Concept Of Diversity Research Articles

Reframing Surgery Using the Concepts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Reframing Surgery Using the Concepts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Cerebral hyperactivation across the Alzheimer’s disease pathological cascade

Abstract Neuronal dysfunction in specific brain regions or across distributed brain networks is a known feature of Alzheimer’s disease. An often reported finding in the early stage of the disease is the presence of increased functional MRI (fMRI) BOLD signal under task conditions relative to cognitively normal controls, a phenomenon known as “hyperactivation”. However, research in the past decades yielded complex, sometimes conflicting results. The magnitude and topology of fMRI hyperactivation patterns have been found to vary across the preclinical and clinical spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease, including concomitant “hypoactivation” in some cases. These incongruences are likely due to a range of factors, including the disease stage at which the cohort is examined, the brain areas or networks studied, and the fMRI paradigm utilised to evoke these functional abnormalities. Additionally, a perennial question pertains to the nature of hyperactivation in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. Some propose it reflects compensatory mechanisms to sustain cognitive performance while others suggest it is linked to the pathological disruption of a highly regulated homeostatic cycle that contributes to, or even drives, disease progression. Providing a coherent narrative for these empirical and conceptual discrepancies is paramount to develop disease models, understand the synergy between hyperactivation and the Alzheimer’s disease pathological cascade, and tailor effective interventions. We first provide a comprehensive overview of functional brain changes spanning the course from normal ageing to the clinical spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease. We then highlight evidence supporting a close relationship between fMRI hyperactivation and in vivo markers of Alzheimer’s pathology. We primarily focus on task-based fMRI studies in humans, but also consider studies using different functional imaging techniques and animal models. We then discuss the potential mechanisms underlying hyperactivation in the context of Alzheimer’s disease, and provide a testable framework bridging hyperactivation, ageing, cognition, and the Alzheimer’s disease pathological cascade. We conclude with a discussion of future challenges and opportunities to advance our understanding of the fundamental disease mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease, and the promising development of therapeutic interventions incorporating or aimed at hyperactivation and large-scale functional systems.

Intellectual Capital: Revisiting an Analytical Model

The world’s economy is experiencing important changes brought on by diverse factors, namely technological advancements, the appearance and diffusion of personal computers, high-speed telecommunications, and the Internet. These technological changes have influenced the corporate environment, with recent decades denominated as the information economy, the digital economy, the economy of knowledge, a risk society, and the age of quality and innovation. To designate the key concept of the new economic era as “intellectual capital” implies a classification and evaluation effort in order to proceed with its generalization. In today’s world, the study of a model capable of adding explanatory diversity to intellectual capital is very relevant. We observed a true panoply of concepts in the analyzed models based on a literature review. The conceptual evolution during recent decades has motivated many investigations in this field, resulting from the phenomenon of globalization, growing technological innovation, and the observation of significant disparities between the market value and the accounting value of companies. This article describes an investigation carried out, presenting an explicative model of intellectual capital based on four distinct patterns, which are the aggregating factors of the existing conceptual diversity. We present the identification of a model with two axes, x (the type of knowledge, from tacit to explicit) and y (the capital of knowledge, from human to structural), which represents the conceptual diversity mirrored in four quadrants resulting from the research carried out with an initial exploratory study and two following studies with 45 and 72 specialists. In this article we analyze the Martins model, which proves to be essential for systematizing and mapping the dimensions that intellectual capital includes. This model can be used to identify the different aspects of intellectual capital in an organization and thus contribute to its understanding, optimization and good management.

