Breathing Space Research Articles

Creating breathing space: the scandal of missing respiratory diagnostics

Creating breathing space: the scandal of missing respiratory diagnostics

Challenges Faced by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in China When Seeking Low-cost Financing

SME (small and medium-sized Enterprises) financing has been difficult in recent years. But, SMEs are vital to the economy and must be helped to thrive. China calls SMEs "Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine" since they account for more than 50% of national tax revenue, 60% of GDP, 70% of technological innovation, 80% of jobs, and 90% of enterprises. SMEs drive long-term, sustainable economic growth that benefits everyone. But, reducing SMEs' breathing space will hurt China's economy. Thus, SMEs' problems are the economy's problems, and it is worth investigating and trying to solve them. Most studies examine SMEs' finance dilemma's causes, while others focus on a specific solution. This paper examines these finance issues and weighs the pros and cons of various solutions. This paper uses a literature review to explore China's economy, the problem, risk perception, and its effects. The study also discusses possible solutions and future development.

"It's nice to just be": A qualitative study on the meaning-imbued reality of waterpipe smoking among young adults in Sweden.

Background and aims: Waterpipe smoking is regarded as a burgeoning public health problem due to its popularity among young adults. This study aims to understand the meaning-imbued reality of waterpipe smoking for young adults in Sweden. Method: Data from 18 individual interviews with ethnically diverse Swedish young adults were analysed using inductive latent-level qualitative content analysis. Results: The youth's experience of waterpipe smoking shows different dimensions (time, space, fun, community) that construct the practice of waterpipe smoking as a closed bubble characterised by harmlessness, cosiness and freedom to develop an adult self in the waterpipe group. The bubble provides a breathing space and timeout in everyday life, fuelled by an understanding of the hookah as hazard-free and liberating. A variety of control mechanisms are used to defend the bubble's constructed harmlessness, proving responsibility by applying practice-, communication- and Othering-oriented means. Conclusion: The study enhances the understanding of waterpipe smoking by highlighting its community- and self-forming meaning in a combined focus on ritualistic and symbolic qualities. For young adults, waterpipe smoking combines potentially beneficial and detrimental impacts on health. This complex situation requires a dialogical - rather than a traditional - approach to prevention that negotiates the risk landscape faced by young adults.

Campus Biodiversity Management: A case-specific review of Symbiosis International University

This article discusses the concept of campus biodiversity initiative using the efforts of Symbiosis International University as a model system. It also indicates how campuses can contribute to the biodiversity conservation mission of Govt. of India, focusing on Campus Biodiversity conservation initiatives. As we know, a large chunk of green spaces and land cover is a part of Institutional and academic campuses, and campus biodiversity has a significant role. If appropriately managed, campus biodiversity may support as much, if not more, as any other urban green space and can be effectively maintained. Symbiosis International University can be taken as a model to replicate in other institutions. We also look at the gaps that are currently present in policy and possible solutions. Campuses should be managed periodically since they provide a vital breathing space for growing biodiversity

Creating breathing spaces for teenagers in the Welsh language: the case of theatre-in-Education

ABSTRACT Despite the vibrancy and potential Welsh-language Theatre-in-Education (TIE) has thus far received very little scholarly attention. This article aims to address that gap in research by focusing on Welsh TIE's role in engaging teenagers with and through the Welsh language. The first part of this article outlines the socio-political, linguistic and educational context out of which TIE grew. The second part demonstrates how Welsh-language TIE responds to the Welsh context and has found ways of carving out spaces for teenagers to engage in the Welsh language beyond the classroom, providing a potential model for other minority language contexts.

Clinical effectiveness of phospholipids in patients with restrictive respiratory failure due to lung tissue inflammation

