1,174 research outputs found
Effects of municipal smoke-free ordinances on secondhand smoke exposure in the Republic of Korea
ObjectiveTo reduce premature deaths due to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among non-smokers, the Republic of Korea (ROK) adopted changes to the National Health Promotion Act, which allowed local governments to enact municipal ordinances to strengthen their authority to designate smoke-free areas and levy penalty fines. In this study, we examined national trends in SHS exposure after the introduction of these municipal ordinances at the city level in 2010.MethodsWe used interrupted time series analysis to assess whether the trends of SHS exposure in the workplace and at home, and the primary cigarette smoking rate changed following the policy adjustment in the national legislation in ROK. Population-standardized data for selected variables were retrieved from a nationally representative survey dataset and used to study the policy action’s effectiveness.ResultsFollowing the change in the legislation, SHS exposure in the workplace reversed course from an increasing (18% per year) trend prior to the introduction of these smoke-free ordinances to a decreasing (−10% per year) trend after adoption and enforcement of these laws (β2 = 0.18, p-value = 0.07; β3 = −0.10, p-value = 0.02). SHS exposure at home (β2 = 0.10, p-value = 0.09; β3 = −0.03, p-value = 0.14) and the primary cigarette smoking rate (β2 = 0.03, p-value = 0.10; β3 = 0.008, p-value = 0.15) showed no significant changes in the sampled period. Although analyses stratified by sex showed that the allowance of municipal ordinances resulted in reduced SHS exposure in the workplace for both males and females, they did not affect the primary cigarette smoking rate as much, especially among females.ConclusionStrengthening the role of local governments by giving them the authority to enact and enforce penalties on SHS exposure violation helped ROK to reduce SHS exposure in the workplace. However, smoking behaviors and related activities seemed to shift to less restrictive areas such as on the streets and in apartment hallways, negating some of the effects due to these ordinances. Future studies should investigate how smoke-free policies beyond public places can further reduce the SHS exposure in ROK
Ethnographies of Collaborative Economies across Europe: Understanding Sharing and Caring
"Sharing economy" and "collaborative economy" refer to a proliferation of initiatives, business models, digital platforms and forms of work that characterise contemporary life: from community-led initiatives and activist campaigns, to the impact of global sharing platforms in contexts such as network hospitality, transportation, etc. Sharing the common lens of ethnographic methods, this book presents in-depth examinations of collaborative economy phenomena. The book combines qualitative research and ethnographic methodology with a range of different collaborative economy case studies and topics across Europe. It uniquely offers a truly interdisciplinary approach. It emerges from a unique, long-term, multinational, cross-European collaboration between researchers from various disciplines (e.g., sociology, anthropology, geography, business studies, law, computing, information systems), career stages, and epistemological backgrounds, brought together by a shared research interest in the collaborative economy. This book is a further contribution to the in-depth qualitative understanding of the complexities of the collaborative economy phenomenon. These rich accounts contribute to the painting of a complex landscape that spans several countries and regions, and diverse political, cultural, and organisational backdrops. This book also offers important reflections on the role of ethnographic researchers, and on their stance and outlook, that are of paramount interest across the disciplines involved in collaborative economy research
Izolirana i nestala banijska naselja