Exploring the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing curricula through an integrative review

Objective: The aim of this review was to explore the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion within nursing education. Moving forward with the new AACN Essentials, nursing professors will be required to integrate these concepts into the curriculum, therefore it is important to understand what is currently available in the literature.Methods: An exhaustive review of the literature revealed that among the original 3,107 articles found, only 24 were included because of the narrowed IR focus on curriculum. Articles were then evaluated for suggested learning activities.Results: This IR reviews 24 articles in total. Some of the articles reviewed contained more than one concept. Of the articles reviewed, 18 focused on inclusion, 8 on equity, and 13 on diversity.Conclusions: The findings first and foremost indicate the need to incorporate teaching and learning practices related to the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion and secondly the need to publish additional best practices and exemplars.

Changing language, changing heritage: the future behind us

ABSTRACT This article critically examines the future of Critical Heritage Studies (CHS) through the lens of language and non-Western ontologies. I argue that the Western-centric and future-oriented approach to heritage limits its ability to engage with diverse conceptualizations of heritage and time. Here, I explore the dominance of English in academic discourse and how this constrains the understanding of heritage. Drawing on examples from Igbo, Quechua, and Aymara cultures, the paper demonstrates how different linguistic and cultural perspectives can reframe heritage concepts, particularly notions of time and conservation. The article advocates for a more inclusive approach to CHS that acknowledges complicity in colonial practices, embraces vulnerability, and opens up to multilingual and multicultural understandings of heritage. It concludes by suggesting that reimagining the future of CHS lies in changing the language and the way we speak about heritage.

What Is the (Lack Of) Integration? An Intergroup Perspective Using the Photovoice Methodology

Photovoice is a participatory action research (PAR) method that employes photographic language to explore individuals’ stories and living contexts. This study explores the representations of young participants, both immigrants and non-immigrants, concerning integration—defined within Berry’s (1997) framework as a bidirectional process of cultural and social adaptation between migrants and host communities—and the lack of integration within their neighborhood in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The participants included 12 young individuals (6 migrants and 6 locals) aged 19 to 29, two peer researchers, and one researcher. Over the course of two weekly three-hour meetings, participants captured and discussed photos depicting their perspectives on integration. The findings highlighted diverse conceptualizations of integration. Participants emphasized the reciprocal relationship between migrants and locals, illustrating how positive interactions with schools, workplaces, and public spaces facilitate integration. Additionally, successful migrants were seen as models of empowerment. Conversely, themes such as poverty, loneliness, discrimination, and the impact of war emerged as significant barriers to integration. This study underscores the dynamic and interactive nature of integration, as experienced by young people in multicultural settings. It highlights how Photovoice methodology can effectively capture nuanced perspectives on integration, foster mutual understanding, and facilitate intergroup relationships. The method fosters personal and community reflection, actively engaging its audience in critical discussions about integration.

High contrast computational imaging with vortex phase diversity

Abstract Optical imaging systems employing spatially incoherent illumination are widely used in routine imaging applications like photography and bright-field microscopy. We describe an incoherent computational imaging system that uses an open aperture as well as a vortex phase aperture for recording the same scene. The two raw recorded images provide a diversity of information that can be effectively combined using the generalized Wiener filter. For the specific choice of aperture functions used here, the two corresponding generalized Wiener filters have nearly opposing polarity. This property leads to an effective computational PSF whose central lobe is $0.6$ times smaller compared to the diffraction-limited PSF and has a super-oscillatory character with side-lobes. The resultant computational imaging system provides images with significantly improved contrast. While our methodology requires two image records, the enhanced point spread function (PSF) with super-oscillatory character is obtained by employing bulk off-the-shelf optical elements instead of sub-wavelength structured masks. The vortex phase diversity concept along with computational image reconstructions are illustrated with both simulation and experimental data. The proposed imaging methodology may be used to improve imaging performance for wide ranging imaging systems without changing their form factor.