Objective — to analyze the clinical effectiveness use of phosphatidylcholine liposomes in the treatment of patients with restrictive respiratory failure caused by acute pneumonia and pneumonia with a prolonged course.
 Materials and methods. A prospective cohort study of 68 people was conducted on the basis of the pulmonology department of the Kirovohrad Regional Hospital of the Kirovohrad Regional State in 2020—2021. The people were divided into two groups: I (n = 20) — control group, II (n = 48) — experimental group. They were composed of men aged 25 to 40 years. The first group consisted of healthy individuals who underwent a preventive examination. The second group included patients who, in addition to the traditional treatment of pneumonia, were treated with phospholipids in liposomal form. The drug was used by inhalation according to the instructions. In the course of the experiment, the volume-time indicators of external respiration and gas exchange of the body were studied in dynamics.
 Results and discussion. The introduction of phospholipids in liposomal form had a positive effect on the restoration of the function of external respiration from the 5th day of treatment of the disease. This is evidenced by the gradual normalization of breathing rate and respiratory volume. It was shown that the ratio of alveolar ventilation and minute respiratory volume was significantly lower and ranged from 60.3 to 72.7 % (with a control value of 72.2 to 77.4 %). Oxygen consumption increased by approximately 76 % on the 5th day of the disease, which indicates a pronounced increase in the level of oxidative metabolism in the body during this pathological process. Recovery could be observed due to optimization of the body’s oxygen supply. Regarding carbon dioxide release, this indicator was almost 2.3 times higher than the control values ​​on the 5th day of the disease. This contributes to the development of metabolic acidosis, which in turn leads to respiratory alkalosis. Against the background of phosphatidylcholine liposomes treatment, this indicator gradually decreased and had a tendency to approach control values ​​a month after treatment (0.216 ± ± 0.042) l/min). Another of the studied indicators is the dead breathing space. According to this indicator, the efficiency of external breathing also increased. The minute volume of blood flow in healthy individuals was (6.5 ± 0.7). During the disease, it decreased to (4.7 ± 0.8) with gradual recovery, starting from the 10th day of treatment with phospholipids. There is also a decrease in the oxygen saturation of the arterial blood and a decrease in the use of oxygen, which can be judged by the characteristics of the venous blood; at the same time, the determined oxygen consumption increases due to hyperventilation. One month after the treatment, these indicators were no longer significantly different from the control values. A similar trend is noted in the analysis of oxygen tension in arterial and venous blood, with a gradual normalization of indicators against the background of the use of phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The determination of the alveolar-arterial difference in oxygen showed an increase in the indicator in the experimental group compared to the control group. Most of the indicators we studied contributed to the decrease in oxygen, thus increasing the efficiency of external respiration.
 Conclusions. Phosphatidylcholine liposomes are an effective means of complex therapy of pneumonia. The drug has a normalizing effect on the level of energy metabolism in the body and normalizes oxygen consumption, contributing to a faster recovery of the optimal intensity of metabolic processes.

A narrative approach to Christian pastoral care for chronic illness patients: contemporary forms of TV narrative as metaphor

ABSTRACT The field of narrative medicine, or medical narratology, has opened up an exciting and creative range of ways to help medical practitioners understand more deeply patients’ accounts and thereby offer more effective patient care. The insights offered by medical narratology remain relatively unexplored in Christian pastoral care literature, yet hold much wisdom for those who care pastorally in contexts involving illness. This paper draws on the medical narratology of Arthur Frank to suggest an approach to pastoral listening that allows ‘breathing space’ for the multiple strands or ‘plotlines’ of experiences of those with chronic or long-term health conditions. It critiques the application in medical narratology of Aristotelian plot structure as too reductive to speak truthfully to the multiply-stranded narratives of chronic illness, and instead suggests the British television soap opera as a contemporary narrative form offers a metaphor which can help Christian pastoral carers to position themselves as long-term listeners to those with long-term illness.

Learning routines that reflect teachers’ asset-based pedagogies: Creating breathing spaces for students

The findings of this inquiry emerged from a research study conducted over two years in two schools investigating how teachers support learners from populations who have been historically underserved by a provincial education system in Canada. Emerging from a focus on how teachers in four rural middle school classrooms supported literacy acquisition through teaching in the content areas, this work revealed asset-based pedagogies made visible by teaching and learning routines that provided learners supportive spaces to grow. Each of these routines was developed by teacher participants to enable students to think, ask questions, make choices, assess their learning, and take risks as learners. The results of this study affirm what is known about how to support learners in culturally and economically diverse classroom contexts and afford new understanding about asset-based informed learning routines that can encourage students to take risks academically. As learning routines have not often been studied in relation to culturally relevant pedagogy, culturally sustaining pedagogy, or additive schooling theories, this study suggests a novel intersection with these asset-based pedagogies. This intersection offers fresh possibilities for understanding their enactment in classrooms.