IN CROATIAN: Ruralna naselja u kontinentalnoj Hrvatskoj obilježena su snažnom depopula[1]cijom, prometnom izoliranošću i velikim brojem napuštenih i praznih mjesta. Područje Banije desetljećima je posebno izloženo snažnoj depopulaciji. Od 195 nenaseljenih mjesta u Hrvatskoj 2021. godine, čak njih 13 je na području Ba[1]nije. Banijska napuštena naselja, u kojima nitko više ne živi pored ruševina ili tragova kuća i okućnica, s devastiranom infrastrukturom, nepostojećim jav[1]nim prijevozom i, na kraju, u potpuno zapuštenim ruralnim krajolicima, svje[1]doče demografskom slomu, izumiranju i nestajanju. Raznoliki razlozi (migra[1]cije, ratovi i katastrofe, ekonomski i politički razlozi) doveli su do društvene i kulturne izolacije. U ovome radu prikazat će se prazna i napuštena naselja (Baturi, Bišćanovo, Brubno, Donja Trstenica, Donji Selkovac, Gornje Jame, Turčenica, Kobiljak, Ostojići, Zut, Bukovica i Mala Vranovina) pomoću doku[1]mentiranja devastiranih i danas jedva vidljivih ostataka materijalne kulture. Uz to analizirat će se „svakodnevica u prošlosti“ korištenjem arhivske građe o stanovnicima i životu u prošlosti te pomoću iskustava, doživljaja, sjećanja i privatne arhive (sačuvani predmeti, fotografije) njihovih bivših stanovnika. --------------- IN ENGLISH: Rural settlements in Continental Croatia are characterized by severe depopulation, traffic isolation, and a large number of abandoned and empty settlements. The Banija Region has been particularly affected by severe depopulation for decades. Of the 195 uninhabited settlements in Croatia in 2021, as many as 13 are in the Banija Region. Uninhabited and abandoned settlements, where no one lives anymore next to the ruins or traces of houses and gardens, with devastated or destroyed infrastructure, non-existent public transport, and completely neglected rural landscapes testify to demographic collapse, extinction, and desertion. Various reasons (migrations, wars and disasters, economic and political reasons) have led to social and cultural isolation. In this paper, we will show empty and abandoned settlements (Baturi, Bišćanovo, Brubno, Donja Trstenica, Donji Selkovac, Gornje Jame, Turčenica, Kobiljak, Ostojići, Zut, Bukovica, and Mala Vranovina) by documenting the devastated and barely visible remains of material culture. In addition, we will analyse “everyday life in the past” using archival material about life in the past, and through the experiences, memories, stories, and private archives (preserved objects, photos) of their former residents
DECRYPTING THE DIVERSITY OF MICROBIOME IN AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture can play an important role in reducing the overexploitation of natural re-
sources and feeding the world’s growing population. However, the use of e.g., antibiotics in
aquaculture can favor the development of resistant bacteria and jeopardize the safety of its
products. Thus, this Ph.D. thesis aimed to contribute to the deciphering of aquaculture’s mi-
crobiome and resistome, as well as to the understanding of the role of mobile genetic elements
(MGE) in the dissemination of resistance genes in these environments. Several approaches were
used, to obtain the results that most reflect the microbiome and resistome of seabream and
bivalve mollusks from aquaculture. All microbiomes studied were very diverse, encompassing
commensal and pathogenic bacteria from seabream and bivalve mollusks (e.g.,
Aeromonas,Kocuria,
Pseudomonas and
Vibrio genera), as well as bacteria important in human medicine
(e.g.,
Staphylococcus aureus,
Escherichia coli and
Klebsiella pneumoniae). Twenty-one new se-
quence types were described in
Aeromonas spp.,
Citrobacter sp.,
Enterobacter spp.,
Shewanella
spp.,
Staphylococcus sp. and
Vibrio spp. Decreased susceptibilities to phenicols, oxytetracy-
cline, β-lactams (namely carbapenems), quinolones, glycopeptides, mupirocin, erythromycin,
and colistin were found. The resistome also revealed a great diversity of genes in all samples
studied associated with antibiotics (e.g.,
blaTEM-1B,
mecA,
sul2,
mcr-9.1), disinfectants (e.g.,formA-type), and heavy metals (e.g.,
sil) resistance. Twenty-five different genes related with
increased virulence were also detected. Thirteen new β-lactams resistance genes were identi-
fied (e.g.,
blaCTX-M-246,
blaFOX-18, and
blaOXA-958) and 35 other resistance genes, namely for antibi-
otics (e.g.,
mcr-9 and
qnrD2), heavy metals (e.g.,
emrA and
mdtE) and disinfectants (
sitABCD-
type), and virulence factors (e.g.,
astA and
hlyF) were here described for the first time associated
with aquaculture. Our results suggest that some of these resistance genes (e.g.,
erm(T)-type,qnrB19,
catA1-type,
tet(A),
dfrA-type,
aph(6)-Id,
qacE∆
1 and
merA) are being disseminated by
MGE such as plasmids, class 1 integrons, and Tn
As1. These findings not only expand our
knowledge about aquaculture’s microbiome and resistome, but also provide the necessary xiv
information to implement the most suitable measures to control antibiotic resistance in aqua-
culture environments.A aquacultura pode desempenhar um papel importante na redução da sobre-explora-
ção dos recursos naturais e no fornecimento de alimentos para a crescente população mundial.