Forward Together: Working with the New Standards for Accreditation

The American Library Association Committee on Accreditation (COA) will host an interactive session on working with the newly approved Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Science (2023). The 2023 Standards were adopted by approval of the Council of the American Library Association (the Council) on November 30, 2023. These revised Standards eliminate redundancies, improve clarity, and infuse concepts of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout the standards. The collaborative process that supported this work will ensure that these revised standards support a responsive, 21st century library and information education rooted in the fundamental principles of the profession as espoused by the American Library Association. The 2023 Standards take effect for all programs with comprehensive review visits scheduled for Spring 2026 or afterward, and programs with comprehensive review visits in 2025 may choose to respond to the new standards if they wish. COA members will discuss the structure and intent of the 2023 Standards and how those can be applied across diverse programs. Panelists will discuss how programs with reviews after 2025 might transition from the 2015 to 2023 standards. Additionally, the panel will share their thoughts on types of evidence sufficient to meet the needs of the new standards and reporting expectations for those standards in program statistical reports, biennial narrative reviews, and comprehensive reviews. Finally, attendees and panelists will discuss opportunities and challenges in responding to the new standards. Attendees and panelists will discuss strategies for reporting on the standards to demonstrate that the program embraces the values of the LIS professions while also taking into account those programs’ local and regional contexts.

Navigating the holistic conceptualizations of mental health issue in social work: a cross-cultural study of practitioner perspectives

ABSTRACT Holistic approaches, such as the Biopsychosocial model, have become mainstream frameworks for organizing mental health services in recent decades. However, little research has explored how frontline social workers embrace and synthesize the different dimensions within this holistic approach. This paper uses semi-structured interviews to investigate diverse conceptualizations of mental health issues among frontline social workers. Fourteen social workers from Hong Kong and twelve from Sydney were interviewed. Three prevalent positions were identified: prioritizing chemical imbalance, questioning the concept of illness, and refusing a fixed understanding of mental health issues. The analysis also reveals how these understandings influence frontline social work practice, uncovers broader socio-cultural influences through s cross-cultural lens, and highlights implications for social work education for navigating the inclusivity of holistic approaches.

EASE: An enhanced active learning framework for aspect-based sentiment analysis based on sample diversity and data augmentation

Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis (ABSA) has received considerable attention in recent studies. Powerful pre-trained models were proposed which can be fine-tuned for many Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks, including ABSA. However, fine-tuning these models needs a relatively large amount of labeled data. In this research, we propose EASE; an active learning framework to minimize manual labeling effort. We extend the active learning technique by incorporating the concept of sample diversity where similar samples are not selected for labeling. Furthermore, we maximize the utility of these samples by incorporating data augmentation. EASE was evaluated on three benchmark ABSA datasets from three different domains. The results show that the reduction of the number of needed labeled samples ranges from 88% to 94% among the three datasets while maintaining accuracy. Our results show that active learning is an effective approach to reduce manual labeling effort while maintaining comparable performance. Moreover, it is possible to reduce the number of labeled data even further by incorporating sample diversity and data augmentation while maintaining performance.

Transforming workplace diversity and HRD: towards a critical HRD framework for radical intentionality

ABSTRACT This article explores the evolution of diversity in HRD and explicates various tools for workplace diversity. Based on the Bierema-Callahan model of critical HRD, the literature review outlines four phases of evolution: organising by diversity management, learning from diversity training and higher education curriculum, changing to social justice and intersectional diversity, and relating through diversity intelligence. Each phase reflects the shifts in conceptualisations of workplace diversity and corresponding HRD actions and responses. The discussion introduces the concept of radical intentionality in HRD, emphasising the need for intentional transformative actions to address lingering systemic issues of workplace discrimination and marginalisation. Furthermore, it proposes a framework illustrating how HRD tools for workplace diversity can be deployed within four areas of HRD engagement to positively impact workplace experiences for diverse employees. Implications for HRD practitioners include informed decision-making in selecting appropriate tools for diversity initiatives and evaluating their effectiveness. Future research opportunities involve identifying new tools and intended impacts, advancing the quest for social justice and workplace inclusion for all.