Analysis of the New Route of Brand Communication in the Post-epidemic Period -- Take the Outdoor Camping Brand TOREAD as an Example

In the post-epidemic era, the restrictions of the external business environment and the traditional communication methods of many brands have kept the brand from gaining and maintaining customers. At the same time, the communication of some "outdoor camping" brands has won the favor of more and more audiences, which hides their precise positioning for the concept of outdoor leisure lifestyle and the rise of minority cultural circles. This is exactly the opportunity for the growth of outdoor camping brands. Focusing on the local perspective, from the ups and downs of China's own outdoor camping brands, domestic local outdoor camping brands have penetrated into public life, which also represents the return of contemporary Chinese aesthetics. In the post-epidemic era, with consumption upgrading, the role of consumers has gradually changed into an important node in brand production and communication. They need to find a breathing space in their limited life. In this space, the consumer brand that best meets the audience's psychology makes them yearn for it. Based on this, brand development should be studied from the internal and external environment and consumer concepts. Nowadays, the competition of brand communication is not only the competition between products but also the development of brand communication through such countermeasures as increasing the added value of the brand, accurate positioning of the audience at all levels, and respecting the co-creation value of consumers' psychology.

Evaluating public spaces in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A reflection on cultural changes and user perceptions

Public spaces are an essential part of the urban environment as they support a wide variety of public activity. Within the City of Hail, Saudi Arabia, public spaces have undergone a cultural shift, making them more vibrant and highly attractive, serving as much needed breathing spaces for the city and popular gathering places. The culture of Hail and its surrounding region strives to accept change while preserving the customs and traditions of previous generations. The aim of the study is to first examine public spaces through six dimensions to identify and understand the differences in space quality. The presence of these six dimensions is further refined into eighteen. These dimensions and attributes will be used to evaluate the various public spaces within Hail, and the results of this study are intended to inform both citizens and city officials of the quality of public spaces throughout the city. Second, the study intends to correlate quantitative and qualitative data to develop a better understanding of specific space qualities by utilizing fieldwork observations and user perception. The study concludes by identifying several specific challenges concerning the planning and design of public spaces in Hail, as well as several recommendations for increasing the value of Hail's public spaces in accordance with Saudi Arabia's National Transformation Program.

Digital remediation and visual manipulation: Blogs as breathing spaces for Chinese tattoo wearers and enthusiasts

Abstract Digital remediation increasingly plays a pivotal role in delivering political messages. This study examines postings of corporeally mediated tattoos in a China-based blog, focusing on in what sense blogs can provide a breathing or even emancipating space for Chinese tattoo wearers and enthusiasts to control the viewer’s perceptions of tattooing and negotiate long-standing stigmatized associations of tattoos there. The study analyzes 305 postings collected from the blog covering a period between 24 April 2020 and 3 May 2021, taking a quantitative approach. Methodologically, it first analyses the distribution of the signs across body parts as displayed. By applying multimodal perspectives, this study also investigates photographic techniques such as distance, angle, gaze, and modality harnessed and exploited for visual manipulation during digital remediation of turning body narratives into digital narratives. Findings of the study suggest that digital remediation facilitates personal expression of tattoo wearers and photographic techniques play a critical role in introducing ready alignment of the viewer with the postings. The study thus adds quantitative inquiries to existing, mostly qualitative, studies of tattoos which usually rest on interviews with tattoo wearers, enthusiasts, and artists for an account of tattoo narratives in connection to personal expression and self-definition. Its findings would be inspiring to socially stigmatized and marginalized groups to circumvent social, cultural, and political barriers to communicate and make their stories heard to more people.

An open-ended story of some hidden sides of listening or (what) are we really (doing) with childhood?