No entanto, o uso de, por exemplo, antibióticos em aquacultura pode favorecer o desenvolvi-
mento de bactérias resistentes e comprometer a segurança dos seus produtos. Assim, esta tese
de Doutoramento teve como objetivo contribuir para a decifração do microbioma e resistoma
em aquacultura, bem como compreender o papel dos elementos genéticos móveis na disse-
minação de genes de resistência nestes ambientes. Foram usadas diversas abordagens com o
intuito de obter os resultados que melhor refletem o microbioma e o resistoma das douradas
e moluscos bivalves de aquacultura. Os microbiomas estudados apresentaram uma grande
diversidade, englobando bactérias comensais e patogénicas das douradas e moluscos bivalves
(ex.: os géneros
Aeromonas,
Kocuria,
Pseudomonas e
Vibrio), assim como bactérias importan-
tes em medicina humana (ex.:
Staphylococcus aureus,
Escherichia coli e
Klebsiella pneumo-
niae). Foram descritos 21 novos
sequence type em
Aeromonas spp.,
Citrobacter sp.,
Entero-
bacter spp.,
Shewanella spp.,
Staphylococcus sp. e
Vibrio spp. Foram encontradas suscetibili-
dades diminuídas aos fenicois, oxitetraciclina, β-lactâmicos (como carbapenemes), quinolonas,
glicopéptidos, mupirocina, eritromicina e colistina. Também os resistomas revelaram uma
grande diversidade de genes associados a resistências aos antibióticos (ex.:
blaTEM-1B,
mecA,sul2,
mcr-9.1), desinfetantes (ex.:
formA-type) e metais pesados (ex.:
sil). Foram também dete-
tados 25 genes diferentes, associados a uma maior virulência. Encontram-se aqui descritos 13
novos genes de resistência aos β-lactâmicos (ex.:
blaCTX-M-246,
blaFOX-18,
blaOXA-958) e outros 35
genes de resistência, nomeadamente aos antibióticos (ex.:
mcr-9 e
qnrD2), metais pesados (ex.:emrA e
mdtE) e desinfetantes (
sitABCD-type), e fatores de virulência (ex.:
astA e
hlyF) são aqui
identificados pela primeira vez associados à aquacultura. Os nossos resultados sugerem que
alguns destes genes de resistência (como
erm(T)-type,
qnrB19,
catA1-type,
tet(A),
dfrA-type, aph(6)-Id,
qacE∆
1 e
merA) estarão a ser disseminados por elementos genéticos móveis, como
plasmídeos, integrões de classe 1 e Tn
As1. Estes estudos não só ampliam o nosso conheci-
mento sobre o microbioma e o resistoma em aquacultura, mas também providenciam a infor-
mação necessária para a implementação das medidas mais adequadas ao controlo da resis-
tência aos antibióticos em aquacultura
COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Acceptance in Ethnic Minority Individuals in the United Kingdom: a mixed-methods study using Protection Motivation Theory
Background: Uptake of the COVID-19 booster vaccine among ethnic minority individuals has been lower than in the general population. However, there is little research examining the psychosocial factors that contribute to COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy in this population.Aim: Our study aimed to determine which factors predicted COVID-19 vaccination intention in minority ethnic individuals in Middlesbrough, using Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, in addition to demographic variables.Method: We used a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected using an online survey. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews. 64 minority ethnic individuals (33 females, 31 males; mage = 31.06, SD = 8.36) completed the survey assessing PMT constructs, COVID-19conspiracy beliefs and demographic factors. 42.2% had received the booster vaccine, 57.6% had not. 16 survey respondents were interviewed online to gain further insight into factors affecting booster vaccineacceptance.Results: Multiple regression analysis showed that perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 was a significant predictor of booster vaccination intention, with higher perceived susceptibility being associated with higher intention to get the booster. Additionally, COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs significantly predictedintention to get the booster vaccine, with higher conspiracy beliefs being associated with lower intention to get the booster