The criticality of language: Exploring STEM education evaluators conceptualizations of equity, diversity, and inclusion and the influence on their roles and practice

Language is critical in evaluation. It influences understanding of goal attainment, judgments made about the quality of a program, interactions between stakeholder groups, interpretation of findings, and future actions. This paper reports research on language that unearths complexities related to the agenda of diversifying STEM and the utilization of evaluation in achieving its goal through an examination of STEM education evaluators’ conceptualizations of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the implications for their practice. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed (1) the multifaceted nature of terms such as equity, diversity, and inclusion, (2) the role of an evaluator is not singular, and (3) the importance of surfacing the ways in which language is both value-laden and socially shaping for potentially disrupting one’s knowledge of status quo injustices.

Diverse Concepts in Definitions of Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Theory and Practice.

Our understanding of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is evolving as new insights into the underlying pathophysiology become available. Professional organizations and clinical experts are improving definitions of DCM, allowing for more accurate treatment recommendations. This review summarized key published literature describing definitions and/or diagnostic criteria for DCM. Embase was searched from database inception to September 19, 2022 for 1) publications reporting definitions of DCM by major professional organizations and related opinion papers, and 2) clinical studies in DCM and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Sixty-eight records were included in this review. Definitions of DCM provided by two major professional organizations (American Heart Association (AHA) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC)) agreed on the clinical presentation of DCM; however, they differed in the classification of DCM within the larger context of cardiomyopathy taxonomies. Both organizations agreed that DCM could be clinically defined by the presence of left ventricular dilation and contractile dysfunction in the absence of abnormal loading conditions and severe coronary artery disease. AHA guidelines divided cardiomyopathies into two major groups (primary and secondary) based on predominant organ involvement. DCM was classified as primary cardiomyopathy with mixed (genetic and/or acquired) etiology. Conversely, ESC published a clinically oriented taxonomy in which cardiomyopathies were grouped into specific morphological and functional phenotypes; each was subclassified into familial or non-familial forms. Opinion papers further elaborated on the complex interplay between genetics and environment in the etiology of DCM. Several articles summarized the importance of the new and updated diagnostic tools, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiogram, and other biomarkers, in correctly identifying the etiology of DCM. Within clinical studies, most inclusion criteria used standard definitions proposed by leading professional associations (AHA and ESC). Clinical study investigators sometimes used a narrower definition of DCM using additional criteria for the left ventricular ejection fraction threshold value and left ventricular dilatation. Current efforts in cardiology research are focused on a more granular understanding of DCM etiology and the natural history of the disease. Definitions of DCM found in clinical studies mainly rely on published guidelines, with some studies adding idiosyncratic inclusion criteria refining the broad definitions of DCM.

Taxation in the context of high informality: Conceptual challenges and evidence from Sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractThe terms ‘informal sector’ and ‘shadow economy’ are in vogue but remain conceptually fuzzy in what they measure or mean. They are used in tax research and policy but with many assumptions, leading to poorly designed policies that lead to further immiseration of those who derive their livelihoods informally. Focusing on Sub‐Saharan Africa, I critically interrogate the current conceptualisation of informal economic activities and how they are thought to relate to taxation. Critically, I use existing estimates of informality and taxation data to demonstrate the need to cast the tax net wider than the usual bias toward visible subsistence informality. I show that informality is not novel among many factors negatively associated with tax revenue mobilisation, especially in its broader historical context. I then show that technology adoption can play a role in mitigating taxation challenges associated with informality. However, the role of technology remains limited if not embedded in and supported by improving government institutions, which, though protracted, show higher outcomes on taxation. Since the terms ‘informal sector’ and ‘shadow economy’ describe diverse economic activities, conceptual diversity is not necessarily problematic, but precision is necessary when these terms are brought to tax research, including frank discussions on data quality issues and when the concepts need to be generalised or restricted to context.