The paper arises from a shared event that turned into an experience: the finding of a childlike piece of paper on our way to a conference about philosophy in schools and how it affects our educational ideas and research practices on listening to children. Triggered by the question of what it means to listen, we are led to the exercise of self-questioning inspired by some of the authors that have already written about the topic, specifically in the context of the community of philosophical enquiry. The thinking unfolds with the telling of the story about the found piece of paper, crossing different layers of questioning and trying to keep the enquiry open for the readers: what is it that we do not know about listening to children? And to what extent might that, which we do not know, be the cause of biased and adultist practices? Is it necessary to return to what philosophy is and where one can find it inside the school environment? Is it already there when the adults arrive? Are we not listening to it? Or are there specific places for philosophical conversations, such as the classroom? Is philosophy also invited to the margins of those spaces? Who decides what counts as philosophical? It is not about answering questions and giving closure to our concerns as educators and researchers, but rather sharing with the readers how even in the least suspected place - an academic event about bringing philosophy to school - one might still not be listening to children. In returning to this self-questioning movement, we want to echo some of the troubling in the thinking and practices of listening in the so-called movement of Philosophy for/with Children: this for/with phenomenon, its politics and relations; some of the assumptions that might be present in the dilemmas in practice for educators and researchers; but also its aesthetics resonances, the sheer beauty of troubling, the (out of) tune of self-questioning, the questions it raises for us as researchers and the space of doubting and uncertainty it offers, like a hesitation or a breathing space. And perhaps, we wonder, it is in-between spaces, in its cracks and transitions, that important things can find their way into our thinking and conversations about childhood. Just like a piece of paper in a hotel room.

Edema of the larynx - an emergency caused by angina Ludovici

Introduction. Laryngeal edema is a rare complication of angina Ludovici. Infections of this region are mostly of dentogenic origin, less often caused by tonsillitis or other infections in the pharynx. We present a case of a patient with laryngeal edema and dyspnea caused by a lower jaw tooth infection and an ipsilateral submandibular abscess. Case outline. The clinical picture of our patient progressed rapidly ? from toothache, painful swelling of the floor of the oral cavity, submandibular and submental regions, bilaterally, all the way to lifethreatening dyspnea. A flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy was performed. Swelling of the base of the tongue on the left side was observed, along with pronounced edema of the aryepiglottic fold on the same side, which narrowed the breathing space. Since the breathing space was significantly reduced, the patient was urgently hospitalized. The surgical treatment was carried out in the form of an external incision and drainage of the abscess collection of the left submandibular region, with the use of oxygen support and parenteral therapy, in accordance with the recommendations from the available medical literature. Constant monitoring of saturation levels indicated a significant improvement after just a few hours of medicamentous therapy. Conclusion. The goal of our work is to point out a very rare but serious complication, laryngeal edema, which can lead to airway obstruction even in the first few days of the development of the infection, and endanger the life of the patient.

Being present for you and your patients: Simple strategies for everyday mindfulness

Healthcare professionals experienced increased levels of stress, and this stress has only been exacerbated over the past two years. The COVID pandemic, workplace violence, and professional shortages are all factors that have contributed to increased levels of stress and burnout. Mindfulness is a self-care strategy that healthcare professionals can use to mitigate the negative effects of stress. Mindfulness can be described as intentionally paying attention in the present moment, non-judgmentally. The research illustrates that individuals can experience positive benefits from mindfulness with short, daily practices. This article describes how healthcare professionals can infuse mindfulness into their daily routine through the use of a 1-min breathing space, mindful moments, and mindfulness during daily activities.

Relatives' experiences of brief admission in borderline personality disorder and self-harming behaviour.

The aim of this study is to describe experiences of brief admission (BA) of people with borderline personality disorder and self-harming behaviour, from the perspective of their relatives. A descriptive qualitative design was chosen. Twelve relatives of people with borderline personality disorder and self-harming behaviour who had access to BA were interviewed. Data were analysed with qualitative conventional content analysis. One overarching category: Hope for the future and three categories occurred: Breathing space, Personal responsibility and Structure. BA created hope for the future and the relatives appreciated that BA is a freer and easily accessible form of care that enables help at an early stage, compared with usual care. When BA functions, the structure and pre-determined days of care give relatives a breathing space, and the uncertainty diminishes for the children, as the parent can still be present during inpatient care. The lack of places was described as a disadvantage of BA.

Respite. Quiet. A House of Dreams.

Respite. Quiet. A House of Dreams.

