Early career researchers’ identity threats in the field : the shelter and shadow of collective support

Based on an autoethnographic study of early career researchers’ field research experiences, we show how individuals deal with moments of discrimination that present identity threats. This is accomplished through participating in the construction of a shared holding environment to provide emotional shelter and resources for resultant identity work. We show how they collectively develop anticipatory responses to future identity threats and inadvertently how this allows the effects of discrimination to be both unchallenged and amplified. We draw implications for identity work theory, adding to current understandings of identity threats, tensions, and challenges and the dynamics through which these are addressed, avoided, or worked around, as well as the shadow side of such activities. We also offer practical implications about the business schools’ role in nurturing early career researchers’ identity work.PostprintPeer reviewe

Validation of the accuracy of both right and left ventricular outflow volume determinations and semiautomated calculation of shunt volumes through atrial septal defects by digital color Doppler flow mapping in a chronic animal model

AbstractOBJECTIVESThe aim of the present study was to quantitate shunt flow volumes through atrial septal defects (ASDs) in a chronic animal model with surgically created ASDs using a new semiautomated color Doppler flow calculation method (ACM).BACKGROUNDBecause pulsed Doppler is cumbersome and often inappropriate for color flow computation, new methods such as ACM are of interest.METHODSIn this study, 13 to 25 weeks after ASDs were surgically created in eight sheep, a total of 24 hemodynamic states were studied at a separate open chest experimental session. Electromagnetic (EM) flow probes and meters were used to provide reference flow volumes as the pulmonary and aortic flow volumes (Qpand Qs) and shunt flow volumes (Qpminus Qs). Epicardial echocardiographic studies were performed to image the left and right ventricular outflow tract (LVOT and RVOT) forward flow signals. The ACM method digitally integrated spatial and temporal color flow velocity data to provide stroke volumes.RESULTSLeft ventricular outflow tract and RVOT flow volumes obtained by the ACM method agreed well with those obtained by the EM method (r = 0.96, mean difference = 0.78 ± 1.7 ml for LVOT and r = 0.97, mean difference = −0.35 ± 3.6 ml for RVOT). As a result, shunt flow volumes and Qp/Qsby the ACM method agreed well with those obtained by the EM method (r = 0.96, mean difference = −1.1 ± 3.6 ml/beat for shunt volumes and r = 0.95, mean difference = −0.11 ± 0.22 for Qp/Qs).CONCLUSIONSThis animal study, using strictly quantified shunt flow volumes, demonstrated that the ACM method can provide Qp/Qsand shunt measurements semiautomatically and noninvasively

Development and validation of an Arabic questionnaire to assess psychosocial determinants of eating behavior among adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Background: There is a scarcity of studies that evaluate the psychosocial determinants of eating behavior among adolescents in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The availability of such data is limited by the lack of valid culturally appropriate tools. The current study aims to develop and validate an Arabic questionnaire that measures psychosocial determinants of eating behavior among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to validate a five-scale questionnaire developed to measure nutrition-related knowledge, attitude, practices, and self-efficacy and social norms. Content validity was assessed by Lawshe\u2019s method, factor analysis was used to assess construct validity, and Cronbach\u2019s \u3b1 was used to test internal consistency. Temporal stability was assessed by test\u2013retest reliability. A random sample of public and private school students participated in the validation study. Results: All the five scales demonstrated excellent content validity (content validity ratio, CVR 650.778). Factor analysis revealed several dimensions for each scale. Cronbach\u2019s \u3b1 for the identified dimensions or subscales ranged between 0.495 and 0.809 indicating acceptable internal consistency. Cronbach\u2019s \u3b1 for the total scales ranged between 0.759 and 0.836. Test\u2013retest analysis revealed good temporal stability (intraclass correlation, ICC >0.7). Conclusions: A psychometrically valid tool to measure psychosocial determinants of eating behavior was developed. This tool can serve as a potential instrument for pretest and impact evaluation of ongoing nutrition education interventions and curricula. Based on results obtained from this tool, efficacious modifications can be instilled for nutrition policies and interventions

Prospects for biocontrol of Vibrio parahaemolyticus contamination in blue mussels (Mytilus edulus) – a year-long study

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an environmental organism normally found in subtropical estuarine environments which can cause seafood-related human infections. Clinical disease is associated with diagnostic presence of tdh and/or trh virulence genes and identification of these genes in our preliminary isolates from retail shellfish prompted a year-long surveillance of isolates from a temperate estuary in the north of England. The microbial and environmental analysis of 117 samples of mussels, seawater or sediment showed the presence of V. parahaemolyticus from mussels (100%) at all time-points throughout the year including the colder months although they were only recovered from 94.9% of seawater and 92.3% of sediment samples. Throughout the surveillance, 96 isolates were subjected to specific PCR for virulence genes and none tested positive for either. The common understanding that consuming poorly cooked mussels only represents a risk of infection during summer vacations therefore is challenged. Further investigations with V. parahaemolyticus using RAPD-PCR cluster analysis showed a genetically diverse population. There was no distinct clustering for ‘environmental’ or 'clinical reference strains although a wide variability and heterogeneity agreed with other reports. Continued surveillance of isolates to allay public health risks are justified since geographical distribution and composition of V. parahaemolyticus varies with future ocean warming and the potential of environmental strains to acquire virulence genes from pathogenic isolates. The prospects for intervention by phage-mediated biocontrol to reduce or eradicate V. parahaemolyticus in mussels was also investigated. Bacteriophages isolated from enriched samples collected from the river Humber were assessed for their ability to inhibit the growth of V. parahaemolyticus strains in-vitro and in-vivo (with live mussels). V. parahaemolyticus were significantly reduced in-vitro, by an average of 1 log - 2 log units and in-vivo, significant reduction of the organisms in mussels occurred in 3 replicate experimental tank set ups with a ‘phage cocktail’ containing 12 different phages. Our perspective biocontrol study suggests that a cocktail of specific phages targeted against strains of V. parahaemolyticus provides good evidence in an experimental setting of the valuable potential of phage as a decontamination agent in natural or industrial mussel processing