dose. Thematic analysis of the interview data showed that barriers to COVID-19 booster vaccination included time constraints and a perceived lack of practical support in the event ofexperiencing side effects. Furthermore, there was a lack of confidence in the vaccine, with individuals seeing it as lacking sufficient research. Participants also spoke of medical mistrust due to historical events involving medical experimentation on minority ethnic individuals.Conclusion: PMT and conspiracy beliefs predict COVID-19 booster vaccination in minority ethnic individuals. To help increase vaccine uptake, community leaders need to be involved in addressing people’s concerns, misassumptions, and lack of confidence in COVID-19 vaccination
Research into Early-Stage Identification of Entrepreneurs and Innovators with Development of an Identification Guidance Framework
In recent years, young entrepreneurs have attracted considerable interest from Government policy makers and the media and the evidence and general consensus of opinion is that the numbers of young people aspiring to start their own businesses is increasing. Courses are being created for further and higher education as well as modules developed at schools to introduce young people to business studies, however not everyone is suited to the courses, and those who undertake them may never go on to realise their aspirations of having a successful business.
Entrepreneurs and innovators are crucial for society in order to develop new businesses, products and services, thus creating job prospects and wealth for the country and society as a whole. Many entrepreneurs don’t become entrepreneurs until later in life, or their skills and attributes never materialise and lie dormant due to factors such as financial insecurity, lack of confidence or guidance as to how they can control their destiny. It is believed that entrepreneurship can be, to a certain extent taught, but only successfully, to individuals who have entrepreneurial traits and who have been identified as being entrepreneurial.
Previous studies have mainly focused on existing entrepreneurs and those with failed businesses. By contrast this thesis seeks to identify the traits and characteristics that make individuals entrepreneurs, with a view to devising a framework of identifiable indicators for the tertiary education age group of 16 - 18 years old, leading potentially to early-stage identification of entrepreneurs. Leading on from the validated identification framework, online software tools have been developed as a user age-appropriate interface that will be suitable for providing the necessary identification of entrepreneurs in the 16-18 age groups. This study provides a further opportunity for additional research into the development of entrepreneur mentoring and training guidelines that can assist in preparing the potential entrepreneurs for their future by giving them tutorial programmes to develop their businesses successfully. This research programme seeks to establish a paradigm as to what it is that makes someone entrepreneurial, primarily focussed on positively identifying traits exhibited by existing entrepreneurs which can be used to assist in that identification process.
As part of the research work completed so far, these traits have now been identified and have expanded upon the limited number of traits previously recognised as being entrepreneurial. A new derivation for an Entrepreneurial Trait has been created which shall be known as an ‘Entrephonotypic Trait’ which is a grouping of specifically recognised traits which have been found to be common to entrepreneurs.
In addition to the research new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have been evaluated for integration and use in training programs to assist the development of young entrepreneurs who have the potential to become successful in their business ventures. This thesis makes a significant contribution to knowledge which can be further expanded upon and utilised in future studies and research
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