Mosque as a multi-functional public space destination: potential breathing space in dense urban fabrics of Hail City, Saudi Arabia

PurposeThe general concept of public space in Saudi Arabia is relatively recent; it is the result of an attempt to modernize several conservative traditions and norms, as well as the ambitious vision of 2030, which reprioritized Saudi cities' public spaces by implementing a quality-of-life improvement program. This study aims to investigate the relationship between mosque location and surrounding urban context as a significant urban design issue in order to comprehend the potential for transforming such an element into a multifunctional public space destination in a dense urban fabric.Design/methodology/approachThe study's objectives are divided into two areas: a spatial configuration analysis to examine the urban context and an urban analysis of the mosque site with a study area boundary of a 400-m buffer zone. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were utilized; in addition, a user feedback survey was conducted in which several key insights were compiled, such as the importance of safety urban element factors, aesthetic elements and green areas in the built environment in making mosques places that are active public spaces.FindingsThe study’s main finding encourages governmental institutions to change their mindset from “open space around the mosque” to “the mosque as an element within public space,” which will have a significant impact on how the authors approach, improve and redevelop existing mosque locations. Several concepts were presented that should be reconsidered and redeveloped in order to align with the most recent sustainable urban design tools; the mosque to be overlooked as a community gathering place rather than just a place for religious rituals.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to sacred mosque sites primarily found in Islamic countries; it focuses on Saudi Arabian urban and planning practices in relation to sociocultural norms. The authors believe that increasing the number of study samples or broadening the scope of the study to include other Saudi regions or other Middle Eastern countries could yield new findings and insights.Originality/valueThe study offers a conceptual design model based on survey results and qualitative analysis and recommending strategies that planners, designers and policymakers can use to design successful mosque places and pedestrian-oriented developments.

WINIKO: Life of an Object, First Americans Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

<i>WINIKO: Life of an Object</i>, First Americans Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Use of a Social Robot (LOVOT) for Persons With Dementia: Exploratory Study.

BackgroundApproximately 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia. Social robots have been developed and tested to determine whether they improve the quality of life for persons with dementia. A new mobile social robot called LOVOT has artificial intelligence and sensor technologies built in. LOVOT, which is manufactured in Japan, has not yet been tested for use by persons with dementia.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore how the social robot LOVOT interacts with persons with dementia and how health care professionals experience working with LOVOT in their interaction with persons with dementia.MethodsThe study was carried out at 3 nursing homes in Denmark, all with specialized units for persons with dementia. The interaction between the persons with dementia and LOVOT was tested in both individual sessions for 4 weeks and group sessions for 12 weeks. A total of 42 persons were included in the study, of which 12 were allocated to the individual sessions. A triangulation of data collection techniques was used: the World Health Organization-5 questionnaire, face scale, participant observation, and semistructured focus group interviews with health care professionals (n=3).ResultsThere were no clinically significant changes in the well-being of the persons with dementia followed in the individual or group interaction sessions over time. The results from the face scale showed that in both the individual and group sessions, persons with dementia tended to express more positive facial expressions after the sessions. Findings on how persons with dementia experienced their interaction with LOVOT can be stated in terms of the following themes: LOVOT opens up communication and interaction; provides entertainment; creates a breathing space; is accepted and creates joy; induces feelings of care; can create an overstimulation of feelings; is not accepted; is perceived as an animal; is perceived as being nondemanding; and prevents touch deprivation. Findings regarding the health care professionals’ experiences using LOVOT were as follows: the artificial behavior seems natural; and it is a communication tool that can stimulate, create feelings of security, and open up communication. Our findings indicate that the social robot is a tool that can be used in interactions with persons with dementia.ConclusionsThe LOVOT robot is the next generation of social robots with advanced artificial intelligence. The vast majority of persons with dementia accepted the social robot LOVOT. LOVOT had positive effects, opened up communication, and facilitated interpersonal interaction. Although LOVOT did not create noticeable effects on social well-being, it gave individual persons a respite from everyday life. Some residents were overstimulated by emotions after interacting with LOVOT. Health care professionals accepted the social robot and view LOVOT as a new tool in the work with persons with dementia.

The mental health crisis breathing space: what healthcare managers need to know

Laura Peters, head of mental health and money advice at Rethink Mental Illness, shares her insights into the mental health crisis breathing space scheme, how it can improve mental health crisis treatment and how healthcare professionals can help more patients to access this support.