic fire outbreaks when using an extension cord. A cross-sectional research was carried out in the Ho Municipality between February and April 2022. Six hundred and one (601) individuals were chosen from houses using a random selection method. A standardised questionnaire was used to gather data, and then entered and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) V.16. Descriptive statistics, Binary logistic regression analysis with a 0.05 p-value and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), Relative Importance Index (RII), and the Sample T-test were used to examine the significance of connections. Among the participants, there is a low level of awareness of extension cord ratings and standard labels from autonomous testing facilities. The participants' knowledge of awareness was significantly related to gender; [0.722 (95% (CI): 1.476 – 2.869), p = 0.001 < (0.05)]. Again, most participants overload the extension cord during usage and practice poor safety measures that could result in a fire outbreak. The study suggests that users should purchase extension cords that have been endorsed by an autonomous testing laboratory and fully be educated on the safety procedures that will aid in safeguarding lives and property by both government and non-governmental agencies. IMPACT STATEMENT: There is currently a known scarcity of data in the literature on household consumer extension cord usage that contributes significantly to home electrical fires. Extension cords provide temporary power to devices or equipment. They don't replace outlets and wiring permanently. This paper aims to assess the level of awareness of safety precautions in the use of extension cords. This study's relevance is to understand the awareness level of safety measures likely to reduce extension cord-related domestic fires. Results show that there is a low level of awareness of extension cord ratings and standard labels from autonomous testing facilities. Most participants overloaded the extension cord and used poor safety measures, which could cause a fire. Only buy extension cords that have been authorised by an independent testing laboratory, such as the underwriters' Laboratories (UL) and make sure the label is stamped. The testing laboratory issues an endorsement or posting of the extension cord, proving that it fulfils relevant requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of emotion regulation strategies on achievement emotions among tertiary-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. It also explores the strategies employed by students to regulate these emotions. Employing a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, data was collected from forty-nine language learners attending prep-classes at the Department of Foreign Languages in a state university in Türkiye. The participants were categorized based on their utilization of cognitive reappraisal (CR), expressive suppression (ES), or a combination of both emotion regulation strategies (ERSs). They completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Academic Emotions Questionnaire-Foreign Language Classroom to assess differences in achievement emotions among groups. Subsequently, the participants provided narratives regarding their perceptions and regulation of emotions. Thematic analysis using MAXQDA (Version 2020) was conducted. Results revealed significant variations in emotions among groups, with the ES group reporting lower levels of positive emotions and higher levels of negative emotions compared to others. The study underscores the importance of evaluating emotion regulation strategies to foster sustainable and enjoyable language learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes a brief analysis of the main elements that, on a theoretical, normative and situational basis, affect the value of properties placed as collateral for loans, with particular reference to the value they assume in the event that they are affected by an enforced procedure instead of being subject to normal sale, in free market conditions. Starting from the classic analytical estimate of the fair market value of a real estate asset in free market conditions, the paper will define the principles the appraiser has to follow to quantify the value of the asset from which to start the judicial auction. Considering the regulatory mechanisms in place in Italy, the paper will put in evidence how a value calculated for an execution sale of a property occurring in a foreclosure process is considerably far from its fair market value and even more from its final judicial value, considered as the amount that will be recovered at the end of the sale of the property by judicial auction. For debtors and creditors, the significant differences between fair market, execution and judicial values become an increasingly topical issue in the face of the growing number of default and distress of loans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Aled: Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios del Discurso is the property of Asociacion Latinoamericana de Estudio del Discurso and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and objective: The living systematic review (LSR) approach is based on ongoing surveillance of the literature and continual updating. Most currently available guidance documents address the conduct, reporting, publishing, and appraisal of systematic reviews (SRs), but are not suitable for LSRs per se and miss additional LSR-specific considerations. In this scoping review, we aim to systematically collate methodological guidance literature on how to conduct, report, publish, and appraise the quality of LSRs and identify current gaps in guidance. Methods: A standard scoping review methodology was used. We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), and The Cochrane Library on August 28, 2021. As for searching gray literature, we looked