Exploring the equitable inclusion of diverse voices in urban green design, planning and policy development: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionDespite the increasingly evidenced positive impacts of green space on human physical and mental health, green spaces remain inequitably distributed across different socioeconomic groups. Urban planning and design should prioritise...

RESPONSIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF SELF-REGULATING ORGANIZATIONS: PECULIARITIES AND PROBLEMS OF REGULATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

In the scientific literature, the understanding of the legal nature of the responsibility of members of self-regulating organizations causes conceptual discrepancies. This liability is considered as a separate type of legal liability based on civil law principles. In the laws regulating issues of self-regulation with mandatory participation, the concept of disciplinary misconduct is used, which leads to the use of the name of this responsibility as «disciplinary». Nevertheless, the special grounds for the liability of members of a self-regulating organization, the subject composition and the nature of legal relations make it possible not to identify the responsibility in question with disciplinary liability in labor and administrative law. The Law on Self-Regulation and legislative acts concerning mandatory self-regulation contain the basics of regulating liability issues, but these norms need to eliminate contradictions. In addition, it is necessary to provide for the definition of the concept of responsibility of members of self-regulating organizations and its elements (misconduct, penalties). The study of internal documents of self-regulating organizations in terms of the responsibility of their members revealed the inconsistency of the content of the documents with certain requirements of the Law on Self-Regulation. Based on the results of this work, the specifics of the responsibility of members of self-regulating organizations are noted, the features and shortcomings of the regulatory regulation of this institution in the Republic of Kazakhstan are identified, facts of violations of legal norms in law enforcement practice are revealed, and differences in the approaches of organizations to choosing the procedure for bringing to responsibility and determining liability measures are established. Solutions are proposed for the identified shortcomings. The conclusions obtained in the course of this study can be used in scientific research and legislative work.

Esthetic preferences of orthodontists, general dentists, and laypersons for Indian facial profiles: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Disparity in the esthetic perceptions between a patient and clinician could result in patient dissatisfaction with orthodontic treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the perceptions of a group of orthodontists, general dentists, and laypersons about the attractiveness of Indian facial profiles. Methods: In this study, a male and a female participants' photographs and lateral cephalograms were digitally manipulated by inserting them into Dolphin software; we considered four soft tissue parameters at a nasolabial angle, upper lip E-line, lower lip E-line, and pg-pg', so that 20 profiles were created for each model. A visual analog scale (VAS) along with a question about surgical correction opinion was given to 18 orthodontists, 18 general dentists, and 18 laypersons to score (1-5) from least to most attractive. Spearman's rank correlation was computed to assess correlation, as well as ANOVA, followed by post hoc Tukey analysis to compare the mean scores, and Chi-square test to determine the opinion about surgical treatment. Results: There was an overall weak and negative correlation between the three groups, indicating that orthodontists attributed lower pleasantness scores to almost all the altered female and male facial profiles. Additionally, statistically significantly lower mean scores were attributed by orthodontists to many females and few male facial profiles. More orthodontists identified the need for surgical correction for a few severely distorted profiles but there was a statistically non-significant difference among the groups for most of the profiles. Conclusions: It was concluded that participants in the three groups had diverse concepts of facial attractiveness in all the parameters considered. Compared to general dentists and laypersons, orthodontists were much more precise, firmer, and meticulous in identifying a favorable or good-looking profile.

Integrating Utopian Constructs: A Preliminary Investigation of Their Similarities and Predictive Power on Social Change Intentions

In a world facing significant planetary health challenges, the power of prospection—our capacity to envision and shape future possibilities—gains importance. Recently, three conceptualisations have been introduced to measure individuals’ inclination and ability to imagine desirable societal alternatives: utopian, transformative utopian impulse for planetary health, and environmental cognitive alternatives. We propose that these constructs, founded on different theoretical bases, each offer unique perspectives on a common process: the mental simulation of societies that positively deviate from the status quo, which we refer to as collective positive prospection. Data from a correlational survey (N = 485) show that these dimensions, while distinct, are highly interrelated, supporting their potential complementarity for understanding individual differences in collective positive prospection. Results also emphasise the importance of integrating these diverse dimensions to enhance the prediction of intentions, particularly pro-environmental intentions. Furthermore, our results suggest that the precision of prospection content, alongside its compatibility with behaviours, enhances predictive accuracy. Although preliminary, these findings provide valuable insights on both theoretical and practical levels, highlighting the importance of integrating diverse conceptualizations to better understand the functioning of collective positive prospection and suggesting that an integrative scale could be beneficial for future research in this area.

Co‐Designing Nurse Practitioner Roles in a Tertiary Hospital: A Qualitative Exploration of Patterns and Underlying Dynamics

ABSTRACTAimsTo explore patterns and dynamics during the co‐design process of nurse practitioners' role development in three departments in a Belgian tertiary hospital.DesignParticipatory action research was utilised in conjunction with principles of a Grounded Theory approach to explore patterns and dynamics.MethodsSixteen meetings were conducted between January and June 2021 with interdisciplinary teams to develop the roles. Thirteen exploratory interviews were held with the stakeholders involved between March and June 2022. All meetings and interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were systematically analysed using researcher triangulation and thematic analysis.ResultsStakeholders' initial conception of the nurse practitioner roles affected development. A dynamic interplay of individual, team‐related and contextual (e.g., financial and legal) factors shaped these conceptions. Through co‐design, stakeholders' conception evolved as insights were shared, misconceptions challenged and perspectives broadened. Physicians generally the developmental process, while nursing leadership was more fragmented.ConclusionThis study identifies patterns and dynamics in interdisciplinary teams during the developmental process. The key findings underpin the crucial role of stakeholders' conceptions, use of co‐design and leadership in this process. Therefore, a thorough understanding of initial conceptions is ess, and efforts should be directed towards providing sufficient knowledge and experience to prevent misconceptions. Additionally, this study emphasises the significance of a balanced team composition that incorporates diverse conceptions of the role. Finally, actions should be taken to empower leadership among nurses.ImpactIdentified dynamics offer insights for healthcare organisations developing nurse practitioner roles. Educational institutions can use these insights to enhance healthcare professionals' curricula, preparing healthcare professionals for evolving advanced nursing roles and leadership. Additionally, it emphasises the necessity for policy work to establish a legal framework for nurse practitioners in Belgium.Reporting MethodThe ‘Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research’ were used for reporting.Patient or Public ContributionThis study did not involve direct participation from patients or the public.

Divide and Save: A Critical Care Air Transport Team Case With Prolonged Field Care

ABSTRACT Critical care air transport teams (CCATTs) specialize in providing intensive medical and postoperative resuscitative care during air evacuations. In a 2014 mission, a seasoned CCATT was urgently deployed to evacuate 6 American service members with gunshot wounds. Despite only having 2 hours of premission preparation and no further injury or treatment details, CCATT secured additional equipment, medications, and blood supply. Upon arrival to a foreign nonmilitary hospital, they discovered that American ground commanders had lost trust in local medical capabilities. One patient experienced prolonged extremity tourniquet time and surgical delay. This led to acute renal failure, preventing immediate evacuation without continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Deviating from the standard procedure, the CCATT obtained permission to split their team. The CCATT nurse attended 5 stabilized patients during unregulated critical care air transport with plans to swiftly return with CRRT equipment for the critical sixth patient. The physician and respiratory therapist remained at the foreign hospital for 2 days to provide prolonged field care. This case demonstrates the evolving mission scope of CCATT, which may encompass ground triage, prolonged field care, unregulated movement, and atypical CCATT equipment such as CRRT, occasionally necessitating a split team construct. To adapt to these evolving needs, updated policies and training now incorporate these diverse CCATT concepts, emphasizing the importance of flexibility in en route critical care missions.