for existing guidelines and handbooks on LSRs from organizations that conduct evidence syntheses. The screening was conducted by two authors independently in Rayyan, and data extraction was done in duplicate using a pilot-tested data extraction form in Excel. Data was extracted according to four pre-defined categories for (i) conducting, (ii) reporting, (iii) publishing, and (iv) appraising LSRs. We mapped the findings by visualizing overview tables created in Microsoft Word. Results: Of the 21 included papers, methodological guidance was found in 17 papers for conducting, in six papers for reporting, in 15 papers for publishing, and in two papers for appraising LSRs. Some of the identified key items for (i) conducting LSRs were identifying the rationale, screening tools, or re-revaluating inclusion criteria. Identified items of (ii) the original PRISMA checklist included reporting the registration and protocol, title, or synthesis methods. For (iii) publishing, there was guidance available on publication type and frequency or update trigger, and for (iv) appraising, guidance on the appropriate use of bias assessment or reporting funding of included studies was found. Our search revealed major evidence gaps, particularly for guidance on certain PRISMA items such as reporting results, discussion, support and funding, and availability of data and material of a LSR. Conclusion: Important evidence gaps were identified for guidance on how to report in LSRs and appraise their quality. Our findings were applied to inform and prepare a PRISMA 2020 extension for LSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual processing of emotional words modulates early event-related potentials (ERPs) such as the early posterior negativity (EPN). Questions remain as to whether this modulation reflects modality-specific processing, preferentially elicited by emotional words of the native language (L1). This study investigates the modulation of early ERPs during rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) of adjectives or nouns referring to emotional feeling states, neutral traits, to an overweight or lean body or to concrete body parts or neutral objects, presented in the L1 and the second language (L2). Word ratings in the L2 were assessed in a pilot study. The N100 and the EPN were modulated by the emotional valence of the stimuli irrespective of the word class or the task (silent reading vs. word counting). The results suggest that early affective appraisal is obligatory, not restricted to privileged categories of linguistic information (emotions) or solely found for the embodied language (L1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: South African legislation promotes the accommodation of employees with disabilities through enabling modifications and adjustments in the workplace. The literature about the experiences of employees with disabilities in higher education environments regarding accommodation is scant. Filling the gap, this research aimed to explore how employees with disabilities at a South African university cope with disability management practices by means of accommodations. Objectives: The objectives entailed exploring the encounters of employees with disabilities regarding accommodation in the workplace, their beliefs about these encounters and the meaning that the employees with disabilities attached to them. Method: The study design is grounded in the subjectivist epistemology of social constructionism and took on a qualitative approach. The bounded single-case study concerned formative evaluations. The homogeneous purposive sampling strategy amounted to 13 employees with disabilities. Twelve semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The participants relied strongly on self-agency to address splintered or unresponsive disability management practices. To avoid marginalisation, they worked extra hard for securing a rightful place at work. Misconceptions of able-bodied peers or managers triggered psychological stress. Conclusion: Coping with the university's disability management practices is mainly a stressful challenge, consequently endangering people's well-being. Contribution: Exploring the coping of university employees with disabilities through accommodations filled a gap in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reiterates the importance of the role of multisource feedback (MSF) in continuing medical education/continuing professional development (CME/CPD) and its impact on doctors' performance and patient experience globally. It summarises a unique initiative of robust utilisation of internationally recognised multisource feedback tools in an outpatient child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in Qatar. The process involved the effective adoption and administering of the General Medical Council's (GMC) self-assessment questionnaire (SQ), patient questionnaire (PQ), and colleague questionnaire (CQ) followed by the successful incorporation of these tools in CME/CPD. The original version of the PQ questionnaire and the instructions to the patient document were translated into Arabic through the blind back-translation technique. This initiative of introducing gold-standard MSF tools and processes into clinical practice, among other quality-improvement projects, has contributed to the improvement of service standards and doctors' clinical practice. Patient satisfaction was measured through the annual patient experience analysis using the Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ) whereas changes in doctors' performance were evaluated by comparing annual appraisal scores before and after implementation of this initiative. We have demonstrated that when MSF is obtained impartially and transparently using recognised and valid tools, it can improve patient experience and enhance doctors' performance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]